Air fryers are designed in such a way as to work without oil.
Actually, people use little oil to get the texture and flavor. You can also use little butter to make it more delicious. It totally depends on the person how he/she wants to use the appliance.
Air fryers are basically designed for the health-conscious or fitness freak people to make their food in a healthy way, i.e. without or with using a little amount of oil.
Now the question arise:
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How Do Air Fryers Work Without Oil?
Basically, air fryers circulate very hot air around the food to make it tender and also to make the outer surface brown and crispy just like the conventional deep fryers but without using oil.
There are fans present inside it which blow very hot air. This hot air is then circulated from top to bottom so that each and every piece of food gets cooked.
The bowl present inside the air fryer is designed to pass this hot air to the food. That’s why you can’t use any bowl that you want.
If you want to compare the result of the deep fryer and air fryer then the former will return a juicier texture due to excessive oil and the latter will return a little dry texture.
Now, it is clear that you can cook food in an air fryer with or without using oil. But if you want to use oil then the question arises:
How Much Oil Do Air Fryers Use?
How much oil you want to use during cooking totally depends upon your taste. If you want the food to be juicier and oily then use 2-3 tablespoons or if you want a little dry or healthy one the use ½ – 1 tablespoon.
Suppose you want to make chicken legs or wings, first, you will marinate the pieces with whatever you want then put them in the bowl of the air fryer but make sure to preheat it.
After cooking it for 10-12 minutes, take out the chicken pieces and brush some oil or butter (like 1 tablespoon) and again put them back and cook it for another 10-12 minutes.
By cooking this way your food will be tasty as well as healthy. Because I am using little to no oil and you can replicate this process with other food items but the timings may differ.
After practicing it a few times you will become a pro and you will know the amount of oil to be used in different meals. So to conclude that:
How much oil do air fryers use – the answer is 1-2 tablespoons depending on the type of food and also depends on the taste of the person.
Also Read: What To Look For When Buying An Air Fryer?
Where Do You Put The Oil In An Air Fryer?
Actually, there is no certain place to put oil in the air fryer. Most people think they can put oil in the bowl but this a big mistake. Don’t ever try to do this as it will spoil both the food and your appliance.
If you want to put oil then just take a brush or any oil mister and apply it to the food. One more thing you can do when marinating the item at that time also you can mix the oil.
Or you can refer to the example that I have explained above. Basically, you have to put the item first in the air fryer then heat it for few minutes. After that, take it out, apply some oil, and again put it back. That’s it.
What Can I Use To Put Oil In An Air Fryer?
You can use a mister or a brush to put oil on the food. But don’t put oil in the air fryer instead put it on the food.
Both the things works fine for putting oil. If you don’t have a mister then you can take the help of a brush or any item that you are convenient with. But mister works for every kind of food because you can spray the oil. You can check some of the oil misters that I have listed below:
- Versatile Oil Sprayer for Cooking
- Norbase 2-pack Oil Dispenser Mister for Cooking
- Misto Brushed Aluminum Oil Sprayer
- CHEFVANTAGE Glass Premium Oil Mister
- Premium Evo Stainless Steel Oil Sprayer
Do You Put Oil In The Bottom Of The Air Fryer?
No, do not put oil in the bottom of the air fryer. If you do that then you will damage the appliance. So put oil on the food, not on the appliance.
What Is The Best Oil To Use In An Air Fryer?
Before buying oil you have to see which one has high heat retention because if not then it will burn cooking and your food will get spoiled.
Generally, the best oil is Extra Virgin Olive Oil because it has high heat retention as well as it is healthy.
Other options such as coconut oil, avocado oil, peanut oil, sesame oil, grapeseed oil, etc. are excellent, but these oils cannot be used in every item, so the best and healthy one is olive oil. But it depends upon you if you like the flavor of these oils then you can definitely try it.
These are some oils that you can use:
- Pompeian Robust Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
- BetterBody Foods Avocado Oil
- Pompeian 100% Grapeseed Oil
- Happy Belly Peanut Oil
Also Read: Can I Put An Air Fryer On The Countertop?
Conclusion
If I want to give a summary of the article then it will look like this:
How do air fryers work without oil? Basically, it circulates hot air around the food to cook it. The temperature is so high that without using oil it can cook anything. If you want to use oil then:
How much oil do air fryers use? Usually 1-2 tablespoons, it totally depends upon your taste. Now, where will you put the oil? Apply it to the food. Don’t ever put it in the air fryer, it will damage the appliance.
So, if this article helped you to get the answer then please share it with your friends and family, and also don’t forget to leave a comment below.
Katrina Smith is a seasoned expert with over 25 years of experience in all things related to cooking and the kitchen. As an avid cook and kitchen enthusiast, she is passionate about sharing her knowledge and expertise on cookware, kitchen appliances, kitchen tips, and kitchen staples.
Through her articles and reviews, Katrina aims to inspire and help others improve their cooking skills, experiment with different ingredients, and invest in quality cookware and appliances.
