Expert shares how to stop making most common air fryer mistakes

Air fryers are the best. Quicker cook times, shorter pre-heating, less energy use, and less oil mean they trump conventional ovens and frying pans in most scenarios, and the public gets it.

They’ve very much graduated from being a ‘must-have kitchen fad’ to just a regular, non-fad ‘must-have’, and for good reason.

But with such a boom in ownership between UK households comes plenty of opportunities for people to misunderstand the nifty little devices, and so spawns an article such as this.

Air fryers beat conventional ovens in countless scenarios (Thitikarn Paothongthai/Getty Images)

If you want to make the most of your air fryer and cut out those pesky little faux pas, you’re in the right place.

Clare Andrews, a bestselling author and air fryer cookbook guru, was gifted her first air fryer during the COVID lockdowns, and she’s scarcely looked back.

Having amassed a loyal social media following, she’s one of the most trusted names in air fryers, and so it’s to her that we’ll turn for the all-important advice.

Andrews spoke to The Daily Record to detail her ‘fair share’ of air fryer disasters, and how you can avoid the same mistakes.

Let’s get into it.

1. Skipping the cleaning

It’s all too easy to assume your air fryer doesn’t need a proper clean, and it’s a mistake Andrews has admitted to making herself.

"As tempting as it may seem to leave it for another day, this can cause a build-up of grease and crumbs leading to burnt residues, which can cause smoke and sometimes a rather unpleasant odour,” she explained.

“This, of course, can also lead to your air fryer not performing as it should, and the longevity of your machine. If you don't fancy cleaning every time, certain foods can be cooked in a silicone liner and even oven-proof dishes.”

2. Overloading your basket

Much like dishwashers, you can’t treat your air fryer like a magic box. If you overload it, it won’t be able to cook food efficiently. Andrews reckons overfilling is a key mistake made by air fryer novices.

"This can be a problem as air fryers rely on rapid air circulation to cook food evenly and if you overcrowd the basket, that can block the hot air from reaching your food and circulating properly,” said Andrews.

“Which can lead to soggy textures and unevenly cooked food.”

3. Cooking light foods

Air fryers blast hot air over whatever they’re cooking, and for low-weight foods this can spell disaster.

“Steer clear of very light foods, such as mini meringue, small tortilla wraps even cheese slices,” Andrews explained.

“They can take off in the air currents and stick to the heating element at the top, which can cause smoking and potentially ruin your machine."

Turning food midway through a cook can give you a more even bake (Grace Cary/Getty Images)

4. Forgetting to turn your food

"Another frequent mistake is not shaking the basket or turning your food halfway through the cooking time,” shared Andrews.

Different spots will have different temperatures, and some food might be blocking other food from getting a good blast of hot air.

As with cooking in microwaves and ovens, it’s worth giving your air fryer food a shake midway through cooking so you get a more even cook.

Now, go forth and air fry like the domestic deity you are.