Home LivingAppliancesKitchenAir FryersAir fryer mistakes – we’ve made the worst of them, so you don’t have toCease and desist from making these 10 air fryer errorsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Home LivingAppliancesKitchenAir FryersAir fryer mistakes – we’ve made the worst of them, so you don’t have toCease and desist from making these 10 air fryer errorsWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Cease and desist from making these 10 air fryer errors
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Twinsterphoto/Getty)
(Image credit: Twinsterphoto/Getty)
Just how many mistakes is it possible to make with air fryers? Alas, the answer is ‘all too many’ or, for the purposes of this article, ‘10’. Air fryers are miracles of modern technology that are quick, energy-efficient, relatively compact and even healthy if you use a minimal amount of fat with them. However, air fryers also require you to learn new cooking techniques, and be a little careful with how you use and maintain them. That’s where the mistakes come in. Luckily, we have made all of them over the last few years, so now you don’t have to.
Air fryers have come on in leaps and bounds in recent years and now everyone either wants one, or has bought one. I am not going to lie: I was extremely sceptical about air fryers, not least because I tried some of the very early ones and they were, frankly, rubbish. However, I’m a convert ever since I acquired my faithfulNinja Foodi Max SmartLid– easily thebest air fryerfor my purposes, since it doubles as amulti-cookerand claims to serve up no fewer than 15 cooking settings in total.
Everybody makes mistakes; even me. If you’ve recently purchased a new air fryer, these are the mistakes you are probably making. Sostopmaking them, already!
1. Buying a crap air fryer
This need not involve spending huge amounts of money, as even the absolute top-of-the-range models from Ninja, Philips, Tefal et al are generally around the £250/$250/AU$350 mark. Case in point: the Ninja SmartLid machine that I use, and which features more bells and whistles than you can shake an air fried drumstick at. Thanks to its ‘smart lid’, the SmartLid doesallthe same things as an Instant Pot-style multi-cooker as well, so you’re effectively getting two of the most sought-after cooking devices of the past 5 years, for the price of one.
2. Overloading your air fryer
Nowthatis well-spaced chicken(Image credit: Lizzy Briskin)
Nowthatis well-spaced chicken
Nowthatis well-spaced chicken
(Image credit: Lizzy Briskin)
An air fryer is essentially a small fan oven. The thing that makes it worth using instead of youractualfan oven is that its compact size and usually, much more powerful fan can give cooking results that you would struggle to get from a standard cooker. That’s because the food is blasted with hot air, which cooks quickly, evenly and, most important, ‘crispily’, if that is a term.
However, an air fryer can only do that to best effect if the hot air is able to move around, over and – in most cases – under the food it’s cooking. If you overload the cooking basket in your air fryer you might as well just shove it in a roasting tin in your big oven. That’s especially true if you also fail to turn and/or shake it during cooking. So do that, too.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
If your air fryer has shelves or multiple baskets, make use of them to space out your food as much as possible. Clearly if you’re cooking something like chips or fries, it’s not usually practical to space them out individually, unless your family only likes 2-3 chips each with dinner. But leave some space at the top of the cooking basket/s and give them a shake or two during the cooking time, so they get the chance to cook through properly, for maximum taste n' crisp.
While you’re shaking your chips, you could also give them a bonus spray of cooking oil too, which brings me to the next terrible error people make with their air fryers…
3. Not using oil in your air fryer
Do air fryersreallyfry?No, of course not. There is a Big Lie – or, more charitably, a misunderstanding – at the heart of the air fryer industry, and it is the idea that you really can ‘fry’ food using ‘air’. Clearly you cannot. So while you could cook with a tiny amount of oil as recommended – we call this ‘baking’ where I’m from – I generally use quite a lot of oil, although nowhere near as much as when I’m roasting in an oven, or doingactualfrying in afrying panordeep fat fryer.
Fat is essential for flavour, crispiness and even cooking. Another benefit of oiling your food when air frying is that it makes it slightly sticky, which means salt, pepper, herbs and spices will adhere to it. In certain air fryers – again, particularly the cheaper ones – seasoning can otherwise be a bit of a nightmare, as it is immediately blasted off the food when the fan powers up.
4. Using the wrong kind of oil
Oil spray: it’s complicated(Image credit: Tesco)
Oil spray: it’s complicated
Oil spray: it’s complicated
(Image credit: Tesco)
Having said that, I just spray it on whatever I’m cooking, rather than the basket – which is already non-stick so it doesn’t really need oiling. So I haven’t really experienced this problem myself, but it does seem to be a genuine problem.
Luckily there is an easy way around this, and it’s to buy a reusable oil spray –Amazon has loads of them– and then fill it with your favourite, additive-free oil.
However, the smoke point of oil is also an important thing to bear in mind here. Some cooking oils will start to smoke and burn at the high temperatures that air fryers reach. As a result, you are better off with sunflower, rapeseed (canola) and peanut (groundnut) oil, rather than olive oil. Olive oil has a much lower smoke point, and hence may add an unpleasant burnt flavour to your air fried supper. There is also a certain amount of evidence that burnt oils in food can be bad for your long-term health. So keep your olive oil for use at the end of cooking instead. Or just rub it on your skin and roll around in salt.
5. Using fresh veggies instead of frozen
Head to your freezer section for the best results(Image credit: Hisense)
Head to your freezer section for the best results
Head to your freezer section for the best results
(Image credit: Hisense)
Frozen vegetables are brilliant in the air fryer. You don’t need to thaw them first, and they become wonderfully crisp as they cook without the sogginess you might expect. And unlike the fresh veg I’ve been getting from the supermarkets lately, frozen vegetables don’t turn to mush fifteen seconds after you get in from the shops so there’s less food waste too.
6. Forgetting to add water (or adding too much)
This is too much(Image credit: Äike)
This is too much
This is too much
(Image credit: Äike)
If you’re cooking greasy foods such as bacon in an air fryer with a basket – and you should, because the results are fantastic – grease will fall down and start smoking. All you need to do to reduce this is to put a small quantity of water, around 1 tablespoon, in the bottom. That makes the grease float on cooler water instead of landing on the hot surface.
7. Not checking your food during cooking
Pay attention, man!(Image credit: iStock/Getty)
Pay attention, man!
Pay attention, man!
(Image credit: iStock/Getty)
If you’re used to traditional ovens you’ll know the importance of not letting the heat out, but that doesn’t apply here: with air frying the difference between beautifully crisp and burnt to a cinder can be a fairly short period of time. In addition to shaking the food about halfway through the cook, check it as you get closer to the end of the cooking time.
8. Not cleaning your air fryer
This lady appears to have a special mini-dishwasher just for her air fryer. Please note this isnotnecessary(Image credit: Xiaomi)
This lady appears to have a special mini-dishwasher just for her air fryer. Please note this isnotnecessary
This lady appears to have a special mini-dishwasher just for her air fryer. Please note this isnotnecessary
(Image credit: Xiaomi)
Read our handy guide:how to clean an air fryer. It tells you everything you need to know. One benefit of buying a more premium air fryer in the first place – see mistake #1, above – is that it will have better non-stick coatings, and will be easier to clean, particularly if you have a dishwasher as the key parts will usually all be dishwasher proof.
You need to clean the removable, cooking parts after every use. I don’t know why some people seem to have a problem with this concept. Do they also re-use the same frying pan or saucepan from last night’s dinner without cleaning it? If so, that is gross.
It’s also advisable to regularly clean any silicone/rubber seals, and keep an eye out for anything burnt on to the cooking element. A small amount of food matter on the interior or element isn’t a problem as it will be cremated the next time you fire up your fryer. However if more builds up, you have a potential fire hazard, and will also start to get unpleasant flavours and smells added to your painstakingly-constructed recipes.
Do NOT, however, try to clean air fryers with oven cleaner, bleach or anything else remotely abrasive. It will not end well for you. People always recommend bicarbonate of soda mixed with water for this sort of thing – hey, why not?
Truth be told, if you are consistently getting food burnt onto the parts of the oven that cannot be removed and cleaned, you are almost certainly overloading your air fryer. I refer you back to Air Fryer Mistake #2, there.
9. Forgetting that the air fryer can dry itself
Drying a freshly washed air fryer basket can be quite tricky, especially if there are lots of nooks and crannies in the main pan. The answer’s right there in front of you though: run the air fryer for a couple of minutes and it’ll dry – and sterilise – itself. Easy!
10. Not experimenting with your air fryer
Chips arenotthe only dish(Image credit: Tefal)
Chips arenotthe only dish
Chips arenotthe only dish
(Image credit: Tefal)
The name ‘air fryer’ naturally makes most people think of chips, sausages, and other things you fry, but the best air fryers are actually extremely versatile. You can cook practically anything in an air fryer that you could cook in oven or pan, and they are also great for reheating leftovers.
There aremuchbetter things to do with air fryers than making chips and heating up ready meals. Meat and fish in particular loves to be air fried and surprisingly, that is true for expensive steak as well as affordable salmon fillets or chicken wings. Standard air fried chips are really no better (or worse) than oven chips so it would be foolhardy in the extreme to only use your air fryer for that. Although what youcando is read mybest ever air fried chipsrecipe. More advanced practitioners can then move on to finding outhow to cook steak in an air fryer, how to makethebest air fried chickenever and the rest of thebest things to cook in an air fryer.
11. Experimenting too much with your air fryer
Why you do this? Hasn’t the world suffered enough?(Image credit: Millie Fender)
Why you do this? Hasn’t the world suffered enough?
Why you do this? Hasn’t the world suffered enough?
(Image credit: Millie Fender)
Social meejuh is packed with wacky air fryer recipes. They’re probably fun to do if you’re filming yourself and getting likes from pals. But they sound gross and the results invariably look gross. Even something reasonably innocuous likeair fryer ‘boiled’ eggscomes out vaguely Satanic, let alone air fried cinnamon bagels with hot cream cheese and all that sorta thing.
Air fryer deals galore
Today’s best deals on T3’s favourite air fryersPhilips Airfryer XXL$112.47ViewSee all pricesInstant Vortex Air Fryer$139.95ViewSee all pricesBreville The Combi Wave 3 in 1$499.95ViewSee all pricesNinja Air Fryer AF100UK$89.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best deals on T3’s favourite air fryersPhilips Airfryer XXL$112.47ViewSee all pricesInstant Vortex Air Fryer$139.95ViewSee all pricesBreville The Combi Wave 3 in 1$499.95ViewSee all pricesNinja Air Fryer AF100UK$89.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best deals on T3’s favourite air fryersPhilips Airfryer XXL$112.47ViewSee all pricesInstant Vortex Air Fryer$139.95ViewSee all pricesBreville The Combi Wave 3 in 1$499.95ViewSee all pricesNinja Air Fryer AF100UK$89.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best deals on T3’s favourite air fryers
Philips Airfryer XXL$112.47ViewSee all pricesInstant Vortex Air Fryer$139.95ViewSee all pricesBreville The Combi Wave 3 in 1$499.95ViewSee all pricesNinja Air Fryer AF100UK$89.99ViewSee all prices
Philips Airfryer XXL$112.47ViewSee all prices
Philips Airfryer XXL$112.47ViewSee all prices
Philips Airfryer XXL
Philips Airfryer XXL
$112.47View
$112.47
$112.47
See all prices
Instant Vortex Air Fryer$139.95ViewSee all prices
Instant Vortex Air Fryer$139.95ViewSee all prices
Instant Vortex Air Fryer
Instant Vortex Air Fryer
$139.95View
$139.95
$139.95
See all prices
Breville The Combi Wave 3 in 1$499.95ViewSee all prices
Breville The Combi Wave 3 in 1$499.95ViewSee all prices
Breville The Combi Wave 3 in 1
Breville The Combi Wave 3 in 1
$499.95View
$499.95
$499.95
See all prices
Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK$89.99ViewSee all prices
Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK$89.99ViewSee all prices
Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK
Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK
$89.99View
$89.99
$89.99
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Emolife Store Multipurpose Silicone Mat$13.99ViewSee all pricesInstant Vortex Mini Air Fryer$59.99$48ViewSee all pricesDeal endsMon, Jan 20, 2025Dash DCAF150GBBK02 Compact Air Fryer$44.99ViewSee all pricesDash Compact Air Fryer$49.99ViewSee all pricesCosori Pro LE Air Fryer L501$99.99$79.91ViewSee all pricesDeal endsSun, Jan 26, 2025Gourmia 4-Quart Digital Air Fryer with$49ViewSee all pricesChefman Turbofry 3.5L Analog Air Fryer$62ViewSee all pricesGoWISE USA 3.7-Quart Programmable Air$62.53ViewSee all pricesDreo Air Fryer$89.99$67.45ViewSee all pricesGourmia 6 Quart Digital Air Fryer GAF698$68.99ViewSee all prices
Emolife Store Multipurpose Silicone Mat$13.99ViewSee all prices
Emolife Store Multipurpose Silicone Mat$13.99ViewSee all prices
Emolife Store Multipurpose Silicone Mat
Emolife Store Multipurpose Silicone Mat
$13.99View
$13.99
$13.99
See all prices
Instant Vortex Mini Air Fryer$59.99$48ViewSee all pricesDeal endsMon, Jan 20, 2025
Instant Vortex Mini Air Fryer$59.99$48ViewSee all prices
Instant Vortex Mini Air Fryer
Instant Vortex Mini Air Fryer
$59.99$48View
$59.99$48
$48
See all prices
Deal endsMon, Jan 20, 2025
Deal endsMon, Jan 20, 2025
Deal endsMon, Jan 20, 2025
Dash DCAF150GBBK02 Compact Air Fryer$44.99ViewSee all prices
Dash DCAF150GBBK02 Compact Air Fryer$44.99ViewSee all prices
Dash DCAF150GBBK02 Compact Air Fryer
Dash DCAF150GBBK02 Compact Air Fryer
$44.99View
$44.99
$44.99
See all prices
Dash Compact Air Fryer$49.99ViewSee all prices
Dash Compact Air Fryer$49.99ViewSee all prices
Dash Compact Air Fryer
Dash Compact Air Fryer
$49.99View
$49.99
$49.99
See all prices
Cosori Pro LE Air Fryer L501$99.99$79.91ViewSee all pricesDeal endsSun, Jan 26, 2025
Cosori Pro LE Air Fryer L501$99.99$79.91ViewSee all prices
Cosori Pro LE Air Fryer L501
Cosori Pro LE Air Fryer L501
$99.99$79.91View
$99.99$79.91
$79.91
See all prices
Deal endsSun, Jan 26, 2025
Deal endsSun, Jan 26, 2025
Deal endsSun, Jan 26, 2025
Gourmia 4-Quart Digital Air Fryer with$49ViewSee all prices
Gourmia 4-Quart Digital Air Fryer with$49ViewSee all prices
Gourmia 4-Quart Digital Air Fryer with
Gourmia 4-Quart Digital Air Fryer with
$49View
$49
$49
See all prices
Chefman Turbofry 3.5L Analog Air Fryer$62ViewSee all prices
Chefman Turbofry 3.5L Analog Air Fryer$62ViewSee all prices
Chefman Turbofry 3.5L Analog Air Fryer
Chefman Turbofry 3.5L Analog Air Fryer
$62View
$62
$62
See all prices
GoWISE USA 3.7-Quart Programmable Air$62.53ViewSee all prices
GoWISE USA 3.7-Quart Programmable Air$62.53ViewSee all prices
GoWISE USA 3.7-Quart Programmable Air
GoWISE USA 3.7-Quart Programmable Air
$62.53View
$62.53
$62.53
See all prices
Dreo Air Fryer$89.99$67.45ViewSee all prices
Dreo Air Fryer$89.99$67.45ViewSee all prices
Dreo Air Fryer
Dreo Air Fryer
$89.99$67.45View
$89.99$67.45
$67.45
See all prices
Gourmia 6 Quart Digital Air Fryer GAF698$68.99ViewSee all prices
Gourmia 6 Quart Digital Air Fryer GAF698$68.99ViewSee all prices
Gourmia 6 Quart Digital Air Fryer GAF698
Gourmia 6 Quart Digital Air Fryer GAF698
$68.99View
$68.99
$68.99
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Samsung Galaxy S25: every leak, rumour and spec we’ve heard before the launch eventThis is everything we’ve heard about the new handsets
This is everything we’ve heard about the new handsets
This case turns your iPhone or Android phone into an e-reader, but there’s a catchActually, there are a couple…
Actually, there are a couple…
I’m a kitchen expert – these are the 7 kitchen trends I expect to see in 2025From shrinking air fryers to AI cameras, here are the kitchen trends I want to see next year
From shrinking air fryers to AI cameras, here are the kitchen trends I want to see next year
Samsung announces new AI home screens for its smart fridges and laundry appliancesSamsung previews its CES launches, including new AI Home screens
Samsung previews its CES launches, including new AI Home screens
Nutribullet Flip review: a powerful, portable blender for smoothies on the goCan this portable, insulated blender live up to its promises of powerful smoothie blitzing on the go?
Can this portable, insulated blender live up to its promises of powerful smoothie blitzing on the go?
T3’s ultimate Christmas dinner gadget guide: for sides, mains and beyondWe take a look at the best dinner gadgets to make Christmas lunch easier and hassle free
We take a look at the best dinner gadgets to make Christmas lunch easier and hassle free
Ninja takes on Instant Pot with its own slow cooker – it’s perfect for one-pot mealsNinja’s Foodi 8-Mode PossibleCooker is finally available to buy
Ninja’s Foodi 8-Mode PossibleCooker is finally available to buy
Brevoy Portable Espresso Maker review: a top battery-powered device for making espressos on the goIngenious espresso-making contraption for top-flight espressos in the great outdoors
Ingenious espresso-making contraption for top-flight espressos in the great outdoors
De’Longhi La Specialista Opera review: is this the best domestic espresso machine ever?Brilliantly easy espresso and cold brew maker for discerning coffee connoisseurs
Brilliantly easy espresso and cold brew maker for discerning coffee connoisseurs
9 Great British Bake Off appliances you need in your kitchenBecome Star Baker in your own kitchen with these Great British Bake Off appliances
Become Star Baker in your own kitchen with these Great British Bake Off appliances
