How to use an air fryer

Air fryers are pretty new gadgets so it’s no wonder we have questions. If you're intrigued by all the buzz, but want to know more before you part with your cash, you've come to the right place.

We've collected and answered some of the most commonly asked questions around what air fryers are, how they work and the best way to use them.

Keep reading to find out all about this on-trend kitchen appliance. 

To see the top models from our tests and get in-depth advice on air fryer running costs, see our best air fryers guide.

What can you cook in an air fryer?

Any food that does well when roasted, baked or fried will do well in your air fryer.

As well as chicken and chips, other popular choices include potatoes, roasted vegetables, falafel, fish, pizza and even baked goods such as cookies and cakes.

Air fryers can also be useful for quickly cooking and crisping up frozen foods and snacks such as fish fingers, chicken nuggets, spring rolls and pies.

Things you should avoid putting in your air fryer include fresh greens, cheese and any food covered in wet batter. Cooking whole roasts such as roast chicken can also be problematic, so joint your bird first before frying.

Some air fryer manufacturers offer starter recipes to get you going: take a look at these Ninja recipes and Philips recipes.

Want a tiny model? Or enough space to cook a complete meal? See our guide to the best small air fryers and the best dual air fryers.

How does an air fryer work?

Air fryers work by blasting hot air around food in a cooking chamber.

Their compact cooking space and faster circulation of air allows you to make crispy, golden-brown food using a very small amount of oil.

How do you use an air fryer?

All air fryers come with some type of control panel. Often that will be a digital display with a variety of buttons, such as temperature control, on and off button and cooking program buttons. Your air fryer will also come with a basket or a tray to hold the food as it cooks.

Each appliance works slightly differently, but here's the general process for getting started with a new air fryer:

• Remove all packaging, including plastic wrapping, stickers and cardboard.
• Read the instruction manual and familiarise yourself with the appliance, check its condition and look for any damage.
• Clean all parts according to the instruction manual. Some removable parts might be dishwasher-safe.
• Place the air fryer on a stable surface away from other objects and appliances and ensure the power cable is not twisted.
• Perform a test run before you start using your air fryer to cook meals – you may have to get used to how quickly it cooks.
• Preheat the air fryer as per the manufacturer's instructions.
• Fill the basket or tray with food of your choice. Handle it with extreme care as it could be very hot.
• Get set up for cooking. Insert the basket or tray inside the air fryer and set the desired temperature, cooking program and time of cooking.
• Press the start button and start cooking. Be sure to check on the food regularly.
• Turn or stir food while cooking. If your air fryer doesn't have an automatic stirring paddle, you'll want to carefully pull out the basket or tray and give the food a mix every now and then to ensure it's evenly cooked.
• Carefully remove the tray or basket from the air fryer after the beeping sound indicates the end of cooking. Be mindful of hot steam.
• Transfer the food onto a plate and enjoy. 

To see how three of the most popular air fryer brands compare, read our Ninja Foodi vs Tower Air fryer vs Tefal Actifry guide.

Can you put foil in an air fryer?

Yes, it's fine to put foil in an air fryer. They work in a completely different way to microwaves, so putting foil inside should not result in sparks and fire. It can also make the clean-up process easier and quicker.

When putting foil in an air fryer, make sure you don't cover any holes, fans or other heating elements and use only as much foil as you need to cover the basket or tray. You can also use baking paper.

Are air fryers a healthy way to cook?

Unlike deep-fat fryers, which use a large amount of oil to cook your food, air fryers rely on the intense circulation of hot air to produce crispy, perfectly cooked meals. 

Manufacturers are known to highlight the health benefits of air fryers, even labelling them 'health fryers'. And while some of those claims are exaggerated, air fryers can be a healthier way to cook food due to the small amount or no oil used in the air frying process.

Most standard air fryers come with auto-programs such as air fry, bake, roast and grill, but some premium models or multicookers will come with programs such as dehydrate, reheat, pressure cook, slow cook, steam and sauté – so you can get as creative as you like.

See Are air fryers the healthiest way to cook chips? for more information on why air frying beats deep-fat frying in the health stakes.

Are air fryers cheap to run?

Yes, they can be if you use them correctly. But it depends on the size of your air fryer and how many people you’re cooking for.

The main drawback with the air fryer is the amount of food you can cook. The cooking capacity of the air fryers we’ve tested ranges from 0.3kg and 2.2kg, a huge variance, so choose a model that caters for your needs. 

In general, small households cooking single batches of food will benefit most. As an alternative to switching on a full-sized oven several times a week to cook a meal for two, the benefits really stack up.

However, if you’re feeding several people, or want to cook a few different food items at the same time, an oven has more space and may work out cheaper than cooking several batches in an air fryer.

Air fryer v halogen oven v electric oven

To help you decide whether an air fryer is a worthwhile investment, we cooked 320g of chips (two to three portions) in an air fryer, a halogen oven and a built-in electric oven.

We found that the air fryer was quicker to heat up, cooked faster and used less energy, although the quality of cooking was slightly worse than in either of the ovens.

If you're a smaller household, an air fryer may save you money if you use it several times a week instead of a built-in electric oven.

We've calculated energy costs based on an electricity unit price of 24.5p per kWh, the average capped rate for direct debit customers from 1 April 2024.

Curious to know how the air fryer and an oven compare to a slow cooker? Find out more in our story comparing the cheapest ways to cook.

How long does it take to cook chips in an air fryer?

Some manufactures claim air fryers can cook chips in just 15 minutes. But how long the chips take to cook depends on the capacity of the air fryer, the amount of food you're looking to cook and the quality of the appliance. 

An average air fryer takes between 20 and 40 minutes to produce golden-brown chips – but our tests found significant differences between the worst and best models – some can take much longer than the average.

Read our air fryer reviews to see which models excel at cooking the perfect chips in the shortest amount of time.

How do you clean an air fryer?

The best way to clean an air fryer is to follow directions in the instruction manual. Check which parts (if any) are dishwasher safe and keep in mind that some manufacturers recommend only washing parts on the top drawer of the dishwasher. 

For general cleaning, unplug the air fryer and then use a microfibre cloth or soft sponge and wash all removable parts in warm soapy water.

The main unit with the heating element should not be submerged in water, but you can still clean the outside of the air fryer with a damp cloth.

Let all the parts air dry completely before putting it back together and using it.