How To Use an Air Fryer: Beginner Tips, Settings & Recipes

If you’re new to cooking with air fryers, or just on the hunt for simple, reliable guidance, this easy step-by-step guide will walk you through the basics by showing you how to make perfectly crispy potato wedges.

From preheating tips to understanding different settings and discovering surprising foods you can cook, we cover everything you need to get the best results every time.

Equipment You’ll Need

An air fryer
Chopping board
Knife
Mixing bowl
Cutlery
Serving plate

How To Use an Air Fryer: Step by Step

A great first recipe for your air fryer is potato wedges. They’re almost foolproof to make, and the difference in crispness and amount of oil required will quickly show you how much easier cooking lighter, delicious meals can be.

Step 1: Prepare Your Air Fryer Basket or Trays for Cooking

Air fryer with its components laid out, ready for assembly

If your air fryer has dual baskets or drawers, consider how much room you need for your potato wedges to cook evenly, and ensure that the air fryer is clean and ready to use.

For this recipe, more room is better. If possible, remove any compartments to create a larger air frying space.

Step 2: Turn on Your Air Fryer and Choose Your Setting

Air fryer turned on, the settings options lit up

Turn on your air fryer and choose an air fryer or roasting setting (if available).

Step 3: Preheat the Air Fryer

Set your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for 20 minutes. Some models will preheat automatically, while others go straight to cooking. Preheating helps achieve a crispier exterior on your potato wedges.

Step 4: Prepare Your Potatoes

Chopped potatoes on a wooden cutting board

You may opt for skin-on or peeling your potatoes. Then slice 2–3 medium potatoes lengthwise. You’re looking for wedges about ¾- to 1-inch thick. If you have time, soak the wedges for 5 minutes or more to remove excess starch. This step can make them even crispier. Drain thoroughly and pat dry with a kitchen towel.

Step 5: Add Oil, Dry Herbs, and Other Flavors

Spices and seasonings laid out on a countertop, air fryer in the background

Now you’re ready to add some oil and dry herbs to flavor your wedges.

In a small bowl or measuring cup, measure out 1–2 tbsp olive oil or your chosen oil. Mix in salt and pepper to taste, and any dried herbs or spices you like – oregano, thyme, rosemary, and mint all work well here.

For a spicier kick, try chilli seeds, cumin seeds, turmeric, or even chipotle chilli paste. Just remember: a little goes a long way with the air fryer!

Step 6: Coat the Potato Wedges

Coating potato wedges in oil/spice mixture

Place your potato wedges in a bowl and pour in your oil and spice mixture over the potatoes. Use a spoon or clean hands to properly coat and cover all the wedges with the oil mix for maximum flavor. Since an air fryer doesn’t require as much oil as an oven, the potatoes must be fully coated in oil so that they end up crispy and not dry.

Step 7: Place the Wedges in the Air Fryer & Start Cooking

Seasoned potatoe wedges laid out in an air fryer

By now, your air fryer should be preheated and ready to use. Remove the drawer or basket and place the wedges inside. Bake for 20 minutes. Set a timer for 10 minutes to remind you to shake or turn the wedges halfway through cooking.

Step 8: Shake or Turn Halfway Through

Flipping potato wedges halfway through the cooking time in an air fryer

At the halfway mark, remove the basket or tray. Use tongs or a fork to shake or turn the wedges. This step ensures even cooking and a crisp exterior on all sides.

Step 9: Ready To Serve!

After 20 minutes, check the largest wedge for doneness. The outside should be golden and crispy, and the inside fluffy and hot. If needed, cook a few minutes longer.

Serve your wedges with ketchup, mayonnaise, hot sauce, a sprinkle of parsley, or alongside your favorite burger. Enjoy the perfect crispy potato wedges made effortlessly in your air fryer!

How To Reheat Food in an Air Fryer

You may be used to turning to your microwave for reheating leftover food, but an air fryer does a far better job when you want food that’s hot, crispy, and finished with a golden-brown exterior.

Foods like pizza slices, French fries, and fried chicken usually only need a short reheat at 350°F. After just 3–4 minutes, you can expect bubbling cheese, crisp fries, and chicken that’s hot all the way through. For more delicate foods, such as baked fish or roasted vegetables, lower the temperature slightly to prevent overcooking or loss of flavour.

What Do Different Air Fryer Settings Mean?

Early air fryer models kept things simple with settings like air fry, roast, bake, or reheat. Modern air fryers now offer a wider range of functions, including proofing for baking, broiling, slow cooking, and even dehydrating.

The main difference between settings comes down to how heat is applied and circulated. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Setting	Function	Temperature	Example foods
Roast	High, even heat for caramelization	320–390°F	Chicken, pork, root vegetables
Bake	Lower, consistent heat similar to an oven	320–350°F	Cakes, muffins, breads
Broil	Intense top heat for browning	370–410°F	Cheese toppings, steaks
Proof	Gentle warmth	95–110°F	Bread, dough
Slow cook	Low, steady heat over time	160–210°F (4–8 hours)	Stews, casseroles
Dehydrate	Low heat with minimal fan circulation	100–160°F (4–10 hours)	Fruits, jerky

What Can You Cook in an Air Fryer?

Air fryers are far more versatile than many people expect. They’re suitable for everything from frozen snacks to fresh vegetables and baked treats.

Frozen Foods

French fries and wedges
Chicken nuggets, tenders, or fish sticks
Mozzarella sticks and onion rings
Frozen dumplings, egg rolls, and hash browns

Meat and Protein Options

Chicken thighs, breasts, or drumsticks
Pork chops or ribs
Steak or lamb chops
Bacon
Meatballs or sausages

Fish and Vegetarian Dishes

Salmon steaks
Marinated tofu chunks
Buffalo cauliflower bites
Falafel
Paneer tikka skewers

Vegetables

Broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts
Sweet potato or carrot fries
Stuffed peppers or mushrooms
Corn on the cob
Courgette or aubergine slices

Baked Goods

Cookies and brownies
Muffins and cupcakes
Scones and cinnamon rolls
Croissants, quiches, and banana bread

Plus

Hard-boiled eggs with no water needed
Chickpeas with spices sprinkled over are great for a crunchy snack
Toast and grilled sandwiches come out crisp and golden
Air-fried Oreos wrapped in puff pastry or biscuit dough

Air Frying Tips for Optimal Results

Choose the right location. Position your air fryer in a well-ventilated area with a wipeable surface behind it. Placing it too close to a wall can lead to grease buildup and discoloration over time.
Clean your air fryer after each use. Leftover crumbs or oils can affect the flavour of your next meal – especially when switching between sweet and savoury foods.
Avoid overcrowding your air fryer. This will cause food to become soggy and stop it from crisping up, such as French fries.
Check food early and often. Air fryers are far more effective at heating food than convection ovens, and if you haven’t used one before, you may find that it heats up food much faster than you’re used to.
Preheat for consistent results. This is a great way to achieve more accurate cooking results. Avoid putting the food in straight away, before the air fryer heats up, as you are prolonging its cooking time.
Shake or turn food halfway through. For smaller items such as French fries, tater tots, and chicken nuggets, remove the air fryer tray halfway through cooking and shake to ensure even cooking. This is especially important for any foods that might be piled in the tray or have uneven surfaces.

Simple Air Fryer Recipes Others Love

Air Fryer Chicken Katsu

Air fryers are a fantastic way to enjoy crispy, breaded chicken without deep-frying in your home – especially if pans of oil make you nervous or you have small children at home. This air fryer chicken katsu has a wonderfully crispy outer crumb and a juicy interior, thanks to briefly dry-brined chicken and high, circulating heat. A great tip from the recipe is to lightly spray the tops of the chicken with cooking spray after they are placed in the air-fryer basket, which will enhance browning and appearance.

Source: https://www.seriouseats.com/air-fryer-chicken-katsu-recipe-8645406

Air Fryer Bacon

If breakfasts mean crispy bacon in your household, then you’re going to want to get your air fryer recipe down for this morning staple. This super-simple recipe runs through all the basics, as well as sharing different temperature options for regular cut and thick-cut bacon. Don’t miss the helpful tips for the bacon fat causing smoke to emit from the air fryer, and a build-up of grease in your basket if you’re cooking a lot of bacon.

Source: https://natashaskitchen.com/air-fryer-bacon/

Air Fryer Green Beans

Don’t let anyone tell you that air fryers are only good for processed foods! They’re also great for achieving beautifully crisp vegetables, and they make roasting vegetables a breeze. These air fryer green beans with parmesan breadcrumbs are a great starting point for experimenting. There’s no need to parboil beforehand – just air fry for a few minutes before adding your toppings.

Source: https://www.skinnytaste.com/air-fryer-green-beans/

Air Fryer Brownies

Let’s not forget that there is a whole world of air fryer baking out there, too! Muffins and brownies are a good place to start getting to know how your air fryer bakes. These fudgy, chocolatey air fryer brownies are perfect for a small batch that doesn’t involve turning on the oven. If you don’t have a small tray for the brownies, you can even use oven-safe ramekins or muffin cups.

Source: https://onepotonly.com/air-fryer-brownies/

FAQ

Do I need to preheat my air fryer?

Many newer models of air fryers don’t require preheating, which is worth considering when comparing models. If your air fryer does need it, preheating helps achieve more consistent results. For foods with longer cooking times, such as pies or baked potatoes, adding the food at the start of preheating usually won’t affect the final outcome.

Can I use aluminum foil or parchment paper in the air fryer?

Parchment paper is safe and helps prevent sticking, but it should be weighed down by food so it doesn’t blow into the heating element. Aluminum foil is generally safe, but avoid using it at very high temperatures or with acidic foods, like tomatoes or citrus, as this can cause reactions and interfere with airflow.

How do I prevent food from sticking to the basket?

Using a disposable paper or silicone air fryer liner is a great way to stop food from sticking to the basket, or you can simply make your own by cutting a sheet of parchment paper to fit your basket.

Paper liners may not protect your air fryer from grease, and in the end, it is still important to clean your air fryer regularly to get rid of any lingering smells or small pieces of food.

Is it normal for the air fryer to emit a plastic smell during initial use?

It is normal for air fryers to give off a slight plastic smell when using them for the first time. The air fryer’s components are often made from plastic or have a PTFE coating, and these can release odors when heated for the first few times.

The best way to combat this is to run your air fryer on empty for 5–10 minutes before using it for the first time. This helps to eliminate any manufacturing smells or residual factory oils before using it to prepare food.

Can I cook multiple types of food at once?

You can certainly cook more than one type of food in your air fryer, and many now have different compartments to make this easier to do. Just be aware of not overcrowding the trays, since it can cause food to cook inconsistently.

Also, some foods may impart strong flavors and smells onto others (such as garlic, spices, oils). If you’re preparing food for the same meal, this may not be a problem.

Are air fryers noisy?

Air fryers typically produce a noise level ranging from 50 to 65 decibels, due to the fans they use to circulate hot air inside the machine. Air fryer manufacturers have worked to reduce this noise level, so more recent models are often quieter, and you can also buy low-noise models that operate at 40-50 decibels.

Some models will also make beeping sounds to let you know they have preheated, to turn the food, or that cooking is complete – these often can’t be turned off, so keep this in mind when choosing your model.

What types of cookware are safe to use in an air fryer?

It’s fine to use anything you’d use to cook in an oven in an air fryer, but you may find you need smaller oven-proof dishes or trays to fit inside the baskets. Cake tins can work well for baking, and you’ll want to look for non-stick coatings that are PFOA, PTFE, phthalates, and BPA-free to minimize exposure to potentially harmful chemicals that are heated at high temperatures.

Should I flip or shake the food during cooking?

A good rule of thumb is if you’d shake or turn food in an oven, do the same in an air fryer. Many foods, such as tarts, baked items, or garlic bread, don’t need turning, as the air circulating in the air fryer does this work for you.

But items such as French fries, sausages, or doughnuts will achieve a better result from moving around at least once during cooking. Recipes for roasting chickens, cooking pork chops, or bigger pieces of meat also call for turning – follow each recipe for optimal results.