Recently, I made the switch from a traditional convection oven to an air fryer. I’d been meaning to try one for a while. After all, they’re cheaper, faster and easier to clean, so why not? I gave one a go when I cooked my last Christmas dinner in an air fryer. The turkey was moist and the potatoes were crisp, so I was sold.
In fact, I was so happy with the results of my fist air fryer, that I bought a second one. While the first has a traditional single basket, the Bosch Series 6 MAF671B1GB, the second has two baskets stacked on top of each other – the Ninja Double Stack SL300UK. I’ve had my two air fryers since the start of summer and have been cooking in both ever since. Here are 5 lessons I’ve learned in my air-frying time that are worth knowing before you make the same upgrade.
The dishwasher’s not enough
Yes, most air-fryer parts can go in the dishwasher, and that does make them a cinch to clean. But, in practice, it’s not always practical. For one, between the baskets and the crisper plates, there’s not always space for everything (especially if you’re using it daily). For two, the dishwasher cannot always reach into every crevice and hole in the crisper plate, leaving residue behind.
So, washing by hand is usually necessary with everyday use, and it’s better if you’re looking to do a deep clean. Even so, I was annoyed to find parts still felt greasy after a good scrub. For that reason, I recommend soaking the parts first in hot soapy water for 10 minutes, then using a clean toothbrush to reach into the crevices around the pads on the underside of the crisper plate and to clear any blocked holes. Always use dishwasher tablets that contains enzymes to help break down the grease.
Opt for silicone liners
If you want to make cleaning a little easier, there are paper air fryer liners available. These sit in the air-fryer basket and stop the grease from dripping down and spitting onto the walls. Once cooking is finished, you just dispose of the liner and replace with a fresh one.
However, this feels quite wasteful, so I was happy to learn that I could use silicone liners instead. These work in much the same way but are washable and reusable. They’re good to go in the upper rack in the dishwasher and are available in a range of shapes and sizes to suit all kinds of air fryers. Silicone liners also generally feature a raised design on the base, making foods less likely to become soggy from sitting in the oil.
One basket or two?
This is the ultimate question when picking out an air fryer. A single large basket is the classic design. But there are now many models available with two adjoining baskets – either side-by-side or stacked. Some air fryers also feature one large basket with a removable divider to get the best of both worlds.
One large basket gives you more space to cook one type of food; remember food generally can’t be stacked in an air fryer, so the length of your basket is your limit. Whereas dual basket designs let you cook two things at once and can usually be synced to finish at the same time. However, the baskets are smaller on these, so portions are more limited.
The better option depends on what you’re planning to cook and for how many people. If the air fryer is merely supporting your oven for cooking side dishes, one basket might be enough. But if you’re relying on it for the majority of the meal, and you have picky eaters, two might be better. A large basket with a divider might also work, but keep in mind that designs such as this, and the side-by-side designs in general, take up a huge amount of counter space, so stackable baskets like the one I got from Ninja might be best.
As a side note: when you pick your air fryer, keep in mind that you’re going to be handling the basket(s) a lot during washing. Smaller baskets are generally much easier to clean for this reason, and I’m more likely to cook odds and ends in the two-basket fryer because of this!
Some air fryers taste better than others
You might not believe it, but it’s true. I’ve had many evenings at the dinner table where my partner and I have debated whether the same sausages, chips or fried chicken taste better in one air fryer over the other. Depending on the fan, the heat distribution and the basket size, all sorts of factors can affect the results of what you air fry.
To get the best results, it’s always worth checking out reviews beforehand. The GHI has tested a range of air fryers to find those that are worth the purchase. They air fry chips, roast a whole chicken and even bake fairy cakes to find the top performers.
Look out for air-fryer cooking charts
Air fryers are so popular now that lots of chilled and frozen foods have specific air fryer cooking charts printed right on the pack. That makes it less of a guessing game when you’re programming the air fryer and means there’s less room for error considering these appliances cook so quickly. It also means you can see if any items can be cooked side by side, as I did last Christmas with my stuffing and pigs in blankets.
GHI approved best air fryers
95/100
Score: 95/100
