Air fryer expert warns people are making a 'common mistake' with kitchen gadget

Air fryers, the clever kitchen gadgets that have revolutionised home cooking, aren't without their pitfalls.

Cookbook author and air fryer aficionado Clare Andrews has shared the "common blunders" many make with these devices, drawing on her own experiences.

"One thing is for sure, I have certainly learned my lesson the hard way! And I'm here to help you, so you don't make the same mistakes that I did in the past," she said humorously.

A typical mistake made by many when whipping up a dish is to "overfill your basket", leading to food that's not only unappetising but also oddly textured.

She elaborated: "This can be a problem as air fryers rely on rapid air circulation to cook food evenly and if you overcrowd the basket, that can block the hot air from reaching your food and circulating properly. Which can lead to soggy textures and unevenly cooked food."

In an honest admission about her past air frying practices, Clare confessed that she once regularly neglected to clean her appliance after each use, a misstep she vows she'll "never make again".

"As tempting as it may seem to leave it for another day, this can cause a build-up of grease and crumbs leading to burnt residues, which can cause smoke and sometimes a rather unpleasant odour," she warned.

"This of course can also lead to your air fryer not performing as it should, and the longevity of your machine. If you don't fancy cleaning every time, certain foods can be cooked in a silicone liner and even oven-proof dishes."

Clare, an air fryer aficionado, hasn't always been the expert she is today - everyone starts somewhere. She shared: "Along with maintaining your air fryer, I have also had my fair share of disasters with some of my recipes.

"I'm always trying new things and when I first started on my air fryer journey, I experimented a lot with different foods and recipes."

She advised against repeating one of her less successful experiments: "Don't do it." Claire detailed one mishap, saying: "Wet batter and gooey chocolate, mixed with caramel did not work at all in an air fryer, the mess was everywhere."

She also recommended avoiding certain items, saying: "I'd also steer clear of very light foods, such as mini meringue, small tortilla wraps even cheese slices. They can take off in the air currents and stick to the heating element at the top, which can cause smoking and potentially ruin your machine."

For those keen on achieving lovely and crispy results, Clare highlighted a key technique to avoid mishaps. She said: "Another frequent mistake is not shaking the basket or turning your food halfway through the cooking time. Doing this will ensure your food is lovely and crispy all over."

Lastly, she stressed the importance of monitoring the cooking process: "Remember, all air fryers are different, so when you're following a recipe or packet instructions don't be afraid to open your air fryer during the cook, to check that nothing is overcooking. Unlike ovens, air fryers get back up to cooking temperature very quickly so it's OK to open them."

Clare Andrews' new culinary guide 'The Ultimate Air Fryer Cookbook: One Basket Meals' is set to hit shelves on 7th November, but eager foodies can secure their copy by pre-ordering on Amazon now.