How to use the air fryer: turn on, cook, wash

Characteristics and capabilities of the air fryer

Air fryer models differ in their set of functions, technical characteristics, and appearance. The price of devices depends on the combination of all these parameters, especially on the number of additional options.

Keeping warm: the appliance runs at a minimum heat level after the end of the program, just to keep the food hot for a while.
The presence of a temperature sensor that monitors overheating of equipment.
Adjusting the speed of air circulation during cooking.
Delayed start. A very convenient function, loved by many housewives. In electric convection ovens, depending on the model, you can set the temperature from 9 to 24 hours. This function allows you to load food into the bowl and go about your business. The device will turn on itself at the appointed hour in the specified mode and prepare food.
Self-cleaning. After working out this mode, you simply need to wipe the device.
Smoking. A great opportunity to prepare delicious smoked delicacies right at home. Meat or fish are pre-marinated. Wood chips or aromatic mixtures for smoking (usually sawdust from fruit trees) are placed in the wood chips section, then a container is installed where the fat will go. A grate for food is placed on this container. The taste and quality of the food is the same as from a full-fledged smokehouse.
Double boiler. Yes, the air fryer can steam. But it's better not to do this. Since the device is not sealed inside, hot wet steam damages the working elements of the device.
Some models are equipped with mechanical stirrers. Products are stirred automatically during cooking, without the participation of the cook.

Preparing the air fryer for use

Before turning on the device for the first time, you need to carry out some procedures.

Remove shipping and other auxiliary equipment from the flask.
Wipe the inside with a soft, loose cloth or sponge.
Plug the plug into the socket.
Close the flask with a lid.

Before cooking food in an air fryer, it must be warmed up.

First you need to adjust the timer for 6 minutes and set the temperature to 260 degrees. The device itself will run this mini-program, heat up and automatically stop. For the first time, a burning smell may appear - this is the remains of lubricants and dust burning. This is normal, there is no need to be scared.
Cool the device.
Wipe the flask again.

That's it, the air fryer can be used for its intended purpose, it is ready.

Overview of the air fryer control panel

Touch control panel

All controls of the air fryer, all its adjustments and programs are displayed on its front side, often in a single control panel. It can be sensory or mechanical (rotary controls). Also here there is usually a display in more advanced models or a strip of indicators that show the elapsed and remaining cooking time, work program, speed and air temperature inside.

All modes, including preheating, defrosting, and self-cleaning, are activated from this panel. It contains:

timer;
indicators of temperature and air flow speed;
buttons to add or decrease time;
buttons for adding or decreasing parameters (speed, temperature, etc.);
data reset key;
buttons to activate modes: heating, fan speed, self-cleaning, defrosting and start.

By monitoring the timer readings, the cooking time is set using the increase/decrease keys. This value can range from 1 minute to 24 hours. If you press a key not discretely, but for a long time, the speed of “winding up” time increases.

Mechanical control panel

Air fryer control

All control over the process of preparing different dishes in an air fryer comes down to selecting different modes on the panel located on the top of the lid. The location of the control elements on the panel is shown in the figure below:

The controls include:

Electronic timer for selecting cooking time.
Buttons to increase and decrease cooking time.
Program reset button to select another mode.
Temperature indicator.
Button for setting the required temperature mode.
Air supply speed indicators.
Air flow control button.
Air fryer heating button.
Start button.
Indication of the “self-flushing 80°C” mode.
Indicator “Defrost 65°C”.

A larger image of the control panel is shown below (click to enlarge):

General rules of use

An instruction manual is included with the device itself. Cooking in an air fryer is very simple - just follow the instructions for use:

Connect the device to the network.
Place all the original ingredients into the container and close the lid tightly.
Set the necessary parameters on the built-in panel. Their set is small - speed, time and temperature.
When the temperature reaches the set point, the fan turns on and begins to circulate hot air inside the convection oven.

Upon completion of the cooking process, the unit itself will signal this with a sound. But there is no need to rush to pull its plug from the network. This can only be done when the convection oven has cooled down and the fan has finally stopped.

The dish is ready. Now is the time to think about how to wash your “helper”. This can be done by turning on self-cleaning or using a dishwasher. In the first option, you must follow the following steps.

Pour in dishwashing detergent and fill the container with very hot water (stop halfway).
Close the lid for 10 minutes at 250 degrees.
The process is completed - the inside of the flask is rinsed, and the lid is simply wiped with a towel.
During this process, you can leave dirty grates, baking sheets, and skewers inside.

You can only wash the flask itself in the dishwasher, after first removing it from the body. But it is strictly forbidden to treat the lid itself in this way.

And finally, a table of what can be cooked in an air fryer:

Here, in my opinion, is the main thing that it is advisable to know when starting to master air fryer cooking. Over time, you may discover your own little tricks that will help you achieve more and more impressive results and earn the reputation of an excellent cook among your friends and family. And if you already have tricks that help you cook in an air fryer quickly and tasty, share them in the comments.

Air fryer dishes

The air grill in operating mode can heat the contents to a temperature of 260 degrees. At the same time, the heat source is open. Therefore, only heat-resistant dishes are suitable for the air fryer. Plastic and wooden ones are not suitable, even if they are marked “microwave safe”.

Buying a universal container for all dishes will not work. True, you won’t have to completely change the utensils in the kitchen either. Many items will fit in the air fryer. Suitable for different dishes:

roasting meat, roasting, soups - ceramic pan;
frying meat, potatoes, vegetables - glass container;
baking - metal molds, non-stick baking sheets, silicone molds.

In the air fryer you can use aluminum dishes and foil, metal, ceramic and silicone utensils, which cannot be done in the microwave.

In general terms, the process of choosing dishes for an air fryer can be based on the following points.

The cookware must be heat-resistant and heat-resistant. Usually there is a corresponding marking on the bottom or on the packaging.
The thermal conductivity of the cookware is also important. If it's good, the heat will penetrate quickly and the food will cook faster. So, in a glass or aluminum container the dish will cook faster than in a ceramic pot.
Wall thickness. For a golden brown crust on the dish, it is better to use thin dishes. For slow simmering - thick.
The size of the container should not be larger than 25 cm. This diameter allows heat flows to calmly walk around and cook food evenly.

Recommendations for safe use

These useful tips will help you always prepare the most delicious and healthy dishes using this device.

The device should be warmed up before use.
Products are placed not on the bottom, but on the grid inside the device.
Be sure to check how tightly the lid fits to the device.
To avoid getting burns (both steam and thermal), you should be careful.
After completing the process, the lid should only be placed on a special stand - it is hot and can damage the surface of the table.
Clean the device only after it has completely cooled down.

In order for the device to serve for a long time, cook as it should and not require unnecessary attention, you must follow these recommendations.

15 minutes after the end of the cooking cycle and stopping all programs, turn off the device from the network.
If water accidentally gets into the device (panel), it must be completely disconnected from the network and the panel must be dried for at least 2.5 hours in a dry place.
The air fryer flask cannot be used for any other purposes, for example, on a gas or electric stove.
You cannot turn on the air fryer without a stand under the flask.
Care for plastic only with soft products and sponges without abrasive.
You cannot wash the grates with a steel wool, much less a brush. They will ruin the coating.
The flask is afraid of temperature shock, i.e. sudden changes in temperature. For example, you cannot put a hot flask under cold water, it will burst.

The air fryer flask is dishwasher safe

Hotter HX-1036 Economy New

Hotter HX-1036 Economy New – Economical, inexpensive, technologically advanced.

This model saves everything: your energy spent on cooking, your money, and even your electricity. This Hotter air fryer is capable of preparing delicious and healthy food for you and your family in a short time.

Technical characteristics of Hotter HX-1036 Economy New:

6 cooking mode.
Temperature support function.
Temperature adjustment range: 65-250 °C.
3 hour timer.
Heating element as a heating element.
Heat-resistant glass container, capacity up to 10 liters.
Electronic control type.
Removable cover.
Power range: 1200-1400 Watts.
Operating voltage: 220 V.
10 kilograms of weight with a flask.
Manufactured by HOTTER (America).
Allowable service life: 10 years.

Advantages

Quiet operation.
No grease splashes.
Convenient and easy to use control panel.

Flaws

Loud sound alert.

How to properly cook in an air fryer

One of the features of this device is its transparent walls. The user can observe for himself what stage the cooking process is currently at.

Regardless of the model, you must follow the general rules for the interaction of products and such equipment.

To obtain a more crispy dish, the cooking process should be extended a little.
Food placed on the upper racks will cook faster.
When steaming, the food is poured with boiling water and covered with a lid.
The pots must be covered with foil or a special lid.
When preparing porridge, the cereal is poured with cold milk - the container itself is not covered with a lid.

Bake the meat

Any baked food turns out incredibly tasty in an air fryer. The user must place the product on the grill and select the following settings: first 15 minutes at 250 degrees, then this indicator is reduced to 200 degrees.

The question of whether it is possible to bake using foil can be answered positively. This material will protect the dish from drying out and protect it from burning.

Meat can be baked in a convection oven as a whole piece. Here are some useful tips on this matter.

A piece of meat is wrapped in foil. It is better to make it in several layers - this way the juice will not leak out.
The future dish is placed on the grill. After this, you can close the device with a lid and set the settings (they are the same as in the case of regular baking).
After the readiness bell, the air fryer will turn off on its own. All that remains is to remove the meat in foil and let it cool to room temperature without unwrapping it.
Then the cooled dish must be placed in the refrigerator without removing it from the foil.

Cooking recommendations

You can cook first courses in the air fryer. To do this, the components of the recipe must first be placed in special portioned pots. After this, it will be enough to pour boiling water over all the ingredients. As for seasonings, soup cubes can be added at the beginning of cooking. But the dish is salted at the very end.

Secrets of smoking

An air grill with a unique smoking function allows you to get the appropriate products without leaving your home. To do this, you need to prepare wood (sawdust from fruit trees or black currant branches will do), which we will place on the bottom of the bowl. A tray is placed on top to drain the fat, and the product itself will lie on the grill.

Each dish has its own cooking recommendations. Fish takes the leading position in smoking. First, it must be cleaned both inside and outside. To express the taste more clearly, the fish is processed through marinade, salt and spices. The end result will be rubbing with liquid smoke, after which the product must be left to marinate for forty minutes.

If you plan to work with chicken meat, then you should soak it briefly in any marinade of your choice, rubbing it first with salt, and then with spices and liquid smoke. It can be prepared either whole or in pieces - in any case, it will turn out very tasty. To smoke another type of meat (for example, pork), the product is cut into pieces - this is necessary so that it can subsequently fit on the grill. Before air frying, it is best to soak it in a tomato marinade for a day.

The cooking time is determined by the size of the selected piece, but on average two hours (an hour on each side).

The smoking function should be used subject to certain nuances.

Placing a rack on the lowest rack will help the dish soak up the meat better.
Adding water to the pan will make the result especially juicy.
You can lay out all the food before plugging it in or wait until the equipment warms up.
And, of course, it is recommended to constantly experiment with marinade, cooking time and temperature settings.

OPERATING MANUAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PREPARATION IN...

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Manual

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COOKING IN AEROGRILE

PREPARATION METHODS

Roasting

• Place food directly on the rack (use low or high rack). • Place larger pieces of meat closer to the center. • Frying time greatly depends on the size and shape of the pieces, fat content of the product, etc.

factors.

STEAM COOKING

• While preparing the main dish, you can also steam the vegetables. For this-

Go put the vegetables in the foil pocket, add a few drops of water and close the envelope. • You can also pour a cup of water into the flask, add herbs and spices, and then cook the fish

or steamed vegetables. Don't pour too much water.

FRYING IN OIL

• In an air fryer you can cook French fries without using a lot of

oils To do this, immerse potatoes cut into strips in polyunsaturated vegetable oil.

oil, then drain off excess oil and cook potatoes according to time chart

and cooking temperatures at the end of this section. • You can make delicious fried chicken by dipping the chicken pieces in

butter, and then into vegetable oil, drain off excess oil and prepare the dish accordingly.

Refer to the cooking times and temperatures table at the end of this section.

PREPARING Toast

• In the air fryer you can prepare excellent breads or other snacks without pre-heating.

body warming up. Simply place food on the grill and watch it cook.

The toast will be crispy on the outside but still soft on the inside. • You can also improve the taste of stale cookies, chips or even buns

and make them crispier. To do this, place them in the air fryer for a few minutes at maximum

maximum temperature.

DEFROSTING

• You can use the air fryer to defrost food. Compared to microwave

With the new oven, food is defrosted more evenly. Set the temperature

100oC and check food every 5-10 minutes

Interesting master classes for air frying

The final touch will be several recipes for dishes prepared in this unit. They will find worthy appreciation and use among people who love to cook.

Baked chicken

The first stage in this dish is marinating a fresh chicken carcass and seasoning it with various spices. Next, the bird is placed on the grill inside the air fryer - all that remains is to select the maximum temperature settings and focus on the cooking time of about an hour. More details in this video:

Meat in French

It is best to cook this dish in special pots. A small amount of pork meat is taken, cut into pieces and placed in a layer on the bottom of such a pot. Lubricated with mayonnaise. The next layer will be sliced potatoes, topped with onion rings and cheese. The dishes are placed on a wire rack, and the dish is cooked for half an hour at maximum speed. Video instructions here: