Airfryer Guide – How it works, usage, and cleaning

How does an airfryer work?

An airfryer works like a convection oven but in a more compact form. It cooks food using hot, rapidly circulating air, producing results similar to deep-fried food but with little to no oil.

In practice, an airfryer works by using a heating element to warm the air inside the device, while a powerful fan circulates the hot air rapidly around the food. Thanks to the frying basket or rack, the air can circulate evenly from all sides. The result is food that's crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Voilà!

How does an airfryer differ from a convection oven?

• Speed: Cooking with an airfryer is faster because it heats up instantly and usually doesn't require preheating.
• Energy consumption: An airfryer uses significantly less energy since it doesn't need to heat a large space and runs for a shorter time.
• More powerful fan: Food gets crispier.

It goes without saying that air-fried food is significantly lower in fat than deep-fried food, even though the results are very similar.

How do you preheat an airfryer?

In most cases, you don't need to preheat an airfryer at all, as it heats up very quickly and starts cooking immediately. Some models offer optional preheating, while others have an automatic preheat function.

Preheat the airfryer for about 3–5 minutes to the desired temperature if:

• the recipe requires a precise cooking time
• you want a more even result

What can you make with an airfryer?

What can you cook in an airfryer? With an airfryer, you can make anything you would deep-fry or roast in an oven. A good rule of thumb is to use it for foods that are best served crispy. On the other hand, some home chefs have come up with imaginative uses ranging from 'boiled' eggs to pancakes, rolls, and pizza. Try those at your own risk!