Do you need to preheat an air fryer?

Preheat when your manual or recipe instructs you to do so. Requirements differ between compact basket models and larger oven-style appliances, so there is no universal preheat duration. If a recipe assumes a preheated appliance, follow that instruction unless it conflicts with your manufacturer’s guidance.

Do you put oil in an air fryer?

Do not pour in oil as you would for deep frying. When a recipe calls for it, lightly coat the food instead. Some frozen prepared foods need no additional oil. Check the package directions and your manual, including any restrictions on cooking sprays and care of nonstick surfaces.

Can you put foil or parchment paper in an air fryer?

Check your manual before using either material. If permitted, keep it away from heating elements and avoid blocking airflow. Never preheat with loose parchment inside; airflow can lift it toward the heater. Use only oven-safe parchment within its temperature limit, and secure any permitted liner with food.

Why is my air-fried food not crispy?

Start by reducing crowding and drying the food’s surface where appropriate. Leave space for airflow, shake or turn food as instructed, and use a light coating of oil if the recipe calls for it. Check that you selected the correct function and followed your model’s preheating guidance.

How to use an air fryer

To use an air fryer, follow your model’s preheating instructions, arrange food with room for airflow, set the recommended time and temperature, turn or shake as needed, and check doneness before serving.

Research-based article drawn from our 30 countertop ovens & air fryers reviews. Updated September 2026.

Short answer

Use an air fryer by placing it on a heat-resistant counter with the clearance specified in its manual, preheating if instructed, and loading food without crowding. Choose an air-fryer recipe or package setting, shake or turn food during cooking, and check doneness before serving. Let the appliance cool, then clean the basket, tray, and accessible interior as directed.

Our picks for “how to use air fryer”

1. Set up the air fryer and check its instructions

Before the first use, remove packaging and wash the removable food-contact parts according to the manual. Dry them and reinstall the basket, crisper plate, or cooking racks correctly. Put the appliance on a stable, heat-resistant surface, leaving the ventilation clearance its manufacturer specifies. Keep vents unobstructed and the cord away from hot surfaces.

Check whether your model requires an initial empty heating cycle and whether it calls for preheating before cooking. There is no single preheat time that suits every basket fryer and countertop oven. Follow the manual rather than assuming every recipe’s instructions match your appliance.

Format makes a practical difference. The Nuwave Bravo XL Pro uses traditional heating elements and needs adequate preheating time. The shallow Ninja SP101 has a fast preheating cycle, but limited vertical clearance. Neither layout changes the basic setup rule: install the recommended accessories and use the rack position or basket arrangement specified for air frying.

Read the reviews: Nuwave Bravo XL Pro Air Fryer Toaster Oven w/Grill Combo, Ninja Digital Air Fry Countertop Oven

2. Prepare food and leave room for hot air

Pat ingredients dry when appropriate, cut vegetables into similar-size pieces, and apply a light coating of oil when your recipe calls for it. You do not fill an air fryer with oil as you would a deep fryer. For frozen prepared foods, start with any air-fryer directions on the package rather than adding oil automatically.

Arrange food loosely, preferably in a single layer for browning. Do not pack the basket tightly or cover its airflow openings. Cook in batches when needed. Usable interior space is always smaller than quoted quart numbers suggest; the flat cooking surface matters more than whether food can physically be piled inside.

The Ninja AF101 illustrates this limitation: its round 4-quart basket restricts single-layer arrangement and is best suited to one or two servings. The Cosori TurboBlaze has a quoted 6-quart capacity, but its flat cooking area remains restrictive for multi-component meals. Check actual basket dimensions before planning a whole protein or a main and side together.

Read the reviews: Ninja AF101 Air Fryer, Cosori TurboBlaze Air Fryer

3. Set the controls, turn food, and check doneness

Choose the air-fry function and start with the temperature and time in an air-fryer recipe, package instructions, or your manual’s cooking chart. Treat presets as starting points, not proof that food is cooked. Portion size, thickness, and how tightly the basket is loaded can change the time needed.

Check progress partway through cooking. Shake loose foods such as fries, or turn larger pieces with suitable utensils, following your model’s instructions for pausing and opening it. Keep hands and face clear of escaping heat. Begin checking before the suggested finish time, then add short increments if necessary.

For meat and poultry, use a food thermometer and follow USDA safe minimum internal temperatures and applicable rest times. Browning alone does not establish safety.

If you regularly cook a main and side with different settings, the Ninja DZ201 provides independent temperature and timing controls with a synchronized finish. Its 8-quart total capacity is divided into two 4-quart baskets, so wide cuts remain a poor fit.

Read the reviews: Ninja DZ201 Foodi 8 Quart 6

4. Clean after cooking and choose a manageable format

After cooking, switch off and unplug the appliance, then let it cool before cleaning. Remove crumbs and grease, wash removable parts as directed, and wipe accessible interior surfaces using the method in the manual. Never immerse the powered housing. Avoid abrasive tools on nonstick coatings, and dry parts before reassembling them.

Do not assume every accessory is dishwasher-safe. The Ninja AF101 has a dishwasher-safe basket and crisper plate, while both removable baskets in the Ninja DZ201 are dishwasher-safe. Removable, dishwasher-safe baskets are worth prioritizing for long-term use because routine cleanup needs to be manageable.

Oven-style units involve a different maintenance routine. The Ninja SP101 requires diligent crumb-tray cleaning before it is stood upright for storage. The Nuwave Bravo XL Pro has multiple racks and interior walls that need manual cleaning after greasy cooking. Choose that broader oven format when its cooking flexibility helps you, rather than expecting the same cleanup routine as a single removable basket.

Read the reviews: Ninja AF101 Air Fryer, Ninja DZ201 Foodi 8 Quart 6, Ninja Digital Air Fry Countertop Oven, Nuwave Bravo XL Pro Air Fryer Toaster Oven w/Grill Combo

Frequently asked

Do you need to preheat an air fryer?: Preheat when your manual or recipe instructs you to do so. Requirements differ between compact basket models and larger oven-style appliances, so there is no universal preheat duration. If a recipe assumes a preheated appliance, follow that instruction unless it conflicts with your manufacturer’s guidance.
Do you put oil in an air fryer?: Do not pour in oil as you would for deep frying. When a recipe calls for it, lightly coat the food instead. Some frozen prepared foods need no additional oil. Check the package directions and your manual, including any restrictions on cooking sprays and care of nonstick surfaces.
Can you put foil or parchment paper in an air fryer?: Check your manual before using either material. If permitted, keep it away from heating elements and avoid blocking airflow. Never preheat with loose parchment inside; airflow can lift it toward the heater. Use only oven-safe parchment within its temperature limit, and secure any permitted liner with food.
Why is my air-fried food not crispy?: Start by reducing crowding and drying the food’s surface where appropriate. Leave space for airflow, shake or turn food as instructed, and use a light coating of oil if the recipe calls for it. Check that you selected the correct function and followed your model’s preheating guidance.