Air Fryer Guides

Get more from your air fryer with straightforward, no-nonsense guides. From preheating and oil to foil, cleaning and crispier results.

Published by the RecipeAirFryer editorial team · How we source times

Times and temperatures come from our reviewed cooking database. Explanatory text on each page is generated from that entry so the numbers stay consistent.

Air Fryer Accessories: What’s Worth Buying

Most air fryer accessory sets are padding around two or three genuinely useful items. Here is what earns its place and what stays in the drawer.

Air Fryer Basket vs Oven Style: Which to Buy

Baskets crisp better, oven-style holds more. If you mostly cook chips, wings and frozen food, buy a basket.

Air Fryer Mistakes to Avoid

Nine mistakes account for almost every disappointing air fryer result, and eight of them are about airflow. Fix the basket and you fix the food.

Air Fryer Safety: What You Need to Know

Air fryers are safer than deep fryers - there is no pan of hot oil to spill or catch fire.

Are Air Fryer Liners Safe?

Perforated paper and perforated silicone liners are safe and useful. Solid liners that cover the whole basket base are the problem - not because they are toxic, but because they block the airflow that makes an air fryer work.

Are Air Fryers Healthy?

Air frying is generally healthier than deep frying because it uses a fraction of the oil, which cuts the fat and calories of fried food substantially.

Can You Cook Two Things at Once in an Air Fryer?

Yes, as long as the two foods want a similar temperature and you do not overcrowd the basket.

Can You Open an Air Fryer While It Is Cooking?

Yes, and you are meant to. Pulling the basket out pauses the air fryer automatically on almost every model, and sliding it back resumes the timer.

Can You Put Aluminum Foil in an Air Fryer?

Yes, you can put aluminum foil, or tin foil, in an air fryer if food weighs it down and it does not cover the whole basket.

Can You Put Parchment Paper in an Air Fryer?

Yes, you can put parchment paper, or baking paper, in an air fryer when it is perforated or trimmed, and food is holding it down.

Can You Put Water in an Air Fryer?

Yes - a little water in the drawer beneath the basket is a genuinely useful trick for fatty foods, and it is safe as long as it stays below the basket and away from the element.

Do Air Fryers Use a Lot of Electricity?

No - and the reason is not the wattage. An air fryer draws roughly 1.4-2.1kW, similar to an oven element.

Do You Preheat an Air Fryer?

Preheating your air fryer takes just a couple of minutes and makes a real difference for crispy foods. Here is when it matters and when you can skip it.

How Does an Air Fryer Work?

An air fryer is a small fan oven: a heating element and a fan blow hot air across the food, which browns the surface faster than a full-size oven.

How Long Does an Air Fryer Take to Preheat?

Two to three minutes for most models, and up to five for large oven-style ones. Compared with ten to fifteen minutes for a fan oven, this is the saving people actually notice day to day.

How Long to Cook Chicken Breast in an Air Fryer at 400°F

At 400°F / 200°C, a boneless chicken breast about 2 cm thick takes 14-18 minutes in the air fryer, flipped halfway, until the thickest part reaches 74°C / 165°F.

How Much Oil Should You Use in an Air Fryer?

Most air fryer foods need far less oil than oven-roasting or frying. Often a light spray or one tablespoon is enough for a full basket of vegetables or proteins.

How to Clean an Air Fryer

To clean an air fryer, unplug it, let it cool, wash the basket in warm soapy water, and wipe the heating element with a damp cloth.

How to Clean an Air Fryer Heating Element

The heating element is the part most people never clean, and it is the usual reason an older air fryer smokes and smells.

How to Convert Oven Recipes to an Air Fryer

Drop the temperature by 20°C / 25°F, cut the time by 20%, and check early. That covers almost every recipe.

How to Dehydrate Food in an Air Fryer

You can dehydrate fruit, vegetables and jerky in an air fryer by running it at its lowest temperature for a few hours.

How to Keep Food Warm in an Air Fryer

Set the air fryer to its lowest temperature - around 70-80°C / 160-175°F - to hold cooked food warm and crisp for a short while.

How to Line an Air Fryer Basket

Line it only when you need to, use perforated material, and never put an empty liner into a preheating basket. Those three rules cover everything.

How to Reheat Food in an Air Fryer Without Drying It Out

The trick to reheating in an air fryer is to use a slightly lower temperature than you would for first-time cooking, then check early so the outside crisps before the inside overcooks.

How to Stop an Air Fryer from Smoking

If your air fryer is smoking, the usual causes are grease buildup, too much fat collecting below the basket or sugary marinades burning on hot surfaces.

How to Use an Air Fryer

To use an air fryer, preheat it for 2-3 minutes, cook food in a single layer, and shake or flip halfway.

What Can You Cook in an Air Fryer?

Almost anything you would roast, grill, bake or deep fry - and a few things you would not expect.

What Dishes Can You Use in an Air Fryer?

Anything oven-safe that fits with room for air to circulate is fine: metal tins, ceramic ramekins, ovenproof glass and silicone all work.

What Is the Best Oil for an Air Fryer?

The best oil for an air fryer is one with a reasonably high smoke point and a neutral or complementary flavour, such as avocado oil, vegetable oil or light olive oil.

What Size Air Fryer Do I Need?

Buy for the number of portions you cook at once, not for your household size. Capacity in litres includes space above the food, so the usable area is smaller than the number suggests.

Why Does My Air Fryer Smell Like Plastic?

A new air fryer smelling of plastic or chemicals is normal for the first few uses - it is manufacturing residue burning off, not a fault.

Why Isn’t My Air Fryer Food Crispy?

If your air fryer food is coming out soft instead of crispy, it is almost always down to one of a few easy-to-fix mistakes.