When I first used an air fryer, I had no idea where to even begin.
Luckily, after lots of practice, I finally cracked the code. Now, I am proud to say, I am a self-professed air fryer professional.
Air fryers are extremely easy to use. It only took me one “try” before feeling like I was well on the path to mastery of this popular cooking tool.
If you have recently bought a new air fryer, and are unsure of the first step, keep reading to learn how best to use it!
What is an Air Fryer?
Think for a moment about all your favorite foods.
Mine are chicken, fries, salmon, steak, and mozzarella cheese sticks! Something I haven’t tried yet but am really wanting to make is Southern biscuits.
You can make all your favorite foods in an air fryer.
Philips went to market with the first air fryer in 2010. Believe it or not, air fryers did not fly off the shelves when they first came out. However, during the Covid-19 pandemic, households began to become more health conscious. This trend was what propelled the craze regarding these must-have kitchen appliances.
Air fryer technology is overall fairly simple. Air fryers are smaller, more compact convection ovens. Air heats and then circulates around the food which facilitates the cooking. This reduces cooking times by nearly 20%.
Once you buy an air fryer, there are just a few basics to master first. Knowing these tips will make cooking a lot easier for you.
Find out why I chose the Philips air fryer by reading: Philips Air Fryer VS Nuwave [Comparison Charts + Which One To Buy!]
The Basics Parts of an Air Fryer
Using an air fryer is simple once you know the parts and the general way it works.
My air fryer is a Philips air fryer essential compact, but a lot of the parts of an air fryer are similar.
They include (in no particular order):
Timer Setting
Most air fryers have this marked pretty evidently on their digital interfaces.
Temperature Setting
On the Philips air fryer, the temperature setting is digital and on the left hand side of the air fryer.
Basket
The basket is where you will place the food to cook.
In a Philips air fryer, the baskets are square and black. They also have a mesh bottom for the heat and air to be able to go through to cook the food.
Fan
The fan is close to the heating element. It moves the hot air around which evenly cooks the food inside the air fryer.
Drawer
The air fryer basket has holes inside it so that the fat can drip down and fall into the drawer.
Heating Element
This is how the food gets cooked. When you’re using the air fryer, this is why it is important to flip your food so that both sides get exposed to this very important heating element.
Related: Can You Put Oil In An Air Fryer? [How To Do It & FAQ]
Preparing for Your First Air Fry
Now that you understand the different parts of the air fryer. It is now time to prep the area, the air fryer, and your food before you start.
The first thing you will need to do is determine what you would like to cook. I would begin with an easier meal. This way, if something goes wrong, you’ll be able to make a quick recovery and be able to minimize any time and effort spent.
The next thing you will need to do is determine the temperature and the time you will be cooking at.
One of my top tips for using a Philips air fryer:
Because the air fryer is so efficient, take one to two minutes off the cooking time if you are using an air frying recipe.
If your appliance is new, it may surprise you when you cook your salmon in five minutes like I did!
First time user tip:
Check your food half way through the cooking time. You’ll want to monitor how your Philips air fryer is doing.
Air Frying Salmon for the First Time
The other night, I decided to prepare some salmon for dinner. Cooking salmon in the air fryer is actually remarkably easy!
Below I list out the steps needed for you to cook salmon if you find yourself cooking that meal for the first time.
Step 1:
Take out your salmon. There is no need to preheat the Philips air fryer at any time.
Step 2:
Season your salmon how you wish. I seasoned my salmon with some paprika, salt, pepper, and just a dash of oil.
Step 3:
Open the air fryer and place the salmon inside. Ensure you arrange the salmon so that it is fully horizontal and not folded over.
Step 4:
Set the temperature on the air fryer to around 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 5:
Set the timer for about eight minutes.
Step 6:
Press start and wait for the timer to go off.
Step 7:
Take the salmon out of the air fryer, put it on a plate or with a dish, and enjoy!
Chef’s tip:
It can be easy to overcook salmon in an air fryer. I actually only ended up cooking my salmon in the air fryer for about five minutes before I took it out.
There are many other recipes to cook in the air fryer, and chicken is one of them. With the air fryer, you can cook a lot of chicken in a short amount of time so be sure to store them away for leftovers.
Did you know that you can buy some fresh salmon from Amazon? Check out their prices now on Amazon Fresh (only available in select US cities).
Common Questions (FAQs)
Do I Need to Air Fry a Lemon in Order to “Break In” My New Air Fryer?
When you get a new kitchen tool, you may be fearful of the plastic-like smell leaving an imprint on your food. I had the same worry.
The answer is no, you do not need to air fry anything to prep your air fryer for an actual meal.
That is the beauty of the appliance. You don’t have to do anything at all. Simply load the air fryer with the food you want to cook, and then set the temperature and timer.
Is My Air Fryer Dishwasher Safe?
Parts from my air fryer are dishwasher safe, and I have the Philips essential air fryer compact. Before you purchase your air fryer it is good to double check the washing instructions.
The air fryer is so easy to clean that sometimes I don’t even use the dishwasher. I just give it a good rinse and dry and then place the basket inside the air fryer.
If you leave your air fryer out on your kitchen countertop like I do, then sometimes you’ll see dust collect on the tops. This is also easy to remove and a quick wipe on the outside is just enough to keep the dust at bay.
Where Can I Find Fun Air Fryer Recipes to Cook?
Luckily, with the Philips air fryer, you’ll have access to over 500 unique recipes to choose from.
Once you have your air fryer, simply download the Philips NutriU app from the Apple store.
(If you’re an android user, you may also download from the Google play store.)
You can also use your air fryer to reheat leftover food, even steak!
What Should I Not Put Inside an Air Fryer?
You should definitely not put ice inside of an air fryer.
For the Philips air fryer, it is also not a good idea to put any kind of stew or water-based food inside the fryer.
Related: Here’s what happens if you put ice inside a deep fryer.