Busy parents are often keen for ways to shave precious time off their daily routines, whether that's using a slow cooker for efficient, effortless food prep, or using a gadget like an air fryer to actually reduce the overall cooking time needed for meals. We're certainly all on board with anything that makes family life easier, and Mumsnet users rave about the time and money-saving qualities of an air fryer. Go easy on the oil: Too much oil can result in overly greasy food and may cause the air fryer to get too smoke, so go easy on the oil, particularly if the food you're cooking is already quite fatty. The best air fryer models are increasingly becoming a go to in UK households. With energy bills soaring and an air fryer’s operating costs relatively low, they have become a great alternative to the oven or deep frying. Air fryers can also be healthier than other options and are famous for their ability to replicate deep fried foods with far less oil, using air as the vehicle for heat.

Multi-functional air fryer ovens: More advanced than conventional air fryers, they offer a wider range of cooking options. Multi-functional air fryers are larger, and have additional features such as baking, grilling and roasting. These are better suited for more spacious kitchens. Next, clean the interior. Use a damp cloth to wipe down the interior and remove any grease or food particles. For more thorough cleaning, you can remove the tray and wash it in the dishwasher (if it is dishwasher safe) or by hand. If there are any hard-to-reach areas, use a cotton swab or toothbrush to clean them. Never air-fried before? Here are some insider tips to get you started with a basket-style air fryer: Reducing the amount of oil you use in your cooking is one of the key benefits of using air fryers: they allow for healthier cooking. Air fryers require little oil in comparison to other cooking methods, lowering the amount of unhealthy fat in your food. This small change can improve your heart health and lower your cholesterol. Additionally, not submerging your foods in oil (like you would when using a deep fat fryer) preserves their nutritional value better. Move food around: Shaking the basket a little during the cooking process helps to ensure everything is cooked evenly.

Do you put oil in an air fryer?

Preheat the air fryer and select the program you want to use: It’s important to let your air fryer reach its designated temperature and let it preheat for about five minutes before you put the food in. The size of air fryers in relation to conventional ovens makes one of their advantages their convenience too, although bear in mind that you will need to make space on your countertop. They are usually easy to clean, with most containing dishwasher-safe parts. All in all, they are an appliance ideal for people with busy lives, including parents and those struggling to find time in the kitchen after a long day at work. What Mumsnet users say Use in a well ventilated space: Leave plenty of space around the air fryer for ventilation. Do not use right next to a wall.

Preheat: Remember to preheat your air fryer before putting the food in. It should heat up much faster than a standard oven. Plus, if versatility is at the top of your priorities, some multi-cookers have a built-in air fryer, along with other functions like a pressure cooker, rice cooker, steamer, amongst others to free up even more space in your kitchen. Do you put oil in an air fryer?Reheated food: Air fryers are fantastic for reheating food. They won’t make once-crispy things mushy like a microwave will. Use them to revive leftovers or last night’s takeaway! Knowing how to use an air fryer also involves knowing how to take care of it. To keep it functioning well you should regularly clean it. Using foods that don’t weigh enough: It may sound silly, but when using circulating air to cook food, you need to ensure what’s inside weighs enough that the fan won’t blow it around. Things like kale and bread might be too light to cook in your air fryer.

Sweet treats: Air fryers are great for more than just savoury food. Try cakes and muffins for delicious results. Here's a handy step-by-step guide to cooking food with a basket air fryer. How to use it will differ from meal to meal and between models (it will be slightly different for air fryer ovens too), so you should always consult the instructions before starting, but these are generally the steps involved in air frying. Just make sure you put the oil directly onto the food, and give it a good shake regularly for an even satisfying crisp. Air fryer tips for beginners: what to know before your first use

How to choose the right air fryer for you?

I’m seriously thinking about ways to cut down expenditure. So far [I am] using the air fryer more as it's much more energy efficient than a gas oven.” Appalonia Don’t let the name deceive you, you still do need to use oil in your air fryer as it plays an important role in the cooking process. Air fryers typically require around a teaspoon or two per dish. It’s still much less than what you’d use for oven cooking or in a deep fat fryer. All potato-based products (apart from mash): Your air fryer will easily outperform your oven on crispiness and cooking speed. Not preheating: Like with any cooking appliance, heating your air fryer before you add food means it will cook as soon as it's put inside. If you put your food inside as the fryer is heating up, it will get soggy. Finally, be sure to regularly clean the outside. Use a damp cloth to wipe down the outside and remove any smudges. Regular cleaning will keep your air fryer in good working condition and prevent any build-up of grease or grime that could negatively affect the taste of your food.

Chips: If any food is synonymous with air frying, it's crispy chips. “We did oven chips in it last night and they were lovely so we will definitely do other freezer things.” Cuwins Not cleaning properly after use: Cleaning your air fryer thoroughly will help you preserve its life. If you don’t clean it, food can build up in the basket and become difficult to remove. verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ Add the food: Add the food in an even layer in the fry basket, leaving some space to allow hot air to circulate. Add a slice of bread: A well-placed slice of bread in the bottom of your air fryer can be helpful for collecting any excess grease, making the post-meal clean up easier. Spray with oil during the cooking process: This helps to ensure a nice even crisp. However, you don’t need to do this for greasy meats like bacon or sausages. Conventional basket air fryers: Small and compact appliances that work by circulating hot air, cooking the food in a basket. Ideal for small households.