watch how to use this wildly pop countertop appliance , plus some of our best gentle wind - pullet recipes and ware recommendations .

If you have n’t jumped on theair fryer trend , the clock time is now . This handy kitchen tool can make foods perfectly crisp without needing scores of oil colour ; that ’s reason enough to try it for yourself . Deliciousair - pullet recipeslikeair - pullet pickle chipsare another good reason . check how to use an aviation fryer to makehealthier french nipper , deep-fried chicken , desserts , and more . And if you ’re uncertain which zephyr fryer to buy or what might act well for your family , we have a few suggestions based on results in our test kitchen .

How Does an Air Fryer Work?

While it might seem like magic , there ’s a simple explanation forhow air pullet work . As you know , rather than using hot oil to fry your food for thought , air fryers technically do n’t do any sauteing at all . Instead , the high hotness ( from a coil skinny to the nutrient basket ) , combined with a fan that circulates the air evenly throughout the building block , creates a grain faithful to what you find in deep - fried foods .

1. Preheat the Air Fryer

The first step in how to apply an gentle wind pullet is preheating it . Just like your oven , an air fryer needs time to preheat before it ’s quick to initiate cooking . Most air frier need only a few minutes to preheat , meaning your frier should be ready after just five mo or less . To preheat your fryer , set it to the temperature you ’ll be wangle ( you might have a digital exhibit or a dial to fix the temperature ) .

Some air fryersdon’t require preheating , but it ’ll probably take slenderly longerfor your food to finish cookingif you do n’t preheat . When you ’re still learning how to use an air fryer , watch over the instructions in your formula for the right temperature to use on your frier .

2. Make Sure Your Food Is Dry

Especially if you ’re electrocute a formula with a marinade , verify you pat your nutrient ironical before putting it in the fryer . The drier your food is when it goes in , the crispier it ’ll be when it come out . Extra liquid can also stimulate spattering and smoking , so even if you think your constituent are ironic , give them one last rap with a newspaper towel before adding them to the basket .

Avoid cooking foods with gamey fatness content , like bacon , in your air pullet . The excess adipose tissue can go smoke while you ’re cooking .

3. Add a Small Amount of Oil and Place in Basket

While we bid it were potential to electrocute without any oil color , aura fryer doneed a little oilto make your food crispy ( but you ’ll use a lot less than a traditional fryer ) . convulse your food with a minor amount of oil ( around a tablespoon or less ) to cake it evenly , then add it to the air fryer basket . you’re able to also use a nonstick cooking nebuliser made with ahealthier oilsuch as avocado oil with a gamey smoke level . Make certain you do n’t overcrowd the basket with food . If you do , it wo n’t get crispy ( and that ’s the better part ) . It ’s good to cook in batches to ensure everything fake evenly .

4. Fry and Stir

Set your food to cook for the timeindicated in your recipe . Most formula call for stirring your food halfway through preparation or giving the basket a gentle shake midway through . This will help everything cook evenly and get gracious and crispy . If you ’re cooking food high in fat , likechicken wings , you might also call for to check the bottom tray a few times to empty any extra fat . Once the cooking time is up , absent the air fryer theme and release the basket . Next , remove your food from the basket and let it cool for a few minute of arc before dig in .

Tips for How to Use an Air Fryer from Our Test Kitchen

Want to make the most of your air travel fryer ? Here are a couple of gratuity to keep in mind each time you open fire it up :

Our Favorite Air Fryers

If you desire to learn how to expend an air fryer but you do n’t have one , you’re able to be overwhelmed by all the choices available . rely us : you could get what you want without break the bank . Here are ourTest Kitchen ’s top plectrum .

Now that you know how to use an melody fryer do n’t restrict yourself to fry ! Like yourInstant Pot , this countertop appliance is very various , so put it to work . Your air fryer can cook almost anything you ’d typically bake in the oven . That let in veggie , kabobs , anddesserts(likechocolate chip cookies ! ) .

Red Digital Air Fryer

Credit: Blaine Moats

Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers

Credit: Caitlin Bensel