Must Know Air Fryer Tips & Tricks

Whether you're new to air frying or just want better results with your favorite recipes, my kitchen-tested tips will boost your confidence and save you from common mistakes.

From crispy chicken wings to golden fries, knowing these smart air fryer techniques will help you achieve that perfect texture every time.

1. Don’t Overcrowd The Basket

Air fryers rely on powerful hot air circulation to cook your food evenly and achieve that signature crispy finish. When you overcrowd the basket, the air can’t flow properly around each piece of food, which hinders the whole cooking process.

For the best texture and results, give your food enough space by cooking in smaller batches and ensuring there's at least one inch of space between each item on all sides.

2. Shake or Flip Halfway Through

Shaking smaller foods like french fries or meatballs halfway through cooking helps expose all sides to the hot air. For bigger pieces like chicken breasts or quesadillas, flipping them over with tongs ensures both sides crisp up nicely and cook through.

This easy step boosts your air fryer’s performance and prevents uneven cooking or dry spots.

3. Preheat Your Air Fryer

Preheating your air fryer is just like preheating a traditional oven. It helps with even cooking and shortens the total cooking time.

Most models only need 2 to 3 minutes to reach the right temperature, so it’s a quick step that sets you up for crispy, delicious meals every time you use your air fryer.

4. Lightly Coat Your Food with Oil

A light spray or brush of oil goes a long way in getting your food perfectly crispy and golden without making it greasy. Avoid aerosol cooking sprays. Instead, use a refillable pump sprayer or brush to apply a thin, even layer of oil.

This method helps your food brown beautifully and keeps your air fryer basket in great shape.

5. Adjust Cooking Times for Smaller Air Fryers

Smaller air fryer models tend to cook faster because the heating element is closer to the food, which means you’ll need to watch your food more carefully. When trying a new recipe, start by reducing the time slightly and check for doneness early.

Getting familiar with your specific air fryer’s quirks helps you avoid overcooked or burnt meals.

6. Save Time Reheating Leftovers

Air fryers excel at reheating leftovers while keeping them crispy, unlike microwaves that often leave food soggy. Fries, pizza, fried chicken, and more come out tasting almost freshly made.

Plus, reheating in the air fryer is quick and easy, making it a smart way to enjoy your leftovers without sacrificing texture or flavor.

7. Let Frozen Foods Sit a Few Minutes Before Cooking

You don't have to fully thaw them, but you should let frozen foods like chicken nuggets, mozzarella sticks, or tater tots sit at room temperature for a few minutes before popping them into your air fryer.

This step helps reduce uneven cooking or sogginess caused by ice crystals and moisture. It’s especially helpful for breaded items to get that crisp outer coating without overcooking the inside.

8. Dry Food Before Air Frying

Excess moisture is the enemy of crispy air fryer results. Whether it’s washed vegetables or thawed meat, patting food dry with a paper towel before seasoning helps prevent steaming and promotes browning.

A dry surfaces allow the hot air to crisp up your food instead of making it soggy or rubbery.

9. Clean Your Air Fryer Regularly

Keeping your air fryer clean prevents built-up grease and crumbs that can cause smoking, off flavors, and even affect cooking performance. Check your air fryer manual for specific cleaning instructions.

Always wait until the appliance is completely cool, then wash the basket and tray after each use with warm, soapy water. Regular cleaning helps your air fryer last longer and keeps every meal tasting fresh.

Also, most air fryers have an inner surface above where the air fryer basket sits that should be wiped down as well.

10. Use A Meat Thermometer

Because air fryers cook food quickly, it’s easy to accidentally overcook or undercook meats. Using a meat thermometer ensures your chicken, pork, steak, or roasts reach a safe internal temperature without drying out.

See my guides for the safe internal temperatures of different meats:

• Fish Internal Temperatures
• Chicken Internal Temperatures
• Beef Internal Temperatures
• Pork Internal Temperatures
• Sausage Internal Temperatures

12. Don't Rely On Presets

While air fryer presets can be convenient, they aren’t always accurate for every recipe or portion size (kind of like the 'popcorn' button on the microwave.).

Adjusting temperature and cook time manually based on the food type, thickness, and quantity gives better results. Follow recipe suggestions and tailor the cooking time to suite the food and your air fryer model.

13. Rest Meats Before Serving

Resting meats after air frying is essential for juicy results, whether you're air frying or not.

Let your cooked chicken, steak, or pork sit on the counter covered loosely with foil for a few minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute and the meat to finish cooking gently.

14. Avoid Using Non-Stick Aerosol Sprays in your Air Fryer Basket

Non-stick aerosol sprays like PAM can damage your air fryer’s nonstick coating over time and leave a sticky residue that’s hard to clean.

Instead, use a refillable oil mister or brush on a light coat of oil directly on the food before cooking. This protects your basket and keeps your food tasting fresh and crisp.

15. Save Meat Juices for Sauces or Gravy

If you're cooking something like chicken, beef, or pork in your air fryer, don't dump the juices that collect in the drawer. Those drippings are full of flavor and make a great starting point for a quick pan sauce or gravy.

Follow my instructions here for how to make gravy with cornstarch.

16. It's Fine to Open the Air Fryer While Cooking

Unlike baking, where opening the oven can ruin a cake, air frying is much more forgiving. You can open the basket to check on your food, give it a shake, flip it, or mist it with oil. Once you close it, the air fryer will keep cooking like normal.

17. Prevent Smoking from Fatty Foods

When cooking high-fat foods like bacon or sausage, you might see some smoke from your air fryer. That’s usually caused by hot grease in the bottom drawer. To keep it from smoking, just add a little water under the basket before you start cooking.

If cooking large batches, be sure to empty the grease from your air fryer basket between every batch.

18. Using Liners and Bakeware in the Air Fryer

Parchment paper, aluminum foil, and oven-safe metal pans can all be used in your air fryer, but they need to be placed carefully. Make sure parchment is weighed down with food so the fan doesn't blow it around, and don’t cover the entire basket with foil or a pan or you’ll block airflow. Note: Don’t use them during preheating, they can fly up and touch the heating element.

Cut the parchment or foil to fit just the flat bottom of the basket. Make sure to leave space around the edges so hot air can still move freely. It's an awesome cleanup hack for greasy foods.

I’d love to hear your favorite air fryer hacks or go-to recipes. Drop them in the comments below!

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