If you love to fry but don’t love the messy stovetop, counter space, or the way your house smells after frying foods, then getting an air fryer makes a lot of sense. But can you put an air fryer on the countertop? Do they work from there? To answer these questions and more, I’ll explore all the potential benefits and drawbacks to using your air fryer as a counter-bound appliance.
What is an Air Fryer:
An air fryer is a kitchen appliance that lets you cook by circulating hot air around with French fries or other fried foods. You can cook almost anything in your air fryer, but the key thing here is to really reduce the amount of oil you usually use for frying. As you’ll see below, some air fryers do this by submerging food under a small amount of oil, while others rely on technology to virtually eliminate the need to use any oil at all. Air fryers are quickly gaining popularity here in the United States. You can easily find one at many department stores and big box retailers for between $50 and $100. Despite their popularity, though, many people don’t know how to handle their new appliance correctly. In this post, I’ll share with you all the information you need to know in order to safely and effectively use your air fryer.
Can You Put an Air Fryer on a Counter:
The short answer is that it’s probably a good idea to do exactly that, but not with a standard air fryer. The main concern is that an air fryer with a thermostat turns the oil burner on when it gets too hot, which could increase its temperature from 350-400 F when it hits room temperature in the morning. A common solution is to add a silicone cover over or around your air fryer so that it doesn’t get too hot while cooking at room temperature.
Some air fryers also have temperature sensors that prevent the oil burner from turning on when it’s too hot. If your air fryer has this feature, you won’t need to cover it if it’s on a countertop. But the bottom line is that you should always monitor your oil level (see below) and make sure your air fryer doesn’t get too hot under normal circumstances.
What Temperature Should You Set the Oven to:
The best way to cook foods in an air fryer is at temperatures between 350 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit (or 175-200 degrees Celcius). When I’m using my air fryer, I set the temperature to 400 F. It’s a little hotter than recommended, but it works for most foods and I like all the extra oil to be boiling when I start cooking.
How Long Should You Fry Foods:
The rule of thumb is 5 minutes for each 1 inch of thickness for french fries and things like wings and drumsticks. For thinner items like zucchini slices or egg rolls, you can fry them just one minute per side and they will be crispy and delicious.
The Best Way to Monitor the Air Fryer Oil:
Unlike a stove, an air fryer can’t see your oil level if it’s inside the unit. So you need to make sure that you keep an eye on how much oil it has and replenish it as necessary. When using a traditional air fryer with a thermostat, we used to refill the oil by opening up the machine and measuring out exactly 45 ml (1 ounce). We’d use that amount of oil for frying one batch of french fries or two small pieces of chicken breast. I recently discovered that my new air fryer with a sensor has a slightly larger capacity. I now use the full 60 ml (2 ounces) to fry all of the foods mentioned above, which usually comes out to be about 3 batches of french fries.
How to Oil Your Air Fryer:
If you have an air fryer with a sensor, you probably don’t need to oil it at all since it will shut off automatically when there’s too much moisture in the unit. If you have a model without a sensor, though, you need to oil it yourself before every use. The best way to oil your air fryer is to use a proper plastic squeeze bottle that measures 18 ml, or just slightly over 1/4 cup. You can find these at any kitchen supply store. If you use this method, you shouldn’t need to oil the unit again once it’s been used for three months with no oil changes.
If an air fryer doesn’t have a sensor, then you should ALWAYS invest in an oil dropper or measuring spoon so that you can monitor how much oil is left in the unit. I like to use my own stainless steel measuring spoon because it has a small hole in the handle that allows me to suck out exactly 1 ounce of oil (45 ml).
What Foods Can You Fry in an Air Fryer?
You can cook almost any type of food in an air fryer, but if you have one that has a thermometer, then you should use it to monitor the temperature of the oil. I recommend sticking with foods that are at least 1/4 inch thick, otherwise you may find yourself having to cook them longer than necessary. But I’ve cooked everything from chicken breasts, to eggrolls, to zucchini slices and almost all of them have come out great. What’s great is that once you get used to the process of frying using your air fryer , it will be easier and less messy than using a conventional electric stovetop.
How to Clean an Air Fryer:
You may be excited to try and try and fry some foods with your new air fryer, but then you’ll notice that it starts looking a little dingy and gross. This is because the oil that comes out of the fryer is really dirty. If you use your air fryer every day, then you need to clean it on a regular basis so that it doesn’t get too oily and food keeps sticking to your appliance. You can find several cleaning supplies available for this type of appliance at your local drugstore or kitchen supply store. I also like using a gentle dishwashing soap and warm water on my air fryer after each use.
How to Store Your Air Fryer:
Many air fryers have a storage drawer on the base, but you can also store them in a cabinet when they aren’t being used. If your air fryer does have a storage drawer, then I suggest keeping it in it so that moisture doesn’t get into the unit and start to damage the components. You can also use a silcone cover in this case to protect against dust and moisture. However, if you do opt for storing your air fryer in a cabinet, then I highly recommend getting some type of protective covering for it just in case kids or pets knock it around or place something on top of it.
Can air fryer be used on countertop?
Air fryers work best on a countertop where you can keep an eye on the oil level and make sure that they aren’t overheating. If you try to use an air fryer on top of the stove, then you run the risk of spilling your hot oil everywhere and possibly damaging your unit. I would also avoid using it on a table where there is a lot of condensation or moisture that could cause different types of damage to your air fryer unit. You may be able to get away with placing your air fryer in the oven while it cools down for use at room temperature, but this will reduce its lifespan.
Can you use air fryer on grill?
I love to use an air fryer on the grill, especially for foods that need a little more crunch. Just keep in mind that you may wind up with a mess if you try and use them on top of the grill. You run the risk of food falling into the heat source and burning before it even gets to your air fryer. So instead, I like to use my air fryer as an extra burner where I can use it on top of my grill. It’s quite convenient.
Can you use an air fryer on stovetop?
I personally think that this is not possible because you will need to monitor your oil temperature closely since the vaporization process will take place at much lower temperatures than what you would use with a traditional stovetop.
Do water resistant models exist?
Some manufacturers make air fryers that claim to be water resistant or even waterproof. However, most of these types of units are not safe to use by continuous immersion due to poor seals and short tubing. There is also no way to monitor the temperature and adjustment valve since it’s located inside the unit and inaccessible whenever the unit is submerged.
What surface can I put my air fryer on?
Air fryers work best on a countertop where you can keep an eye on the oil level and make sure that they aren’t overheating. If you try to use an air fryer on top of the stove, then you run the risk of spilling your hot oil everywhere and possibly damaging your unit. I would also avoid using it on a table where there is a lot of condensation or moisture that could cause different types of damage to your air fryer unit. You may be able to get away with placing your air fryer in the oven while it cools down for use at room temperature, but this will reduce its lifespan.
Where should I place my air fryer?
The best place to put your air fryer is on top of your countertop where you can easily monitor the cooking process. If you don’t have a large counter, then I suggest using a portable cart set next to your fridge or in the corner of the kitchen. Make sure that your air fryer has adequate ventilation, and be cautious of placing it around any flammable materials.
What can you put air fryer on?
Air fryers are suitable for coating with oil and cooking on top of your stovetop. However, I’ve found that my air fryer tends to stick to the bottom of the stove. So I suggest using a deep pot or even a canning jar with at least an inch of oil.
How do I clean an air fryer?
Cleaning an air fryer is a simple task, but you will need to do it on a regular basis so that food doesn’t stick and your food develops a burnt taste. I like to use a gentle dishwashing soap and warm water on my air fryer after each use. Some people like to use products such as Simple Green , but I don’t find it necessary if you clean your air fryer regularly. You can also opt to deep-clean your air fryer by getting rid of all of the components and using vinegar and warm water followed by rinsing with hot water and drying completely before putting them back together again.
What should I put under my air fryer?
Air fryers are suitable for coating with oil and cooking on top of your stovetop. However, I’ve found that my air fryer tends to stick to the bottom of the stove. So I suggest using a deep pot or even a canning jar with at least an inch of oil.
Air fryers are not only convenient, but they are also an excellent alternative to deep-frying foods. They are easy to use, but require a little bit of patience to learn the best way to heat up your food.
If you are looking for an air fryer that will last for years, then I recommend getting the Philips Air Fryer HD9220/26 which will provide you with delicious food time after time. It’s easy to use and tends to cook your food evenly without burning it. You can even make desserts in this unit! The Philips Air Fryer HD9220/26 is definitely a must-have appliance if you don’t have one yet.
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