Not a Fryer at All
Air fryers don’t actually fry anything. It’s just a catchier name than “countertop convection oven that browns food with hot air.” Instead of submerging food in hot oil, air fryers use a fan to blow hot air around food you place in a basket.
This gives food a “fried” feel — crispy on the outside, moist on the inside — in less time, with less fat.
Not Reading the Manual
Yes, manuals can be boring. But even a quick flip through will hit the highlights of important topics like the best ways to use different settings, cleaning, and how to work each part (some have a basket, others have a tray).
Most manuals also come with recipes to get you started.
Not Preheating
Ovens take a while to warm up, but it only takes a few minutes to set your air fryer up for success. If you add food to the basket before your air fryer is warm and the hot air has started to move, it won’t cook evenly.
Using the Wrong Amount of Oil
If you’re used to frying food in a big pot of oil, it might feel odd to scale way back. But most air fryer recipes that require oil only call for a teaspoon or two or a light spray. Some don’t need any.
In addition to making your food soggy, too much oil can also drip onto the tray, burn, and smoke up your kitchen.
Using the Wrong Oil
Extra virgin olive oil, and some vegetable oils, have a low smoke point. This means they’ll burn or become smoke at lower temperatures than other oils.
Your food will dry up instead of crisping. Opt for extra light olive oil, avocado, grapeseed, or peanut oil in your air fryer …
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