Once you learn how to use an air fryer, you will love all of the amazing things it can do! We've put together a list of the most important things you will need to know when air frying.

Whether you are air-frying chocolate chip cookies or making air fryer potato chips, you will love the flavors and enjoy the benefits of air frying! This versatile kitchen appliance can so much more than just reheat leftovers!
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What is an Air Fryer
An air fryer is an amazing kitchen appliance that has a heating element and a fan to use hot air to cook foods.
How Does an Air Fryer Work
An air fryer cooks food with hot air that is circulated through the basket or trays. You don't need to use a deep fryer with a lot of oil, which is why foods normally soggy or greasy, are crispy after being air fried.
Best Oils for Air Frying
Cooking foods in the Air Fryer is definitely one of my favorite ways to cook. Did you know that there are certain oils that are better than others when using the Air Fryer? We've put together this list of the best oils for air frying. Check out which oils have higher smoke points, making them the best choices for air frying.
Choosing an Air Fryer
It can be overwhelming when trying to decide which air fryer is best for you, especially if it's your first time purchasing an air fryer.
When choosing an air fryer, there are a lot of things to consider. Such as how many people are your feeding, how much counterspace you have available, your budget, and what features and benefits you will use when air frying.
Because the list of air fryers is endless, we compared top-selling air fryers for you. We reviewed and researched their features, wattages, and more. We also compared ratings to give you suggestions to make air frying shopping easier. All of this information is in this Best Air Fryers post.
Here are a few of our FAVORITE recommendations.
Cosori Dual Blaze Air Fryer - Digital Meat Thermometer - Air Fryer All Day
Benefits of Using Air Fryer
The obvious benefits of using an air fryer are that it cooks with less oil and fats, and the cooking time is shortened. It also reheats foods like pizza, French fries, and other leftovers, making them just as crispy as the first time they were served. But the air fryer can do so much more!
We started experimenting with our air fryer to make this delicious air fryer cheesecake. It is done in less than 30 minutes, and is so moist and creamy, because the cheesecake doesn't dry out like traditional oven baking.
While trying old recipes in your new oven, keep in mind it does cook faster, so you many need to adjust the times and temperatures.
How to Preheat Air Fryer
Some recipes will direct you to preheat your air fryer. It's easy to do, and for air frying baked goods or meats, it's a great way to get even cooking. To preheat your air fryer, follow these simple steps:
Read the Instruction Manual- Different air fryers may have different instructions for preheating. Some air fryer models will have a quick preheat button as a feature, while others will require you to just heat it for a few minutes while the basket is empty.
Place on a Flat Surface- Place your air fryer on a flat, stable surface in an area that allows proper air flow.
Temperature Setting- Set the temperature to the recommended preheating temperature. This is usually around 375 degrees F-400 degrees F for most recipes, but check your manual for specific guidelines.
Preparing the Air Fryer Basket or Tray
Depending on what you are air frying, you will want to prepare the food and the air fryer properly. This will not only ensure that your food crisps, but can also make for easy cleanup!
Coating with Oil- Lightly coat the air fryer basket or tray with non stick cooking spray or a small amount of olive oil. This helps prevent sticking and promotes even browning.
Arrange Food Evenly-Place the food in a single layer in the air fryer basket or on the tray. Avoid overcrowding to ensure proper air circulation. If making foods like salmon, steaks, or other meats, be sure there is no overlapping or stacking. This can prevent meat from properly cooking.
Seasoning-Season your food with desired herbs, spices, or marinades before placing it in the air fryer.
Use a dish, silicone liner, aluminum foil, or air fryer parchment paper- This can help clean up be fast and easy. Just make sure you aren't blocking air flow, and check your manufacturers guide first.
Monitoring the Food While Air Frying
Shaking or Flipping- Depending on the recipe, you may need to shake or flip the food halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking.
Check for Doneness- Regularly check your food for doneness, especially as you become familiar with your air fryer's cooking times. Use an instant read thermometer for meats to confirm proper internal temperatures have been reached.
Adjusting Temperature or Time- If necessary, you can adjust the temperature or cooking time during the process based on how your food is cooking.
Remember that air fryers can vary, so it's essential to consult your specific model's manual for the most accurate instructions.
Temperature guide
Everyone is searching for the best Air Fryer Cook Times and we've put together a chart that's in both Fahrenheit and Celsius. Feel free to save or print this chart for future use!
Air Fryer Accessories
These Air Fryer Accessories are our recommended must-haves. These are what we use the most when making foods in our air fryers. The air fryer is so easy to use, but having a few essential accessories can help with cleaning the air fryer, protection from heat, and perfecting recipes.
Adapting a recipe
One of the best ways to turn your favorite traditional oven recipes into an air fryer recipe is by using this simple air fryer conversion calculator. You can easily take any oven recipe and make it in the air fryer with just a simple input of time and temperature. See how it works, with both Fahrenheit and Celsius temperatures.
How to Clean Your Air Fryer
Air Fryer's are one of our favorite countertop appliances, but cleaning them can be a little tricky. There is nothing better than a clean air fryer to use to make a delicious meal!
You want to make sure you're not just using warm soapy water to clean the air fryer basket or the air fryer racks, but also cleaning around the heating element. You will also want to confirm if you have a dishwasher-safe basket, and what oils to use to protect your nonstick coating.
Follow our How to Clean an Air Frying post, giving you all of the information you need with step by step directions!
We hope this post has answered all of your air frying questions! We want you to enjoy your air fryer as much as we love using ours!
Easy Beginner Air Fryer Recipes
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