Your guide to buying and using an air fryer

The air fryer is an innovative appliance that allows for easy and healthier frying – while also saving you invaluable time in the kitchen when preparing your recipes. Even better, air fryers don't leave unpleasant odors in the air and generally keep your oven or stove much cleaner and less cluttered. 

In this blog, we’re going to take a look at how air fryers work and how you should use one, before exploring some recipes you can try with your own.

How does an air fryer work?

An air fryer operates much like a small electric fan oven. A fan is powered by electricity, producing air which is heated by electric elements in the fryer. Food can be tossed with oil and placed in the fryer’s basket, where the hot air browns and crisps the food, simulating traditional frying methods. Most air fryers have a basket capacity ranging from 1.5 to 7 liters, depending on the model.

Crucially, an air fryer is a more environmentally friendly alternative to other frying methods, because you’ll need less (and sometimes no) oil, reducing food waste.

How do you cook with an air fryer?

The air fryer is an excellent addition to any kitchen, achieving the same level of crispiness and deliciousness as traditional deep frying, but using less time, energy and work. What's more, the versatility of an air fryer allows you to explore a variety of cooking techniques, from grilling and baking to roasting, defrosting, and reheating.

Better yet, the air fryer can be used as a small oven, so you can prepare roasts or breaded meat and fish dishes, as well as grilled vegetables, frozen dishes, puff pastry, and cakes. Potatoes in the air fryer can be cooked either fried or roasted, and you can also use the air fryer to bake bread or reheat leftover food.

Although these air fryers don’t need oil, it is possible to add it to the food during preparation to enhance flavor and crispiness. Just drizzle your ingredients with a dash of oil before placing them in your air fryer to create a crispy outer layer and a more textured, softer interior.

To use the air fryer, first preheat the appliance if the recipe requires you to do so. Then, place the food on the grill pan without overfilling the basket. Set the cooking time, shake the basket occasionally to ensure even cooking and serve as needed when finished.

The energy usage of an air fryer

Air fryers can have a power range between 800 and 2,000 watts, and this can change depending on the model of air fryer you choose. The higher the power and the longer the cooking time, the higher energy consumption will be.

An air fryer consumes anything from 0.8 to 2kWh, slightly more energy than that of an electric oven. However, in many cases, an air fryer can halve cooking times, which means less energy is used overall between the two appliances.

How do you clean an air fryer?

After each use, we recommend cleaning certain components of the air fryer, such as the internal cooking chamber, basket, and grill, and occasionally the exterior, which might get dirty during food preparation. 

To clean the air fryer, always wait until it is cool, then unplug it and proceed using a soft sponge and cleaning spray, or hot water with a little dish detergent.

For stubborn dirt and hard-to-remove residues, you can use a brush with soft bristles – this will avoid damaging the non-stick coating on the machine.

Before putting the various pieces back in place, they must be dried well with a microfiber cloth or kitchen roll.

Recipe ideas for your air fryer

Thanks to the versatility of an air fryer, you can make both savory and sweet dishes using the same appliance.

To cook vegetables in the air fryer for example, simply cut the vegetables, season and flavor to taste, place them in the basket, and cook for about twenty minutes at 180°C.

To cook potatoes with the air fryer, cut them as the recipe requires, soak them in cold water for about 20 minutes, and dry them well. You can then season them with chopped rosemary, spices to taste, and a dash of oil. Once ready, cook at 200°C for about 25-30 minutes, shaking them lightly halfway through, and then place them in a bowl.

An example of a sweet recipe might be apple muffins. For muffins, mix eggs, sugar, and yogurt for the batter. Then add melted butter, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Blend everything with flour and baking powder, fold in the sliced apples, and then fill the molds with about 100ml of the mixture. Finally, cook in the air fryer for about 15-16 minutes at 160-170°C.

Introducing the new Haier 9-in-1 Air Fryer 

At Haier, we’re excited to introduce the new 9-in-1 air fryers, appliances that can save you time, effort, and energy. These modern, versatile fryers can fry, bake, roast, grill, defrost, reheat, slow cook and even make yogurt, all with reduced energy consumption. 

The Series 5 Basic Air Fryer has a precise temperature control system, which can be set from 40°C to 200°C. Its glass window allows you to monitor cooking without opening the container.

The Series 5 has an internal capacity of up to 5.5 liters, suitable for a family of four. There are also custom automatic programs to simplify food cooking; all you need to do is select the type of food and desired cooking method for consistent results. 

Better yet, the Series 5 Basic Air Fryer gives you access to the hOn app, a dedicated hub with a range of recipes, as well as tips for using the fryer. hOn is regularly updated so that you can keep up to date with the latest innovations.

To learn more about the Haier range of air fryers, visit the Haier website.