The air fryer is one of the easiest ways to cook a healthy meal. Instead of using oil to fry your food, it uses hot air that distributes the heat by a fan.
This cooks the food and makes it crisp. An air fryer takes the same time to prepare food as a conventional fryer. However, it has fewer hazards and doesn’t cause any mess.
Which Foods Can You Cook in an Air Fryer?
Basically, any type of fried food is a candidate to use in an air fryer. From French fries, fried chicken, fried shrimps, you name it!
Add to this, any other food that you like crispy. For incidence, we tried making tonkatsu and croquettes using an air fryer. They were perfectly done. You can also make desserts like cinnamon rolls.
Baking, grilling, and roasting are effortless and less messy while using an air fryer.
How Do You Use an Air Fryer?
Using an air fryer is a piece of cake. It won’t be more than a couple of minutes until you figure out how it works. Actually, if you know how to use an oven, then you already know how an air fryer is used.
However, we always recommend that you read the manual that comes with the fryer. Not only does it help you learn how to use the machine, but it also gives you an idea about its capabilities and what you can possibly use it for.
How to Get Even Cooking With an Air Fryer?
You might have some trouble with this at first, so; let us tell you some of the things we learned when it comes to using an air fryer.
1. Overfilling
A lot of us find it tempting to crowd the fryer. We simply want to get as much as possible and in a brief amount of time. However, because the fryer works by circulating hot air, doing this will cause the food to be fry unevenly.
2. Rotate the Food and Flip
Again, it’s all about the air circulation. By flipping the food, you allow the air to reach all around, and will guarantee it is more evenly cooked.
How to Achieve a Crunchy Coating in an Air Fryer?
1. Spraying
Using an oil spray will save you some unnecessary hassle. Spray the base of the fryer basket, this way, the crust will stay attached to your food.
2. Pre-toasting the Crumbles
Sometimes, the circulating heat dries out the crumbles. But, we found out that if you toast them in the microwave before you put them in the fryer, and using with a little bit of oil, they will turn out golden-brown and will be far better looking and tasting.
How to Achieve a Better Browning in an Air Fryer?
1. Keep the Food Dry
Pat the food before cooking it to remove any excess moisture. This prevents steaming and makes your food crispier.
2. Add Honey
Trying to add a little honey will make much difference because the sugar in the honey browns well in the heat of the air fryer. It also gives flavor to the food while it is cooking.
3. Add Fat
Cooking without fat is one of the best advantages of using an air fryer. However, sometimes adding a little oil would ensure that your crisps up while still being healthy.
4. Give it an Egg Wash
Brushing the top of the dough with egg wash will help you get a glossy, brown surface.
Cooking Chicken in an Air Fryer
1. Poke the Skin
Poking a few holes in the skin of the fish with a skewer will render the fat. You can try this when cooking fatty chicken thighs and drumsticks.
2. Flip the Skin Side up
If you are cooking skin-on chicken, start by making the skin side down. However, finish cooking it by flipping it so that the skin side is facing up. This gives the poultry a good crisp because the skin will be directed to more heat as the air fryer heats from above.
Using the Air Fryer to cook Fish
1. Try using a foil sling
Fish can be too delicate to be put directly in the fryer. So, we suggest using a foil sling to prevent it from sticking and breaking. It is a fast and easy solution, and it makes removing the fish from the fryer much better.
2. Setting the temperature
Fish is better cooked at lower temperatures and for a longer time than other foods. This helps it cook more gently and ensures getting that crispy, brown crust.
3. Skewering the Fish
In some fish recipes, it is an excellent idea to skewer the fish to make smaller and more delicate pieces that are easier to remove from the fryer after cooking.
Cooking Juicy Steaks in an Air Fryer
1. Cutting them down
If you cut large steaks into smaller pieces, you can fit more of them into the fryer without overcrowding it. Also, this will help the meat to cook evenly.
2. Adding a Rub
To give your fish a flavor boost, use a potent rub that will help it cook, give it a better browning color, and also make it cook better.
Conclusion
Using an air fryer is a healthy, easy, and fast way to prepare your food. With a few tips, you will be able to get a crispy and brown crust. Enjoy your meal. if you don’t have an air fryer check this post for the best air fryers under $100. Also have a look on the things you can do with an air fryer.
