Air Fryers are devices that use warm air for cooking food by frying them. Air fryer was first introduced in 2007. They are a great alternative to deep fat frying because they don’t need any oil, unlike deep fat fryers. They heat up fast, and you can use the air fryer without worrying about splattering grease everywhere. They are also straightforward to clean, and you can even wash them in the dishwasher! An air fryer is an excellent addition to any kitchen. It cooks foods quickly and evenly without using oil. It is easy to clean and doesn’t cost very much. It’s perfect for cooking chicken or vegetables.
How Do I Use an Air Fryer?
Air fryers come in two parts: the base and the lid. The bottom has a heating element on it. The heating element heats the air inside the ground when you turn the unit on. This heated air then rises through the basket of your choice and circulates the food items. The food gets cooked as the hot air touches it. The lid contains vents that allow the hot air to escape when necessary.
To use an air fryer, prepare your food by cutting it into smaller pieces. Place the food in a bowl or dish that fits into the air fryer basket.
Next, set the timer on the air fryer. You can find them in minutes or hours depending on how long you want to cook your food.
Finally, place the bowl with your food inside of the basket and close the lid of the air fryer. Set it to start cooking and wait for it to finish!
Air Fryers Are Easy to Clean
You can easily remove the food from the basket after cooking. All you have to do is lift out the basket and place it upside down over a sink. After removing all the food, wipe off the basket with a damp cloth. If there are any spills, rinse the basket under running water.
You Can Cook With Different Foods
Air fryers work well for cooking different types of foods. For example, you can cook potatoes, meat, poultry, fish, veggies, etc., in an air fryer. You can even make dessert in one.
They’re Great for Cooking at Parties
If you want to entertain guests, an air fryer is the best way to go. Guests will love the crispy texture of the food, and you won’t have to worry about cleaning up spilled grease or getting burned by hot oil.
Cooking Time Is Short
When you cook food in an air fryer, it takes less time than if you did it in a regular oven or stovetop. That means you can get more done during the day.
Do you need to use oil in an air fryer?
You don’t need oil when cooking vegetables in an air fryer. You can use a light spritz of oil instead of frying for delicious and healthy roasted vegetables. This makes your food healthier because you aren’t adding extra fat. Oil helps fry vegetables by keeping them from sticking together. When you use too much oil, your vegetables will be greasy.
General Tips for Cooking Chicken in the Air Fryer
Air frying is a new trend in the kitchen. It uses less oil than traditional deep frying methods but yields crispier results. It would help if you used a marinade to add flavor to your chicken and then air dry it. Patting it dry after air frying helps retain moisture. There are many different types of marinades. Some people use garlic and lemon as a marinade, while others prefer balsamic herb marinade. Some people use white wine or herb marinade, and some use a smoky citrus marinade.
In my opinion, chicken is best cooked using an air fryer. Ensure that your chicken isn’t sitting directly on top of any heating elements. If you’re cooking more than just one piece of chicken at a time, you may want to consider putting them into different containers.
Here’s how simple it is to roast a whole chicken in an air fryer:
Many people are afraid of using electric fryers because they think it is complicated and time-consuming. However, this is not the case with an air fryer, and it cooks food quickly and evenly without the need for oil.
Lunar New Year Butterflied Chicken Roast
Here’s a simple roasted chicken recipe that will go well with Lunar New Year. It’s a great recipe that can be served at almost any time of the year. The air fryer yields crispy, smokey, and caramelized chicken each time.
It was so easy to prepare! This is one of my favorite recipes because it takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish, making it ideal if you’re cooking for a small family of four.
Ingredients:
Serves 3-4 pax
One tablespoon of salt-baked seasoning powder
One teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
One tablespoon black pepper sauce
One tablespoon oyster sauce
One tablespoon light soy sauce
One teaspoon of sugar
One teaspoon minced ginger
One teaspoon minced garlic
One teaspoon of sugar
1.2kg butterflied (whole) chicken
Preparation
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl with a small whisk until well blended.
- Grab your kitchen sears and cut out the back bone. Fully remove the backbone and flatten the chicken so the chicken starts to lie flat.
- Pour the marinate all over the chicken and massage for 2-3 minutes.
- Marinate chicken for at least 4 hours or overnight. Remove chicken from the fridge for at least 1 hour at room temperature before roasting in the air fryer. Pre-heating is not necessary.
- Put the chicken into the air fryer basket. Fold the wing tips back and put them breast side up. Open them up as much as possible.
- Roast chicken at 180C (356F) for 9 minutes on the first side, then flip the chicken over for another side 6 minutes, then final 3 minutes at the same temperature. Remember to rest the chicken for at least 10 – 15 mins before cutting or serving.
Tips for Success
Choose chickens that have intact skin, are evenly colored, and have a fresh scent to them.
Be sure to remove organ meat from the cavity and rub the chicken with sea salts before rinsing with water.
Note: Those giblets and necks make perfect broth for soups and stews, so put them in the freezer and save them instead of discarding them.
Leftovers?
To store air fryers chicken, remove the chicken breast meat and keep it in an open container in the refrigerator for 5 days or in the freezer for 3 months.
To reheat, just pop it in the microwave! Add some salt and pepper to the flavors, or make a quick sauce to serve over top.
