Air Fryer Basics

What it actually is

An air fryer is a small countertop convection oven. Hot air whips around food fast — gives a crisp outside without much oil. Doesn't actually "fry" anything. Faster than the oven, no preheating needed.

Time + temperature cheat sheet

• Frozen french fries — 400°F for 12-15 min, shake halfway.
• Frozen chicken nuggets/tenders — 400°F for 8-10 min.
• Bacon — 350°F for 8-10 min. Crispy, less mess than pan.
• Chicken breast (raw) — 380°F for 18-22 min, flip halfway.
• Salmon fillets — 400°F for 8-10 min.
• Broccoli/cauliflower — 400°F for 8-10 min, toss with oil + salt.
• Brussels sprouts — 400°F for 12-15 min.
• Reheated pizza — 350°F for 3-4 min. Better than microwave.
• Reheated fried chicken/leftovers — 350°F for 4-6 min.
• Hard boiled eggs — 250°F for 15-17 min. No water!

What NOT to put in

• Wet batter (tempura, beer batter) — drips off, burns on heating element.
• Cheese on top — flies around, melts onto fan. Add cheese in last 1-2 minutes only.
• Leafy greens — burn instantly. Spinach, lettuce, kale chips need very low heat.
• Too much food — crowded basket = soggy results. Single layer.
• Oil pools — drain off chicken first.
• Toothpicks/skewers — they fly into fan.

Cleaning tips

• Let cool 5 minutes after use.
• Basket goes in dishwasher OR scrub with soapy hot water.
• Stuck-on food — soak basket in hot water 10 min first.
• Wipe inside with damp cloth weekly.
• NEVER use steel wool — scratches non-stick coating.
• Parchment paper liners ($5/100 on Amazon) save cleanup time.

Best for low-effort meals

• Pre-seasoned salmon fillet + frozen veg = 10-min dinner.
• Frozen chicken tenders + carrots = quick comfort food.
• Reheating leftovers — way better than microwave.
• Single baked potato — 40 min vs hour in oven.
• Costco rotisserie chicken pieces — reheat without drying out.