How to Keep Food Warm in an Air Fryer
Reviewed by the RecipeAirFryer editorial team · Updated
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. It does this better than an oven for anything fried, because the moving air keeps the surface from going soft.
Quick answer
- 1Drop the temperature to 70-80°C / 160-175°F once the food is cooked.
- 2Keep the food in a single layer so the warm air still reaches it.
- 3Hold for up to about 30 minutes; longer and it starts to dry out.
- 4For a big meal, keep batches warm in the oven at a low temperature and use the air fryer to crisp each batch to order.
Why it keeps crisp food crisp
Food goes soggy when it sits in its own trapped steam. The air fryer keeps the air around it moving, so that moisture is carried away rather than settling back onto the crust. That is why held chips stay crisper here than under foil.
Keep the temperature genuinely low. Too high and you carry on cooking the food, drying it out and overcooking the inside while you wait.
The limit
This is a short hold, not storage. Half an hour is comfortable; beyond that even low heat pulls moisture out and the food suffers.
It is also a small space. For a meal cooked in several batches, use the oven on its lowest setting to hold the finished batches and reserve the air fryer for crisping the next one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an air fryer have a keep-warm setting?+
Some do. If yours does not, just set the lowest temperature it offers - around 70-80°C / 160-175°F - which does the same job.
How long can you keep food warm in an air fryer?+
About 30 minutes while it stays crisp and moist. Longer than that and even low heat starts to dry it out.
Is an air fryer better than an oven for keeping food warm?+
For fried and crisp foods, yes - the moving air stops them going soggy. For saucy or moist dishes an oven is gentler.