4. Use spray oil
Air fryers are known for their ability to produce similar results that you can get in a deep fat fryer, while using much less oil to cook.
“Using an air fryer can help you to create healthier versions of conventionally fat-heavy, deep-fried foods – fried chicken is one of my favourites,” says Izzy Goldstaub, recipe developer at recipe box company Gousto.
“For the healthiest choice, spray oil works well. Spray oil also seems to achieve the most even distribution, and one spray equates to about 0.03 tbsp of oil, so that's a lot less than the drizzle or several tablespoons required for oven cooking.”
Make sure food doesn't stick to your basket
One air fryer hack that ensures your food doesn’t stick to the basket and make it harder to clean, is to spray the basket grill with oil. Even if the recipe doesn’t call for it, it’s a good way to ensure even cooking results.
5. Set the temperature
It can take a while to work out just how powerful your air fryer is and what foods work well at certain temperatures. Many of the best air fryers come with preset cooking modes for certain foods, which makes things easier. But remember that these are only a guideline and often need tweaking as they can be a little hit and miss.
If you want to achieve a very crispy finish, then look for an air fryer with a wide variable temperature control dial, as these can vary from model to model. The Ninja Speedi 10-in-1 Rapid Cooker and Air Fryer (Ninja, £229.99) has a temperature control that goes up to a powerful 240C (464F) for example, while most air fryers stop at around the 200C (392F) mark.
“Just 20 minutes in an air fryer equates to around 35 minutes in an oven, so they can save time and energy,” says Goldstaub. “But be careful with foods such as chicken, which can cook much more quickly than others. Be sure to check on your food regularly to avoid it drying out or burning.”
