What Are Some Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using an Air Fryer?

There are some common mistakes to avoid when using an air fryer to ensure your food cooks both safely and deliciously. Here are some suggestions:
Not Allowing Enough Space: An air fryer needs enough space to allow hot air to circulate to cook food efficiently. Make sure there is at least 10cm to 15cm of space around the air fryer and do not place it against a wall or in a closed cabinet.
No preheating: While some air fryers may not require preheating, if you plan on making baked dishes, preheating can help the food brown and rise faster. Preheat as recommended in the instructions, usually at higher temperature for 3 to 5 minutes.
Food placed too densely: The air fryer cooks food through hot air convection, so a certain amount of space needs to be left between the food to ensure that the hot air can circulate evenly. If food is placed too close together, it may cause uneven cooking and affect the taste and texture of the food.
Not Cleaned: Clean the air fryer promptly after each use, including the cooking basket and frying plate inside. Failure to clean for a long time may cause oil accumulation, affecting the cooking effect and the service life of the equipment.
Improper ingredients used: While the air fryer can be used to cook a variety of ingredients, some ingredients may not be suitable for cooking in the air fryer or may require special handling. For example, high-moisture ingredients may need to be processed (such as drained) before being placed in the air fryer.
Overcooking: Air fryers generally cook faster than traditional frying, so care needs to be taken not to overcook food. Overcooking may cause food to become dry or burnt.
Not following the instructions: Each air fryer model and features may vary, so read the instructions carefully before use and follow the instructions' recommendations. Don't try blindly or exceed the limitations of your device.
Opening the fryer during cooking: Frequently opening the fryer during cooking may cause heat to escape and affect cooking results. If you need to see how your food is cooking, you can look through the fryer's clear window.
Use inappropriate containers: Do not use regular plastic containers to hold ingredients in the air fryer. Plastic containers may deform, melt or even release harmful substances under high temperatures. Use containers or foil designed specifically for the air fryer to hold your ingredients.
Forget about turning off the power: Always turn off the power to your air fryer and wait for it to cool completely before cleaning it. This prevents the risk of electric shock or burns.