Spraying the basket in the air fryer with nonstick spray can damage the air fryer's nonstick coating and can make the pan unsafe for use. If you need to use a cooking spray, like when cooking breaded food items like chicken tenders, only spray the food directly before turning on the air fryer.
It's not necessary to preheat the air fryer before cooking. If you do, it could change the cook time of your recipe.
If you're using an air fryer that has a nonstick surface, you usually don't have to spray the basket too. However, it depends on the type of food you're cooking. For example, salmon with skin tends to stick so for something like that, I would spray or brush the basket with oil.
If any of your food is sticking to the air fryer, feel free to spritz a little oil into the basket before placing your food in. You can also use a small amount of coconut oil and rub it in the basket before turning it on.
Even if your food does not require oil, always take a moment to at least grease your air fryer basket. I grease mine by rubbing, or spraying, a little bit of oil on the bottom grates. This will ensure that your food won't stick.
Make sure the food is heavy enough to weigh down the foil.
While we're on the subject, you also shouldn't preheat an air fryer with foil in the basket. Wait for the air fryer to reach the correct temperature, and then add the foil at the same time you add your food.
Use a kitchen towel and lightly dry the Air Fryer drawer and basket. You don't need to dry it totally, as the Air Fryer itself will do a great job of drying the basket and drawer. Place the basket inside the drawer and place it into your Air Fryer. Turn the temperature to 400 degrees and set the timer for 5 minutes.
Insert the air fry basket with the basket base or oven-safe cookware into the inner pot. STEP 2: Add your food into the air fryer basket. Follow instructions on page 23. Note: All oven-safe cookware is safe to use in the inner pot.
Canola oil: For cooking below 400 degrees. Baking spray: For sweet treats fried below 400 degrees. Grapeseed oil: For cooking up to 420 degrees. Avocado oil: For dishes prepared at up to 520 degrees.
In your oven, you often use parchment paper to prevent food from sticking to the baking pan. But in your air fryer, you don't have to because a simple spray of oil is enough. So I only recommend using parchment paper to carry food that loses shape when transferred from your kitchen working surface to the basket.
I'll repeat it again: You should never spray your air fryer basket or racks with cooking spray. In fact, you should never spray any nonstick cookware with cooking spray.
While you do not have to preheat the air fryer, if you don't, your food will take longer to cook, may cook less evenly, and the outside will likely be less crispy.
Food isn't going to fail if you don't preheat. Some small to medium air fryers have the cooking element really close to the food, which can be both good or bad. These type of air fryers cook so quick and hot you don't need to preheat.
Chan and Kudler also offer a tip to prevent sticky oil residue buildup on an air fryer. “Sticky oil often happens when the temperature gets too high; you'll end up with that sticky residue,” they explain. To avoid this, they recommend using cooking oils with higher smoke points like avocado oil.
You must season your appliance before using an air fryer for the first time. This is in order to prevent food from sticking to the basket. To season, apply a spoonful of coconut oil all over the basket. Then pop the basket back in and let the air fryer run at about 204°C (400°F) for 5 minutes.
In fact, lining your fryer basket with foil can really help when you're cooking something delicate, such as fish. However, there is one important caveat: Only put a layer of foil in the bottom of the air fryer basket where your food sits, not on the bottom of the air fryer itself.
Laurence says she always chooses parchment paper over aluminum foil in the air fryer. Parchment paper is more versatile because it is non-reactive, whereas aluminum foil is reactive. "Whatever food you're putting on that aluminum foil is going to react with aluminum," Laurence says.
It is absolutely safe to use aluminum foil in your air fryer. In fact, it can make cooking with the air fryer easier.
For fresh vegetables or large proteins like chicken or steak, coat the food with at least 1/2 teaspoon of oil per batch to ensure that the food gets crisp and golden while air frying.
Dry the outside of the food properly before you add oil. Do not use too much oil, as this will make the food less crispy and more fattening. Meat or poultry can be lightly brushed with oil or marinated to get the crispiest results.