Air fryers are everywhere you look these days and many people claim that they have revolutionised the way that they cook. The miraculous appliance that lets you eat all your favourite fried foods without having to feel guilty about it. But is it all hype or is there real substance to the claims?

Along with thousands of Spring Chickens from our Facebook community, we have done some research so you can make an informed decision today. Everything you ever needed to know about air fryers but were afraid to ask listed below in our most FAQs.

What is an air fryer?

• An air fryer is a countertop appliance that is similar to an oven but typically cooks food more quickly.
• The food cooked is like food cooked in a deep fryer (crispy on the outside and soft on the inside), but the amount of oil used is far less and the warm-up time is far quicker.

How do air fryers work?

• The revolutionary device uses a powerful fan to circulate hot air around the food, giving an even cook.
• Due to the nature of convection cooking very little oil is required in the process. Resulting in the food being considerably more healthy due to this process.

How do you use an air fryer?

• Must be placed on a heat-safe surface.
• Preheat the unit for five minutes.
• Remove the basket and put in your food, then return basket to the air fryer.
• Set the desired temperature and time.
• Press start and allow to cook. You can take the basket out during the cooking time to toss if necessary.
• When the cooking time is up, the air fryer will beep to let you know that it is ready.

Can you put foil into air fryers?

• Yes, you can. Make sure to only use foil in the basket and it will be perfectly safe and can save time on clean-up.
• Ensure the foil is secured to the food or to the top of the basket. Remember you still want to allow airflow around the item you are cooking. Always consult the manufacturer's recommendations. Some companies like Phillips do not recommend using foil in their devices.

Do you put oil in air fryers?

• Yes. Think of an air fryer as a quicker oven: where you would use oil in an oven, use it in your air fryer. This means tossing vegetables in oil but leaving burgers without oil.
• Always follow the recipe for oil usage. In general, even when oil is required it is considerably less than more traditional methods of cooking, perhaps 1-2 teaspoons. Do not use too much oil as this can cause smoking etc.

How to clean an air fryer after regular use

• Wash the basket, tray and pan with soap and warm water preferably by hand.
• Alternatively, many parts of the air fryer can be put in the dishwasher, but we recommend checking your manual before doing this.

How to deep clean an air fryer

• Sprinkle baking soda over the basket then cover in dish soap.
• Pour boiling water over the baking soda and dish soap and allow to sit.
• Remove the basket and spray the interior and exterior with a mixture of vinegar and water (in equal parts), wipe with a cloth and wipe again with a clean cloth.
• Scrub down the air fryer basket under running water.
• Be sure to completely dry the unit before reusing it.

Are air fryers worth it?

• Air fryers are very versatile and so are worth their place on the countertop, even if you have limited space.
• They are also a healthy means of cooking because they require less oil compared to pan frying or deep frying(though a similar amount to oven roasting). Without compromising the max crisp aspect of the food.
• They are more efficient than other methods of cooking, so if you don’t like wasting time in the kitchen, then an air fryer could be the perfect solution.
• They are easy to clean (my particular favourite USP).

How long for an air fryer to heat up?

• An air fryer is not the same as a microwave, in fact, it’s better to think of it as a faster oven. This means that you should be preheating your air fryer, but just 5 minutes should do it.
• Preheating the air fryer will assist in getting that maximum crisp exterior, great for chicken wings and fish fingers.

Is it cheaper to cook in an air fryer?

• Air fryers are quicker than traditional convection ovens, so are therefore more energy efficient. This adds up over time, but given the initial investment, cost efficiency isn’t the primary reason we would give for buying one.
• Air fryers can be cheaper for some families. Our Facebook community have found that they are perfect for smaller households. However, due to the nature of the devices, they require constant hot air to be circulated rather than the traditional oven that works to a pre-set thermostatic controlled level.

Is it quicker to cook in an air fryer?

• Yes, definitely. An air fryer doesn’t boast the speed of a microwave, but when you compare the cooking time of chicken wings (20 minutes in an air fryer vs 40 minutes in a traditional oven), the difference becomes clear.
• The reality is that this time-saving device is neither a microwave nor a traditional mini oven its usefulness sits somewhere in between. Thus, providing whole new works of cost-saving opportunities in the kitchen.

What can you cook in an air fryer?

Perhaps the most important question of all!

There is a myriad of possibilities depending on what your requirements are. Our Spring Chicken community particularly love the speed and flexibility afforded to them by this cost-saving device, for many it has cut costs at a time when energy prices are becoming eye-wateringly expensive.

• Bacon: 5-10 minutes depending on preference at 200°C (Depending on your personal bacon crispiness preference)
• Sausages: 15 minutes at 180°C
• Chips: 30 minutes at 200°C. There’s nothing like traditional proper home-cooked chips. These are perfect without all the cleaning up!
• Frozen chips: 16 minutes at 180°C. It’s even less time for the skinny French Fries, delicious with a sprinkling of paprika.
• Jacket potatoes: 40 minutes at 200°C. Don’t worry the skin does stay crispy.
• Roast Potatoes: 20-25 minutes at 200°C. You’ll be amazed at how fluffy they are in the middle.
• Sweet potato chips: 15 minutes at 200°C. The perfect super-healthy alternative to traditional chips.
• Whole chicken: ~75 minutes at 180°C. One hard-learned tip. Always place the chicken upside down in the air fryer. This will ensure the breasts retain their moistness.
• Chicken breast: 20 minutes at 180°C. One of the quickest and easiest recipes to do, try the BBC recipe.
• Chicken wings: 16-20 minutes at 200°C. Don’t forget to stop the cooking process halfway to give the wings a shake, you won’t regret it.
• Fish fingers: 8 minutes from frozen at 200°C
• Salmon: 7-9 minutes at 200°C. Don’t worry about flipping the salmon as the convection cooking method will cook the fish evenly on all sides. Also, magically there are no foul fish smells in your kitchen for hours after, perfect. Here’s one of my favourite salmon air fryer recipes that you will use time and time again, guaranteed.
• Burgers: 8-12 minutes at 180°C
• Steak: 15 minutes at 210°C

Air fryers are a great way to cook food without all the added calories and fat. But like with any new piece of kitchen equipment, it can be tricky to know where to start. We hope our beginner’s guide has helped give you some ideas about how to use your air fryer and cook some delicious meals.

Have you been part of the air fryer craze for a while now?

Have you cooked something amazing in your air fryer? Share it with us on social media or in the comments below!