Perfect crispiness is one of the main reasons people love air fryers. However, sometimes food doesn’t turn out as crunchy as expected. To help you achieve the ideal texture in every meal, we’ve gathered the best secrets to making your air fryer food extra crispy!
1. Use a Small Amount of Oil, but Just the Right Amount
While air fryers are designed to cook with little or no oil, adding a small amount can help achieve a crispier texture.
Tip: Use an oil sprayer to apply a thin, even layer of oil to the food before cooking.
2. Preheat Your Air Fryer
Preheating your air fryer ensures that food starts cooking at a high temperature immediately, helping to create a crispy crust.
Tip: Most models need just 3 to 5 minutes of preheating.
3. Don’t Overcrowd the Basket
For crispiness, hot air must circulate around the food. If the basket is too full, food may cook unevenly and turn out soggy.
Tip: Cook in smaller batches for better results.
4. Flip the Food Halfway Through Cooking
Flipping or shaking the food during cooking ensures that all sides get evenly crispy.
Tip: For smaller pieces, shake the basket halfway through. For larger pieces, use silicone-tipped tongs.
5. Use Crispy Coatings
Coating food with breadcrumbs, cornstarch, or grated cheese can create a crispier crust.
Tip: For breaded chicken or fries, mix a little cornstarch into the flour for extra crunch.
6. Choose the Right Temperature
Temperatures that are too low won’t crisp up food, while overly high temperatures can burn the outside before the inside is fully cooked.
Tip: For fries and breaded foods, 400°F (200°C) is usually ideal.
7. Dry Your Food Before Cooking
Excess moisture prevents crispiness. Make sure to pat dry meats, potatoes, and vegetables before placing them in the air fryer.
Tip: Use a paper towel for meats. For potatoes, soak them in water and dry them before seasoning.
8. Adjust Cooking Time at the End
If food isn’t crispy enough by the end of the cooking time, add a few extra minutes.
Tip: Monitor the process and adjust as needed.
9. Avoid Too Much Foil or Parchment Paper
Blocking airflow can prevent food from getting crispy.
Tip: If using parchment paper or aluminum foil, make sure it has perforations or fits snugly inside the basket.
10. Use the Right Accessories
Grill racks and elevated trays increase airflow around food, helping to ensure crispiness on all sides.
Tip: If possible, elevate food to allow hot air to circulate underneath.