For us, it's difficult to picture life before this. air fryers There has never been a simpler or quicker method to prepare a small batch of food. bacon , fries or chicken thighs Without making the kitchen look like a greasy mess. If you've just become an air fryer owner, handling one isn’t complicated. Actually, simplicity is among its main attractions; however, some basic guidelines can enhance your experience with this beloved compact gadget.
If you’re just beginning your adventure with an air fryer, consider these valuable tips, tricks, and must-have accessories that each aspiring air fryer enthusiast ought to be aware of.
Top Air Fryers for 2025: See at MassimaIf you’re newly embarked on your air fryer adventure, consider these essential tips, tricks, and must-have accessories for aspiring air fryer enthusiasts.
1. Purchase an appropriately sized air fryer
If you haven’t bought an air fryer yet, your initial choice might be one of the biggest deciding factors: determining the right size. These appliances typically come rated in quarts, with sizes ranging from as small as approximately 2.75 quarts up to around 8 quarts.
Due to the extensive variety of dimensions, ensure you verify the air fryer’s size and confirm that you possess adequate countertop space prior to purchasing. and wall outlets to accommodate it.
2. Put money into air fryer attachments
When you're preparing french fries using an air fryer , it will perform optimally if every piece of potato is consistent in size. Hand-cutting them can be difficult, so I recommend using a gadget or tool for an even result. buy a cutter That will assist you greatly. It’s among the quickest and most user-friendly additions you can make to your kitchen arsenal.
Plus, additional air fryer accessories, such as tongs, meat thermometers and olive oil sprayers , can enhance your air frying experience.
3. Remember to shake and toss it up.
For preparing fries or something akin to them (like tater tots), chicken fingers , brussels sprouts , and similar actions), you should give the basket a thorough shake at least once while cooking. This helps redistribute the food and prevents anything from sticking to your air fryer.
If you're preparing something akin to this, chicken wings , be sure to turn them over midway through cooking to ensure they become evenly crisp on all sides.
4. Avoid overloading or stacking
Keep in mind that your air fryer functions like a compact oven. Just as you wouldn’t pile up chicken breasts when roasting them in an ordinary oven, avoid stacking items inside the air fryer either. Make sure they’re well-spaced, and refrain from overfilling the basket. Always ensure not to layer your chicken wings, tenders, or similar foods.
If you desire additional space in your air fryer, consider buying an extra one. metal racks That can provide you with twice the cooking area.
Packing too much into an air fryer can lead to uneven heating, which diminishes the quality of your meals. When preparing large quantities, it’s advisable to cook in batches to maintain high standards.
5. Adapt oven recipes
If you wish to recreate a classic dish using your air fryer, there’s a simple method to adjust almost any oven recipe for air fryer usage.
Usually, you would decrease the cooking temperature by approximately 25 degrees Fahrenheit. So if an oven recipe calls for 350 degrees Fahrenheit (which converts to 176 Celsius), then the fryer should be set at around 325 degrees (or roughly 160 Celsius). Additionally, expect to reduce your cooking time by about 20%, although this figure might change based on factors such as the type of food being cooked and the specific cooking temperatures used.
If you require assistance with the mathematics, this air fryer calculator Is here to assist. It will transform typical cooking durations and heat settings.
6. Make sure you also clean this section of your air fryer.
Though the air fryer can occasionally seem like magic, there's one task it can't handle: cleaning itself. Unfortunately, that step is solely on you, but we've rounded up our top air fryer cleaning recommendations To assist you, I'll include details on cleaning one of the most overlooked parts of your air fryer.
7. Use just enough oil, without going overboard with it.
A significant advantage of using an air fryer is that it needs less oil compared to traditional cooking methods, which is great. However, this does not imply that you can completely avoid adding some oil. In my experience, items like chicken, veggies, and fish turn out better when lightly sprayed with olive oil. Nonetheless, refrain from drenching your ingredients in oil because the intense convection heat significantly amplifies any fats present within the frying basket.
The most effective method to apply an evenly distributed thin layer is by using an inexpensive tool. $10 oil sprayer like this or this .
8. Explore ideas beyond conventional limits
Certainly, French fries and chicken wings are popular choices for an air fryer, but you can also prepare numerous other dishes with it.
Mamshas an overview of some of the best air fryer foods , and if you're looking for specific recipes, we have those as well. Here are seven fantastic recipes you’ll surely want to attempt:
- Chicken thighs
- A whole chicken
- Salmon
- Baked potato
- S'mores dip
- Brussels sprouts
- Cheeseburgers
Are you convinced by the wonders of the air fryer but unsure about which one to purchase? Here are the recommendations. top air fryers for 2025 , ranked by Massima's top local expert, to assist your decision-making process.