Air fryers are great for cooking everything from chips to chicken and beyond, but even though they’re easy to use, you can still end up with mediocre results. Common issues include burnt or dry food, undercooked or overcooked food, or uneven results. A few meals like these may leave you wondering if air fryers are worth it after all.
Luckily, the solution is usually just as simple, and a few small changes to your routine could make a big difference. Make sure you don’t make these common mistakes and your air fryer will become your go-to appliance for every meal, from breakfast to dinner.
1. You’re not using the right settings
The most common problem when food doesn’t cook properly in your air fryer usually has to do with the settings: often the temperature is too high or too low, or the food hasn’t been cooked long enough – or too long. This can result in soggy frozen foods, chips that aren’t crispy enough, or cooked but dry meats and fish.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
If your food is crispy on the outside and undercooked in the middle, or if your cakes have a crust and don’t rise, the temperature is too high. If your food is dry, it’s cooking too long. But other cooking issues may take a little experimentation to solve.
Your machine is a good starting point for determining which settings to use: there will often be dedicated food presets that you can use as a guide, which can be adjusted depending on quantity.
Also check the instructions for your air fryer: there may be a chart showing times and temperatures for different foods. You may find that a combination of cooking temperatures works best for different foods, with a low and slow setting to cook foods, followed by a hotter setting to crisp them.
Quick advice: If you’re trying to cook a recipe designed for the oven in an air fryer, remember to convert the time and temperature. As a guide, reduce the time by approximately 20-25% and reduce the temperature by 70°F/20°C.
Useful purchase: Use a meat thermometer for foods such as steaks, cuts of meat, poultry and fish. You can buy one from Amazon in the US for $16.99 or from Amazon UK for £9.99.
2. You are overfilling the basket
Air fryers work by circulating hot air around your food. This means that if you overfill the basket, the air will not circulate properly and the food will not cook evenly. It may seem efficient to cook in large batches, but you’ll only end up adding a few minutes and still get soggy or pale results.
If your fries aren’t getting crispy and you’ve tried adjusting the cooking time and temperature, the problem could well be that you’re overfilling the cooking basket.
It is best to distribute food in a single layer on the crisper and reduce the overall quantity.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
If this regularly proves tricky, it could be a sign that you need a roomier model or a two-drawer air fryer with more interior surface area. Take a look at our roundup of the best double drawer air fryers and best air fryer ovens for our top recommendations.
3. You forget to turn or shake the food
Even if you spread your food out so air can circulate, some dishes will need a helping hand to achieve maximum crispiness. Shaking the basket or drawer often, or turning food mid-cooking with a pair of silicone-tipped tongs means hot air can reach every part of the food, resulting in more even cooking and browning.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
For example, homemade fries should be shaken at least twice during cooking. Some air fryers even have a shake alert to remind you. However, it is best to check all foods while cooking to ensure they are not burning or cooking unevenly.
4. You neglected the housework
Your air fryer should be cleaned after each use, even if there is just a little residue and a few crumbs. Not only can leaving this behind lead to unappealing grease buildup, but it can also result in smoke the next time you use the air fryer, potentially contaminating whatever you’re cooking.
Discard any oil or grease in the drawer, then wash the drawer and crisper or basket – either by hand or in the dishwasher. The first will extend the life of your non-stick.
However, even if the drawer appears perfectly clean, you may notice lingering odors. These are often caused by cooking fatty foods, such as bacon, sausages and hamburgers, which spit when air fried. You will need to clean your air fryer more thoroughly to remove splatters around the cavity.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Make sure the air fryer is unplugged, but try to clean off the grease while it is still slightly warm. Use warm, soapy water and a cloth to wipe down the interior cavity and air filter, or you can use a degreaser: most are sprayed on, left for a few minutes, then can be wiped down with grease.
For more stubborn grease, use a paste of baking soda and water with an old toothbrush before rinsing. Don’t be tempted to use oven cleaner: it’s too harsh and can strip the non-stick coating on your air fryer.
Useful purchase: You can get a specialist air fryer cleaning spray from Amazon US for $14.28 or from Amazon UK for £8.39.
5. You are using too much oil
Although it can be called a deep fryer, air fryers don’t need the amount of oil that you might use when frying or roasting. A tablespoon of oil, mixed together, should be enough for a batch of homemade chips, while some foods only need a small spritz to create a crisp, golden exterior. Fatty foods, like sausages and hamburgers, don’t need oil at all, and the same goes for poultry cooked in its skin.
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Rachel Ogden / Foundry
Useful purchase: An oil spray bottle will help you spray food rather than dipping it in oil. It’s not expensive either. A cleverly designed glass bottle that you can adjust to pour or spray oil will only cost you $6.99 on Amazon US. The same model is available on Amazon UK for £7.99.
Finally, always check the advice given in your air fryer’s instructions to find out if the appliance works best when preheated. This usually only takes a few minutes and can help produce better results than if the food is put in the basket cold.
If you’re looking to upgrade your current model, take a look at our selection of the best air fryers of all brands and types. If you already know you want a Ninja, check out our roundup of the best Ninja air fryers and countertop cookers.
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