Why You Should Cook in an Air Fryer Instead of an Oven
A crisp, golden crust on a casserole or roast is a quick finishing touch that can be achieved using a grill. Unfortunately, depending on where the grill is located and what you’re cooking, it can overcook the food. Under favorable circumstances, I save time and avoid disaster by cooking in an air fryer.
What is frying?
I’m pretty sure I was born knowing how to fry an egg, but the broiler was a mystery to me until I was an adult. The broiler is a special heating mode, and it probably has a dedicated button on your oven. In this mode, the top heating element of the oven heats up to a high temperature (400 to 500°F), aggressively searing and crisping everything in its path. If you have a large casserole or ham (or anything larger than an air fryer) and you’re trying to crisp it up, you’ll definitely want to know how to use your oven’s broiler. (Be sure to read my article on how to use a broiler .)
Grilling makes it easy to crisp and brown a cheesy crust or caramelize a sugary custard, but it can be problematic. Problems arise when you don’t consider the proper distance from the heating element, or when the food you’re grilling takes longer to brown than you expect—it may be under too much heat. This can result in dry chicken or broken, greasy mac and cheese. Trust me, I’ve ruined both on the grill.
Why the Air Fryer Is My Best Friend When Grilling
However, an air fryer is an ideal option for grilling. The heating element in most air fryers is located on top. Due to its small size, the heating element is usually located very close to the surface of the product, and a convection fan provides continuous hot air flow over the surface of the product. Thanks to the fan, the food is not only evenly browned, but also cooked faster.
I have had the most success cooking in the Instant Vortex Air Fryer because the basket holds two to four servings of any dish. Since I usually only cook for myself and my partner, I don’t need a lot of space. The Cuisinart Air Fryer and Toaster Oven is also great for larger casseroles. You can read about both air fryers and my reviews here .
How to fry in a deep fryer
1. Increase the size of the dish.
When making a casserole, consider whether it’s air fryer-safe. After a week spent exclusively in the air fryer, I found that a metal baking pan is invaluable. The Instant Vortex will fit a 9-inch pan, but it’s a bit tight, making it difficult to remove the hot pan from the hot basket. I prefer a 6-8-inch metal baking pan. If you’re unsure, it’s easy to fix—just place the pan in the pan before you fill it with ingredients to test.
2. Add food and grill.
Place the food in the basket and secure it in the air fryer. Set the temperature to maximum (around 200°C) and press the “Start” button. Depending on what you are cooking, this will take between two and four minutes. Check every two minutes to make sure the food is cooked to your liking.
I made this overnight mac and cheese from Ina Garten’s Go-To Dinners . I love the recipe on its own, but because I didn’t have any bread crumbs, I used extra cheese for the filling instead of the bread crumbs. The top layer was crispy within three minutes, and the cheese underneath was incredibly gooey.
Tips and tricks for cooking in a deep fryer
It is ideal for smaller dishes, as they can easily fit into the basket or on the rack (for oven-type air fryers). However, larger casseroles and roasts are best cooked in a conventional oven.
Keep in mind that air frying is directional, meaning the heat only goes downwards. This is great for keeping meat fluffy in the center or keeping cheese casseroles from bursting. But if you put frozen or chilled food in the air fryer for 3 minutes, you may very well end up with a nicely browned top and a cold bottom.
To avoid this, be sure to reheat cold food in the fryer at a lower temperature first to thoroughly heat it, then increase the temperature and fan speed to finally fry it.