How to use the air fryer: turn on, cook, wash

Characteristics and capabilities of the air fryer

Air fryer models differ in their set of functions, technical characteristics, and appearance. The price of devices depends on the combination of all these parameters, especially on the number of additional options.

Keeping warm: the appliance runs at a minimum heat level after the end of the program, just to keep the food hot for a while.
The presence of a temperature sensor that monitors overheating of equipment.
Adjusting the speed of air circulation during cooking.
Delayed start. A very convenient function, loved by many housewives. In electric convection ovens, depending on the model, you can set the temperature from 9 to 24 hours. This function allows you to load food into the bowl and go about your business. The device will turn on itself at the appointed hour in the specified mode and prepare food.
Self-cleaning. After working out this mode, you simply need to wipe the device.
Smoking. A great opportunity to prepare delicious smoked delicacies right at home. Meat or fish are pre-marinated. Wood chips or aromatic mixtures for smoking (usually sawdust from fruit trees) are placed in the wood chips section, then a container is installed where the fat will go. A grate for food is placed on this container. The taste and quality of the food is the same as from a full-fledged smokehouse.
Double boiler. Yes, the air fryer can steam. But it's better not to do this. Since the device is not sealed inside, hot wet steam damages the working elements of the device.
Some models are equipped with mechanical stirrers. Products are stirred automatically during cooking, without the participation of the cook.

Advantages and disadvantages of an air fryer

Like any other technique, the air fryer has its pros and cons.

Advantages:

Multifunctionality. The main and most important advantage is that this technique has absorbed a large number of the most necessary functions of other devices: toaster, steamer, microwave, yogurt maker, etc.
Space saving. Considering that the convection oven replaces a huge amount of equipment, its advantage can be highlighted in saving space that could be occupied by other units.
It is possible to use any utensils other than wooden ones. Food can be placed in a bowl in an oven safe glass container. You can use pots and plastic molds. But, in fact, there is no need for any additional dishes. Everything you need for cooking is included in the air fryer set.
The ability to cook dishes without using oil or with a minimum amount of it. The oil you use will of course depend on the recipe you are following. Most often, recipes contain oil. But incredibly tasty low-fat dishes can also be prepared on an air fryer.
Fast and easy cooking. You just need to load the ingredients into the bowl and turn on the appropriate mode.
Save time. Thanks to the grate, the air fryer can be used to cook two dishes at the same time.

There are recipes for cooking chicken, hot and cold smoked fish.
The disadvantages of the air fryer are not so noticeable:

The glass bowl is quite heavy. It takes some effort to drain grease and other waste.
The air fryer takes up a lot of space and looks bulky.
Some dishes take much longer to cook in an air fryer than with the usual method.
The bowl gets very hot. Quite a dubious flaw. After all, pots and pans also become very hot during use. Place the device out of the reach of children and do not worry about the heat emanating from it.

A properly chosen convection oven combines several household appliances at once - an oven, a steamer, a grill, a dryer for herbs and vegetables.

Preparing the air fryer for use

Before turning on the device for the first time, you need to carry out some procedures.

Remove shipping and other auxiliary equipment from the flask.
Wipe the inside with a soft, loose cloth or sponge.
Plug the plug into the socket.
Close the flask with a lid.

Before cooking food in an air fryer, it must be warmed up.

First you need to adjust the timer for 6 minutes and set the temperature to 260 degrees. The device itself will run this mini-program, heat up and automatically stop. For the first time, a burning smell may appear - this is the remains of lubricants and dust burning. This is normal, there is no need to be scared.
Cool the device.
Wipe the flask again.

That's it, the air fryer can be used for its intended purpose, it is ready.

What kind of cookware should I use for the air fryer?

Many people confuse an air fryer with a microwave and use the same dishes in it, although this should not be done. But then what kind of dishes should be used in the air fryer? Let's talk about this issue in more detail to understand exactly what kind of cookware is suitable. Firstly, you should take into account that temperatures here reach 280 degrees, so you should not use dishes that are not suitable for such temperatures. It is very important.

Such dishes include plastic and wood, so you should exclude them when using an air fryer. Secondly, you can safely use glass and ceramic dishes here. In a word, you need to choose dishes that are resistant to high temperatures, and then there will be no problems.

Related links: Eurobook sofa: what are the advantages and disadvantages

Overview of the air fryer control panel

Touch control panel

All controls of the air fryer, all its adjustments and programs are displayed on its front side, often in a single control panel. It can be sensory or mechanical (rotary controls). Also here there is usually a display in more advanced models or a strip of indicators that show the elapsed and remaining cooking time, work program, speed and air temperature inside.

All modes, including preheating, defrosting, and self-cleaning, are activated from this panel. It contains:

timer;
indicators of temperature and air flow speed;
buttons to add or decrease time;
buttons for adding or decreasing parameters (speed, temperature, etc.);
data reset key;
buttons to activate modes: heating, fan speed, self-cleaning, defrosting and start.

By monitoring the timer readings, the cooking time is set using the increase/decrease keys. This value can range from 1 minute to 24 hours. If you press a key not discretely, but for a long time, the speed of “winding up” time increases.

Mechanical control panel

Device capabilities

The air grill can replace many kitchen appliances due to its functionality. This device has such a wide range of capabilities.

The device can be used as a steamer and steamed with it. To do this, you need to place a bowl of water at the bottom of the device’s bowl and cook on a high rack.
Despite the fact that the air fryer does not require constant attention to the food it is preparing, sometimes you still need to stir the food. In this case, some models have the function of mixing ingredients during cooking. If necessary, just press the button on the program panel.
Particular attention should be paid to the smoking function. You can cook cold smoked fish, lard and chicken by selecting the appropriate temperature and fan speed.

The device has a self-cleaning function. To do this, pour hot water at a level of 3-4 cm and detergent into the flask. Next, set the temperature to 150 degrees and turn on the timer for 5-15 minutes, depending on the contamination.
Some models also have a food heating function. You can turn it on yourself or set a timer for a specific time.

Advice! It is not advisable to use steam cooking equipment frequently, so as not to damage the heating element. To prepare “healthy nutrition” dishes, it is better to get a double boiler.

General rules of use

An instruction manual is included with the device itself. Cooking in an air fryer is very simple - just follow the instructions for use:

Connect the device to the network.
Place all the original ingredients into the container and close the lid tightly.
Set the necessary parameters on the built-in panel. Their set is small - speed, time and temperature.
When the temperature reaches the set point, the fan turns on and begins to circulate hot air inside the convection oven.

Upon completion of the cooking process, the unit itself will signal this with a sound. But there is no need to rush to pull its plug from the network. This can only be done when the convection oven has cooled down and the fan has finally stopped.

The dish is ready. Now is the time to think about how to wash your “helper”. This can be done by turning on self-cleaning or using a dishwasher. In the first option, you must follow the following steps.

Pour in dishwashing detergent and fill the container with very hot water (stop halfway).
Close the lid for 10 minutes at 250 degrees.
The process is completed - the inside of the flask is rinsed, and the lid is simply wiped with a towel.
During this process, you can leave dirty grates, baking sheets, and skewers inside.

You can only wash the flask itself in the dishwasher, after first removing it from the body. But it is strictly forbidden to treat the lid itself in this way.

Choosing a convection oven

Before choosing an air fryer, decide what dishes you want to purchase it for. If this is a standard set of dishes for an air fryer, then it is enough to purchase an inexpensive model. For a wider range of dishes and experiments, it is better to purchase a model with a large number of different functions.

The average power of air fryers is 600-1500 W. It depends on the temperature regime in which the appliance operates and what its blowing speed is during the preparation of a particular dish.

Another important parameter for choosing a particular appliance model is the volume of the pan. Typically, the instructions indicate two volumes: in the normal position and with magnifying rings.

The air fryer fan can operate in one or several speed modes. Three-speed fans are optimal. Budget convection oven models are equipped with a mechanical control unit and have one fan speed mode. Models with an electronic control unit have a larger selection of modes.

There are devices with the function of automatically heating food and delaying start. The timer should be designed for the cooking time of the most complex dish that you intend to cook in the air fryer.

The lids of air fryers are also different. They can be removable and fixed to the body using a special bracket. The removable cover may not be convenient enough due to its heavy weight. When it's hot, it's difficult to remove. But devices with a removable lid are more compact in size.

Budget and expensive models of devices are equipped with a self-cleaning function.

Another parameter that you should pay attention to before choosing an air fryer is its weight, since sometimes the flask needs to be washed by hand.

Multicooker and convection oven in the same design from Redmond

The air fryer has two control methods: mechanical control and electronic control. The first is two knobs, with the help of which modes are set and the temperature is set. Electronic convection ovens are improved designs that are easy to use and have greater capabilities. For example, such models have three air convection modes (65-260C), which allows you to diversify the range of prepared dishes.

Read also: Tips for choosing dishes for the microwave

The presence of a mode for constantly maintaining a certain low temperature allows you to keep food hot for several hours. Another function is delay cooking, the essence of which is that in the morning food is placed in a glass container, the mode is set, and in the evening you get a ready-made hot dinner. But if with mechanically controlled air fryers you can postpone cooking for only one hour, then with electronic ones you can postpone cooking for a whole day. And also all devices of any model are equipped with a self-cleaning mode.

The REDMOND company has released a rather interesting model RAG-240 - a universal convection oven without a bowl. Essentially, it is a cover with a fan and a built-in heating element (halogen). The device is installed, for example, on a regular pan into which food is placed. The desired mode is set, and after a few hours a healthy dish is obtained. The diameter of the lid is 22.5 centimeters, which means it will cover any container in which food is prepared of the same size. These come in pots and pans, and this type of air fryer is also installed on baking dishes, bowls from multicookers and steamers. The main thing is that the dishes are heat-resistant.

Air fryer dishes

The air grill in operating mode can heat the contents to a temperature of 260 degrees. At the same time, the heat source is open. Therefore, only heat-resistant dishes are suitable for the air fryer. Plastic and wooden ones are not suitable, even if they are marked “microwave safe”.

Buying a universal container for all dishes will not work. True, you won’t have to completely change the utensils in the kitchen either. Many items will fit in the air fryer. Suitable for different dishes:

roasting meat, roasting, soups - ceramic pan;
frying meat, potatoes, vegetables - glass container;
baking - metal molds, non-stick baking sheets, silicone molds.

In the air fryer you can use aluminum dishes and foil, metal, ceramic and silicone utensils, which cannot be done in the microwave.

In general terms, the process of choosing dishes for an air fryer can be based on the following points.

The cookware must be heat-resistant and heat-resistant. Usually there is a corresponding marking on the bottom or on the packaging.
The thermal conductivity of the cookware is also important. If it's good, the heat will penetrate quickly and the food will cook faster. So, in a glass or aluminum container the dish will cook faster than in a ceramic pot.
Wall thickness. For a golden brown crust on the dish, it is better to use thin dishes. For slow simmering - thick.
The size of the container should not be larger than 25 cm. This diameter allows heat flows to calmly walk around and cook food evenly.

Types of air fryers

There are two types of air fryers. The first one for preparing delicious, simple everyday dishes from fish, meat, poultry, and vegetables. Others are multifunctional, designed also for baking products from any type of dough (choux pastry meringue, sponge cake, bread and even Easter cakes), hot and cold smoking, preparing dairy delicacies - cottage cheese, fermented baked milk and even yogurt, and much more.

The first line is naturally cheaper. On the control panel, special functional switches regulate temperature and time. The timer of such devices is usually designed for 60 minutes and you need to set the required cooking time. At the right time, the device turns off automatically, which is quite convenient.

Expensive models are most often equipped with an electronic rather than mechanical (as was the case in the first case) control system. This is due, first of all, to the operation of the device, which has many functions and operating modes, so the switches here are replaced with buttons for convenience. These air fryers have an additional timer that delays the start of cooking, the so-called “late start”. Sometimes, the timer is designed to preheat food to a certain, set temperature at a designated time.

Read also: Frying pan with non-stick coating

The temperature modes of the air fryer allow you to heat food from 65 to 260 degrees and set the intensity of convection. Such devices provide an indication of operating modes.

The higher the power of the air fryer, the better, as the food will cook much faster. However, you should not go too far. When the house has old wiring that is not designed for a large load, it is better to take a model with a power of 1300-1400 W. If there are no problems with the wiring, take a 1750 W unit. The presence of a stabilizer will save the device during voltage surges.

Air fryer is perfect for the garden to diversify the menu. City dwellers, of course, may find it useful in the kitchen, but many users rarely use it after several uses, taking it out from the shelf once every three months. One wonders why it is needed if meat and fish in the oven turns out much more appetizing. But those who want a healthy diet will certainly choose the air fryer.

An air grill is a multifunctional device that can:

Boil soups and eggs.
Roast chicken or vegetables.
Steam.
Bake a variety of baked goods.
Make crackers.
Roast nuts or seeds.
Dry mushrooms.
Smoke fish.

Thus, one device combines the functions of various household appliances: oven, grill, smoker, dryer and steamer. The air fryer is made in such a way that, during the preparation of various dishes, the smell of the food being prepared does not penetrate into the kitchen. Condensation does not leak through the connecting joints, which means that grease and oil stains do not form on the surface of the tabletop. At the same time, they cook in an air fryer without adding oil, and such food is considered healthy.

Recommendations for safe use

These useful tips will help you always prepare the most delicious and healthy dishes using this device.

The device should be warmed up before use.
Products are placed not on the bottom, but on the grid inside the device.
Be sure to check how tightly the lid fits to the device.
To avoid getting burns (both steam and thermal), you should be careful.
After completing the process, the lid should only be placed on a special stand - it is hot and can damage the surface of the table.
Clean the device only after it has completely cooled down.

In order for the device to serve for a long time, cook as it should and not require unnecessary attention, you must follow these recommendations.

15 minutes after the end of the cooking cycle and stopping all programs, turn off the device from the network.
If water accidentally gets into the device (panel), it must be completely disconnected from the network and the panel must be dried for at least 2.5 hours in a dry place.
The air fryer flask cannot be used for any other purposes, for example, on a gas or electric stove.
You cannot turn on the air fryer without a stand under the flask.
Care for plastic only with soft products and sponges without abrasive.
You cannot wash the grates with a steel wool, much less a brush. They will ruin the coating.
The flask is afraid of temperature shock, i.e. sudden changes in temperature. For example, you cannot put a hot flask under cold water, it will burst.

The air fryer flask is dishwasher safe

The best manufacturing companies

Many brands today have, if not a line, then certainly one representative of the convection oven family. The most reliable and high-quality manufacturers on the domestic market include:

Supra

Supra is a well-known manufacturer of a wide range of household and electronic appliances for the domestic market. It also has a convection oven with the AGS 1101 index. The product has a good classic design and average characteristics. The model has a relatively powerful 1.3 kW engine and is equipped with standard options for this class - in addition to the grill, you can dry fruits or smoke food in it, for example. The container volume is relatively high and amounts to 11 liters. The cost of such a device is 3.8 thousand rubles, which is quite budget-friendly for this segment. The disadvantages include unstable workmanship and consumers complain about the presence of backlashes, however, these products often retain all their qualities even after the expiration of the warranty period. ; The unit comes with some additional accessories in the form of a cooking grate. But this information will help you understand which grill pan is the best and how to use it.

Quite a budget device. but not very durable

Redmond

Redmond is a well-known manufacturer of household and kitchen appliances in the domestic market. It has a model with the RAG 240 index, which is quite budget-friendly for its class. The device’s engine is small, its power is only 0.8 kW, and one of the nice additional functions is the presence of self-cleaning (however, after it is carried out, it is advisable to do it manually). A special feature of the model is the absence of a bowl; for cooking it is necessary to use ordinary utensils of a suitable diameter. The company's products are of good quality and have relatively high performance compared to competitors. Also, consumers rarely have questions about the reliability of the entire structure. The cost of the product is also low and averages 1.5-2 thousand rubles. It will also be interesting to learn more about how exactly a grill pan is used on a gas stove.

The device is fully functional and has a cleaning mode

Mystery

Mystery is a budget manufacturer of various electronic equipment. It has been on the domestic market for a long time and has found its niche among consumers. The products are distinguished by good, stable quality, but sometimes units with unstable quality and manufacturing defects are found on sale. Such products, like most manufacturers, have a one-year warranty. The model has a standard bowl volume of 9 liters, which is quite enough for preparing one large dish. The average cost of the device is about 2-2.5 thousand rubles. But how good and effective a cast iron grill pan is for an induction cooker will be helped by the information in the link.

Although the equipment is quite functional and has a fairly long service life, the manufacturer’s warranty is not very long

Ves

ves is a specialized manufacturer of kitchen appliances, including air fryers with the AX730 index. The product is characterized by consistently good functionality, but it is not without its drawbacks in the form of failure due to manufacturing defects, and such cases are not uncommon in relation to competitors. In addition, it has a powerful 1.3 kW motor and a large 12-liter cooking bowl, which makes it easy to cook several dishes at the same time. The consumer will also be pleased with the presence of lighting and additional grates, skewers and a special grid for cooking. Considering the presence of such rich functionality, the cost of this device is, accordingly, quite high and amounts to about 5 thousand rubles. Also, some retailers provide an extended warranty of 2 or 3 years for this unit. You may also be interested in information about how exactly the gipfel double grill pan is used.

Very high quality equipment that can last for many years. but its cost is quite high

Hotter

hotter is a narrowly focused company engaged in the production of electronic household appliances. The HX 1097 model is rightfully considered one of the highest quality and multifunctional on the market. The quality of the models is beyond doubt among consumers, since these devices in most cases far outlast the warranty period without any breakdowns (the average operating life is about 5-7 years). In addition, the device is equipped with a convenient and modern display as a control point, contains many different cooking modes (there are 10 of them) and a useful delayed start function (this function is found mainly only in devices of the middle and high price range). The only thing that upsets the consumer is the high cost of the unit, which is about 8 thousand rubles. However, in addition to functionality, the consumer will receive a powerful and reliable 1.3 kW engine and a spacious 10-liter bowl.

The bowl is large enough to satisfy the needs of even a large family

How to properly cook in an air fryer

One of the features of this device is its transparent walls. The user can observe for himself what stage the cooking process is currently at.

Regardless of the model, you must follow the general rules for the interaction of products and such equipment.

To obtain a more crispy dish, the cooking process should be extended a little.
Food placed on the upper racks will cook faster.
When steaming, the food is poured with boiling water and covered with a lid.
The pots must be covered with foil or a special lid.
When preparing porridge, the cereal is poured with cold milk - the container itself is not covered with a lid.

Bake the meat

Any baked food turns out incredibly tasty in an air fryer. The user must place the product on the grill and select the following settings: first 15 minutes at 250 degrees, then this indicator is reduced to 200 degrees.

The question of whether it is possible to bake using foil can be answered positively. This material will protect the dish from drying out and protect it from burning.

Meat can be baked in a convection oven as a whole piece. Here are some useful tips on this matter.

A piece of meat is wrapped in foil. It is better to make it in several layers - this way the juice will not leak out.
The future dish is placed on the grill. After this, you can close the device with a lid and set the settings (they are the same as in the case of regular baking).
After the readiness bell, the air fryer will turn off on its own. All that remains is to remove the meat in foil and let it cool to room temperature without unwrapping it.
Then the cooled dish must be placed in the refrigerator without removing it from the foil.

Cooking recommendations

You can cook first courses in the air fryer. To do this, the components of the recipe must first be placed in special portioned pots. After this, it will be enough to pour boiling water over all the ingredients. As for seasonings, soup cubes can be added at the beginning of cooking. But the dish is salted at the very end.

Secrets of smoking

An air grill with a unique smoking function allows you to get the appropriate products without leaving your home. To do this, you need to prepare wood (sawdust from fruit trees or black currant branches will do), which we will place on the bottom of the bowl. A tray is placed on top to drain the fat, and the product itself will lie on the grill.

Each dish has its own cooking recommendations. Fish takes the leading position in smoking. First, it must be cleaned both inside and outside. To express the taste more clearly, the fish is processed through marinade, salt and spices. The end result will be rubbing with liquid smoke, after which the product must be left to marinate for forty minutes.

If you plan to work with chicken meat, then you should soak it briefly in any marinade of your choice, rubbing it first with salt, and then with spices and liquid smoke. It can be prepared either whole or in pieces - in any case, it will turn out very tasty. To smoke another type of meat (for example, pork), the product is cut into pieces - this is necessary so that it can subsequently fit on the grill. Before air frying, it is best to soak it in a tomato marinade for a day.

The cooking time is determined by the size of the selected piece, but on average two hours (an hour on each side).

The smoking function should be used subject to certain nuances.

Placing a rack on the lowest rack will help the dish soak up the meat better.
Adding water to the pan will make the result especially juicy.
You can lay out all the food before plugging it in or wait until the equipment warms up.
And, of course, it is recommended to constantly experiment with marinade, cooking time and temperature settings.

Design features

The design of the device is based on a glass container, which is closed on top with a lid. A fan is installed inside the latter, blowing the interior of the device. The standard container has the same dimensions: width - 30 centimeters, length - 45 centimeters, height in the range of 30-60 centimeters. Depending on the height of the tank, the volume of equipment is selected. This parameter in the product passport is indicated by two numbers: 8-12 liters, 10-14 and 12-16 liters. The first value is the nominal volume of the air fryer, the second value is the increased volume. It is obtained through the use of special expansion rings supplied in the kit. The ring is installed on the neck of the glass container and closed with a lid. The height of the ring determines the additional volume, which in all models is 4 liters. Some manufacturers offer devices with two rings, which increases the volume to 8 liters.

Glass or ceramic dishes with food are placed inside the glass tank. The cookware must be heat-resistant. In addition to the rings, the air fryer also includes:

several skewers;
a frying pan with holes that functions as a steamer;
a special attachment (roaster) for grilled chicken;
gripping tongs;
baking tray;
three racks (lower for boiling eggs, middle universal, upper for toast).

Like any household appliance, in addition to its advantages, the air fryer also has several disadvantages. In addition, an air fryer cannot replace all kitchen appliances. So, the disadvantages of the device include:

The glass container heats up to high temperatures during operation of the device, so it is operated with great care. It is better to keep children away from the air fryer.
The double boiler mode is a lengthy process that takes a lot of time. It's easier and faster to cook food in a real steamer or in a saucepan on the hob.
It is not recommended to heat food in an air fryer; it will be faster in the microwave.
It is better to bake flour products in the oven.

Interesting master classes for air frying

The final touch will be several recipes for dishes prepared in this unit. They will find worthy appreciation and use among people who love to cook.

Baked chicken

The first stage in this dish is marinating a fresh chicken carcass and seasoning it with various spices. Next, the bird is placed on the grill inside the air fryer - all that remains is to select the maximum temperature settings and focus on the cooking time of about an hour. More details in this video:

Meat in French

It is best to cook this dish in special pots. A small amount of pork meat is taken, cut into pieces and placed in a layer on the bottom of such a pot. Lubricated with mayonnaise. The next layer will be sliced potatoes, topped with onion rings and cheese. The dishes are placed on a wire rack, and the dish is cooked for half an hour at maximum speed. Video instructions here:

What can you cook in an air fryer?

In fact, the air fryer is a universal device for preparing all types of hot food. You can cook soups, borscht and other first courses in it. It’s no problem to cook any porridge, bake potatoes in pots, or prepare original pizza. Kebabs, cutlets, vegetables, and fish are perfectly fried in an air fryer. You can test your culinary skills and bake pies, buns and simply fragrant homemade bread. Cold and hot smoking, drying mushrooms, berries, fruits and vegetables for the winter are also possible with an air fryer. The most refined taste of your guests will be completely satisfied.