Can You Put Water in an Air Fryer?
A tablespoon in the drawer under the basket is a standard trick for fatty food. Water in the basket itself defeats the point.
Published by the RecipeAirFryer editorial team · How we source times · Updated
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It depends
A tablespoon in the drawer under the basket is a standard trick for fatty food. Water in the basket itself defeats the point.
A tablespoon in the drawer under the basket is a standard trick for fatty food. Water in the basket itself defeats the point. This is a yes/no and safety page, not a full recipe. Below is how people actually do it, what goes wrong, and when to use something else.
How to do it (or what to do instead)
- 1For fatty food that smokes, add a tablespoon or two of water to the drawer beneath the basket to stop dripping fat burning.
- 2Decide whether water belongs in the basket at all: It depends. A tablespoon in the drawer under the basket is a standard trick for fatty food. Water in the basket itself defeats the point.
- 3For fatty food that smokes, add a tablespoon or two of water to the drawer beneath the basket to stop dripping fat burning.
- 4Watch for this result: It stops the smoke without affecting crisping. Filling the basket with water just steams the food and it will never brown.
- 5If you skip the air fryer, For fatty food that smokes, add a tablespoon or two of water to the drawer beneath the basket to stop dripping fat burning.
Tips for the best results
- What to expect: It stops the smoke without affecting crisping. Filling the basket with water just steams the food and it will never brown.
- If this method is not working in your model, drop the temperature 10°C / 20°F and add a minute rather than forcing a hotter basket.
Common mistakes to avoid
- It stops the smoke without affecting crisping. Filling the basket with water just steams the food and it will never brown.
- Ignoring the verdict (It depends) and treating water like a standard air-fryer chip.
Why this answer
A tablespoon in the drawer under the basket is a standard trick for fatty food. Water in the basket itself defeats the point.
It depends. A tablespoon in the drawer under the basket is a standard trick for fatty food. Water in the basket itself defeats the point.
Risks and limits
It stops the smoke without affecting crisping. Filling the basket with water just steams the food and it will never brown.
Better alternatives
If this method is not working in your model, drop the temperature 10°C / 20°F and add a minute rather than forcing a hotter basket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you air fry water?
It depends. A tablespoon in the drawer under the basket is a standard trick for fatty food. Water in the basket itself defeats the point.
What should I do instead of air frying water?
For fatty food that smokes, add a tablespoon or two of water to the drawer beneath the basket to stop dripping fat burning.
What goes wrong with water in an air fryer?
It stops the smoke without affecting crisping. Filling the basket with water just steams the food and it will never brown.