Air Fryer Guide UK
Countertop convenience or just a load of hot air?
Over the past few years, the air fryer has enjoyed a boom in popularity, becoming a staple in kitchens all around. The miniature countertop ovens can cook, bake, roast and reheat all kinds of food quickly and evenly, without the need for unhealthy additives like oil. Making them more than convenient and a healthier and more efficient method of cooking for many.
A huge benefit of owning an air fryer is that it can make small work of a range of dishes and recipes. Read on to find out where the air fryer came from, why everyone’s talking about them and how to use one to achieve the best results. The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to the air fryer, and once you’ve got one in your kitchen, you’ll wonder what you ever did before. But, let’s start off with a bit of a history lesson.
What is an air fryer?
Although the air fryer has only been in the spotlight for the past ten years or so, the technology behind it dates back to the Second World War, invented by a chap called William L. Maxson. He was thinking about ways to reheat frozen meals for American servicemen and dreamt up the whirlwind oven – a large appliance which used a fan to circulate hot air. It took its much smaller form, as we know it today, around 2010.
For most people, an air fryer is a small convection worktop oven that uses rapidly circulating hot air to cook food. This mimics the effect of deep frying but with significantly less oil. And unlike microwave ovens, it’s absolutely fine to put foil in an air fryer, but it will get very hot, so be careful.
How does an air fryer work
Air fryers feature a heating element, a high-speed fan and a seal to keep all of the hot air in. The fan circulates hot air around the food at high speed, cooking it evenly and creating a crispy exterior. Plus, due to its smaller size, the heating is more intense (and often cheaper to run) which means the circulating air can cook your food quicker, ideal for when you’re in a hurry.
What can you cook in an air fryer?
Due to the air fryer’s small size, its relatively low price point and quick cooking times, it’s no surprise popularity is on the up and up. But above all those tasty benefits is the humble air fryer’s versatility. You can cook almost anything in the air fryer, such as meat, frozen food, potatoes, quiche and baked goods. If yours has two separate compartments, you can cook two completely different dishes at once.
What can’t you cook in an air fryer?
Unfortunately, you can’t air fry absolutely everything. You should avoid anything with a wet batter (which will fall to bits), anything of liquid consistency like soup or stews or anything loose that would be able to drip through slots in the basket. Saying that, you can cook great eggs in the air fryer, just pop them in a ramekin.
How to use an air fryer
Using an air fryer is really straightforward, and only requires a few button-pushes to get going. Unlike your standard big oven, you don’t need to wait 10–15 minutes for it to preheat. A couple of minutes is normally sufficient, depending on the make and model.
A lot of air fryer models will come with presets for certain types of food, like white meat, chips, or muffins, but the temperature and timer settings are always adjustable. Just remember to offer some clearance between your air fryer and the wall behind, usually 10cm. The fan can pump out some very warm air, which if left for a long period of time, could melt things directly behind it.
1. Prepare your food
If you need to prepare your food before it goes into the air fryer, now is the time to do it. Because the air fryer doesn’t take long to warm up, it’s best to have everything ready before you switch it on. When it comes to chopping up your ingredients, we always recommend cutting them into similar-sized pieces for even cooking.
2. Preheat
Always give your air fryer a minute or two to preheat so it can reach your desired temperature. Some air fryers may require longer to preheat so always check your manual first.
3. Fill the basket
Time to add your food to the air fryer basket. Be careful to not overcrowd the basket as this will prevent air circulation. Look for the maximum capacity line in the basket for guidance.
4. Set the temperature and time
Refer to the recipe, packaging instructions or your air fryer manual for guidance on how long your food should be cooked for and at what temperature.
5. Shake or flip halfway through
For some foods, it is best to shake the basket halfway through cooking to ensure even browning and crispness. This is even more important when cooking large quantities where you might consider shaking the basket every 5 minutes or so for even results.
6. Enjoy!
Once the timer goes off, check your food is pipping hot and enjoy!
Air fryer temperature guide UK
There are many sweet and savoury dishes you can cook at home in your air fryer, some of which will pair perfectly with a side of your favourite rice (probably not muffins or cookies though) such as:
| Food | Temperature | Time |
| Rice | 200°C | 23 – 26 mins |
| Frozen chips | 180°C | 15 – 18 mins |
| Frozen potato wedges | 180°C | 18 – 22 mins |
| Chicken breast | 180°C | 15 – 18 mins |
| Chicken thighs (boneless) | 200°C | 15 – 18 mins |
| Frozen chicken nuggets or goujons | 200°C | 10 – 12 mins |
| Prawns | 200°C | 6 – 8 mins |
| Fish fillet | 200°C | 8 – 12 mins |
| Bacon | 180°C | 8 – 10 mins |
| Sausages | 180°C | 16 – 20 mins |
| Corn on the cob | 200°C | 8 – 12 mins |
| Carrots | 180°C | 10 – 14 mins |
| Quiche | 160°C | 10 – 12 mins |
| Cookies | 160°C | 8 – 10 mins |
| Muffins | 160°C | 11 – 13 mins |
How to clean an air fryer
When it comes to the clean-up, the removable basket will generally have a removable, slotted metal plate in it, allowing air to freely circulate around the food you’re cooking. In most cases, both the plate and the basket are completely dishwasher safe. If you don’t have a dishwasher, you can simply clean the basket and plate with hot soapy water, as you would any other kitchen utensil. Just make sure you let them cool down before cleaning.
Air fryer FAQs
Do air fryers save electricity?
The cost of living crisis has us all looking for ways to cut back on spending, and the air fryer is a great cost-saver. Although it shares technology with the standard kitchen oven, it’s a lot smaller and therefore takes less time to cook your food. Instead of heating up the whole oven, and perhaps only using 30-50% of the space inside, the air fryer offers a more compact, more efficient cooking space, and promises a tasty, crispy finish.
Do you need to preheat an air fryer?
Whether you need to preheat your air fryer will depend on your make and model, but we always recommend preheating your air fryer for a couple of minutes and suggest checking your manufacturer’s manual for more information on your specific model.
Can you put foil in an air fryer?
Yes, unlike with a microwave, you can use foil in an air fryer to line the basket for easier cleanup. However, we recommend that you avoid covering the food completely as it can hinder air circulation.
Are air fryers healthy?
As air fryers use significantly less oil than deep-fat frying but produce similar results, they are a healthier alternative. However, the healthiness of an air fryer will depend on what you cook and we always recommend eating a balanced diet.
Are air fryers worth it?
If you love crispy food and want a healthier alternative to deep frying, an air fryer is a great investment. They’re also versatile and can cook a variety of dishes quickly which is an excellent benefit for those who are time-poor in the kitchen.
