How to Use an Air Fryer

I’m sharing my tips and tricks for using an air fryer, an easy guide for how to start using an air fryer, and the best foods to make – or to avoid – in the air fryer.

This is everything you will need to use a new air fryer, like a pro – including common mistakes, my favorite recipes, an oven recipe conversion guide, and more!

An Air Fryer Ribeye Steak cooking in a pot.

A plate of succulent BBQ chicken thighs garnished with parsley, accompanied by two whole carrots, sits invitingly. An air fryer hums softly in the background, ready for your next culinary creation.

Three juicy pieces of glazed BBQ chicken thighs sit in an air fryer basket, with stainless steel tongs grasping one piece. A checkered towel is partially visible on the wooden surface beside the fryer.

What is an Air Fryer?

An air fryer is a small countertop appliance that cooks food by circulating hot air around it, creating a crispy exterior similar to frying but with much less oil. It works like a powerful mini convection oven, which is why food cooks faster and browns so well.

How to Use A New Air Fryer

Before using an air fryer for the first time, remove all packaging and wash the basket and tray with warm soapy water. Run the empty air fryer at a high temperature (around 400°F) for a few minutes to burn off any factory residue. When cooking, preheat if the recipe calls for it, avoid overcrowding the basket, and use a light coating of oil for best crisping. Most foods benefit from shaking or flipping halfway through cooking.

Air fryers cook quickly, so check food early and adjust time as needed. Once you’re done, let the appliance cool and clean it after each use to keep it working well and tasting fresh.

I Just Got an Air Fryer, What Do I Do?

If you just got an air fryer for Christmas, and you’re wondering how to start air frying food, use this handy guide:

Unbox + Clean First

Before using your air fryer, remove all packaging, stickers, and inserts. Wash the basket and tray with warm, soapy water, then dry completely. This removes factory dust and can help prevent weird smells.

Know Your Air Fryer Type

Basket-style: Most common and easiest to use
Oven-style: Has racks and a door, more like a mini convection oven
Controls vary, but most air fryers use temperature + time—that’s it.

Do a Quick Test Run

Run the empty air fryer at 400°F for 5 minutes. This burns off any manufacturing residue and helps you learn how loud and hot it gets.

Preheat (When It Matters)

Many recipes work best with a preheated air fryer – not only for cooking speed, but it can help prevent sticking.

Preheat air fryer at the recipe temperature for 3–5 minutes
Preheating an Air Fryer is especially important for fries, chicken, and anything you want crispy.

Don’t Overcrowd the Basket

Air fryers work by circulating hot air, so you need to have room for your food in the air fryer. If you crowd it, it will cook a lot more slowly and won’t give that like-fried crispy crunch.

Food should be in a single layer when possible.
Cook in batches for best browning and crisping.

Use a Little Oil (Yes, Really)

Air frying isn’t oil-free cooking – you will usually still use a tiny bit of olive or avocado oil.

Lightly spray or toss food with oil for better color and texture.
Avoid aerosol sprays that can damage nonstick coating – they add to that gummy, sticky, gross texture air fryer baskets can get.

Shake or Flip Midway

Most foods cook more evenly if you:

Shake the basket a few times while cooking.
Flip larger items halfway through cooking.

If your air fryer has a reminder beep—use it.

Start Checking Early

Air fryers cook fast and vary by brand.

Check food 2–3 minutes before the recipe time
You can always add time, but you can’t undo overcooking

Use Air Fryer–Safe Tools

Silicone tongs or spatulas
Parchment paper (with holes) or air fryer liners
Avoid metal utensils that can scratch the basket.

Clean After Every Use

Let the air fryer cool, then:

Remove crumbs and grease
Wash the basket and tray
This keeps smoke away and helps food taste better next time.

Common Air Fryer Beginner Mistakes

Overcrowding the basket: Hot air needs space to circulate—crowding leads to uneven cooking.
Skipping oil completely: A light coating of oil helps food brown and crisp properly.
Not shaking or flipping: Many foods need movement halfway through for even cooking.
Using aerosol cooking spray: These can damage the nonstick coating over time.
Cooking strictly by time: Always check early—air fryers cook faster than ovens.
Forgetting to clean: Built-up grease can cause smoke and affect flavor.

Roasted chicken in an air fryer with lemon slices, cooked in an instant pot.

Easy air fryer broccoli recipe served in a bowl alongside a striped t-shirt.

picture of corn ribs in an air fryer basket

Oven to Air Fryer Conversion Guide

If you want to try air-frying foods you’d usually make in the oven, you’re in for a treat! I always love how recipes turn out in the air fryer. I end up using it time and time again. Because it cooks faster, we need to adjust oven recipes slightly.

When converting oven recipes to the air fryer:

Lower the temperature by 25°F
Reduce cooking time by about 20–25%
Start checking early and add time as needed

Example:
Oven recipe: 400°F for 20 minutes
Air fryer: 375°F for about 14–16 minutes

Using Parchment Paper or Foil in an Air Fryer

You can use parchment paper or foil in an air fryer, but it needs to be done correctly so air can still circulate.

Use parchment paper with holes or air fryer liners made specifically for air fryers to allow proper airflow.
Never add parchment paper during preheating—it can fly around and touch the heating element.
Weigh it down with food so it stays in place while cooking.
Foil is best for fatty foods like bacon or marinated meats to catch drips and make cleanup easier.
Avoid covering the entire basket with foil, as this blocks airflow and leads to uneven cooking.

Tip: Parchment helps with sticking and cleanup, while foil is better for containing grease—use each where it makes the most sense.

Air Fryer Temperature Cheat Sheet

Use this as a general guide—air fryers vary by brand, so always check food early.

French fries (fresh or frozen): 380–400°F
Chicken wings or drumsticks: 375–400°F
Chicken breasts: 360–375°F
Steak or pork chops: 400°F
Fish fillets: 360–380°F
Vegetables: 375–400°F
Reheating leftovers: 320–350°F
Baked goods: 300–325°F

What to Cook in an Air Fryer

In truth, my family uses our air fryer more than we use our oven – for just about anything we’d normally bake. I don’t have a microwave, but we use our air fryer to reheat just about everything.

Beginner Air Fryer Foods Great For Your First Time Cooking in an Air Fryer

To test out your air fryer and get used to cooking in it, I recommend cooking simple things that are designed to be forgiving. A few of my favorites include: