Air fryers have become kitchen essentials, promising crispy food without the oil and hassle of deep frying. When I bought my first air fryer, I thought it would be straightforward — plug it in, throw food in the basket, and enjoy perfectly crispy results every time. Turns out, there's a lot more to air frying than the marketing materials let on.
From dealing with stubborn grease buildup to discovering that silicone accessories can trigger your smoke alarm, I learned several lessons the hard way. Some of these discoveries improved my cooking, while others just saved me from ruining dinner or setting off alarms at midnight.
1. They can take up quite a bit of counter space
Air fryers look compact in photos, and, to be fair, some of them are, but they need clearance on all sides for ventilation. You can't shove them under cabinets or against walls without risking overheating.
When I brought mine home, I quickly realized my carefully planned counter space didn't actually work. Measure your space before buying and account for ventilation needs, or you'll end up with an air fryer that lives in a cabinet and never gets used because pulling it out is too much hassle.
2. Not all foods work well in air fryers
Air fryers are amazing for certain foods and terrible for others. I learned this the messy way when I followed a tutorial for making fried eggs in the air fryer. It seemed simple enough — make a well in a piece of bread, crack an egg in it, seems simple enough.
What the tutorial didn't mention was that the circulating air can blow lightweight foods around, and eggs have a tendency to spread. The result was a disaster that required serious cleanup. Stick to foods that are naturally suited to dry heat and high airflow: frozen foods, breaded items, vegetables, and proteins, to be on the safe side.
Some air fryer models, like the Ninja Foodi Max Dual actually has a variety of settings from max crisp to bake, giving you better results across different recipes.
3. Preheating isn't always necessary
Preheating your air fryer isn't always necessary. For most foods, you can skip the preheat and just add a minute or two to your cook time.
I wasted so much time preheating in the beginning when I could've just thrown the food in and started cooking. The main exception is when you're cooking something that needs an immediate sear, like a steak. Otherwise, save yourself the time and skip it
4. Overcrowding ruins everything
I learned this one the hard way when I tried to cook an entire bag of frozen fries at once. Air fryers work by circulating hot air around your food, and when you pile everything in, the air can't flow properly. You end up with soggy, unevenly cooked food instead of the crispy results you're after.
Cook in batches if you need to, and leave space between items. Yes, it takes longer, but the difference in quality is dramatic. A half-full basket cooks infinitely better than a packed one. Overcrowding also leads to increased grease splatter, which creates more mess to clean up later.
5. You can prevent stubborn grease from forming
Grease buildup in air fryers is caused by a chemical process. When oils heat up, they undergo polymerization, transforming into a solid, sticky substance that bonds to surfaces. Air fryers accelerate this process because of the high heat and circulating air, creating tough layers that get harder to remove each time you cook.
Use protective liners like parchment paper or silicone mats in the basket to catch grease before it hits the surface. You could also choose cooking oils with high smoke points like avocado oil, which handle heat better.
Make sure you're cleaning the vent and heating element regularly, and resist the urge to crank the temperature higher than necessary. These small habits make a massive difference in how much scrubbing you'll do later.
6. Silicone baskets can set off your fire alarm
Silicone air fryer liners and baskets seem like a genius idea — they're reusable, easy to clean, and nothing sticks to them. But there's been a few instances now where my fire alarm has been set off due to the silicone heating up.
The first time I used a silicone basket at high temperature, my smoke alarm went off within minutes. Some of my friends who also bought cheap silicone baskets also experienced the same issue. Keeping the kitchen well ventilated whilst using them seems to help.
If you're going to use a silicone basket, I'd suggest spending a little extra on good quality ones rather than the cheapest option. Or, just skip them entirely and use parchment paper liners designed for air fryers instead.
7. You can actually restore the non-stick coating
After months of heavy use, your air fryer basket's non-stick coating starts looking worn. Food sticks, and you assume the basket is toast. Before buying a replacement, try restoring it.
First, deep clean the basket by mixing baking soda with water to form a paste. Apply it to the surface and let it sit for 15-30 minutes, then gently scrub with a soft sponge — avoid harsh abrasives that cause more damage. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and dry completely.
Once clean, try the cooking oil method. Preheat your air fryer to 300°F, then lightly coat the basket with a high-heat oil like vegetable or canola using a paper towel. This fills in microscopic scratches that ruin non-stick properties. Run the air fryer empty for 5-10 minutes to let the oil absorb, then turn it off and let it cool completely before wiping away excess.
It's basically seasoning the basket like a cast-iron skillet. Some experts don't recommend oils directly on baskets, but this method can extend your basket's life significantly.
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