Despite their name, air fryers are essentially just compact countertop ovens that add a crispy texture and delicious fried-like taste to your food without actually frying it. They're faster at cooking than ovens though, use less energy, and need little to no oil — meaning the food they rustle up is a little healthier for you too.
But like ovens, some air fryers need preheating for the best cooking results. In this guide, we'll explain why you should warm up your air fryer, how to do it, and why it's sometimes not needed.
Why preheat an air fryer?
Preheating might sound like a lot of hot air to some people. But there are a few good reasons why you should consider giving your air fryer a preheat the next time you prep dinner:
Consistent cooking temperature: Preheating your air fryer helps maintain a constant temperature throughout the cooking process, so your food cooks more evenly.
Faster cooking time: Air fryers are already faster than ovens, but by preheating yours first, you can reduce the overall cooking time even more. That’s because it'll immediately start cooking your food when you add it into the basket.
Makes food even crispier: Preheating your air fryer helps create that signature crispiness on the outside of your food while keeping the inside moist and tender. It's great for frozen food too, with a basket that’s already been heated removing moisture more quickly.
When to preheat
Preheating your air fryer can give some types of food a much better taste and texture. Here are some of the situations that'll call for preheating your quick-cooking appliance:
If a recipe suggests preheating: There are loads of great air fryer recipes out there (in fact, we've got 3 easy air fryer recipes you should try). And a lot of these will include instructions on whether you should preheat your air fryer first for the best results.
For crispy foods: If you want crunchy chips, breaded chicken, or onion rings, then preheating your air fryer will make them even more crispy, golden, and all-round delicious.
To achieve a sear: Steaks and burgers need a good sear for amazing flavour. By preheating your air fryer, they'll get that beautiful brown, grill-like finish.
Your manual recommends it: A lot of air fryer manufacturers will suggest preheating their models before cooking anything.
When not to preheat
Although preheating your air fryer is necessary in more situations than not, there are some occasions where you won't have to:
Delicate foods: Some air fryer recipes for delicate dishes that include fish and shrimp might advise you not to preheat your appliance first. That’s because it could overcook and dry out your food.
Long cooking times: Foods that need to be cooked over a long period of time, like baked potatoes or a big roast chicken, might not benefit from preheating as they’ll be in your air fryer for up to an hour anyway.
Manual doesn't suggest preheating: It's possible that your air fryer's manual will tell you not to preheat it (or just won't mention it at all). This will likely apply to models that do the preheating for you automatically.
How do you preheat an air fryer?
Preheating your air fryer only takes a few minutes, so you won't need to plan far ahead…
Manual preheating
These steps should work for most models, but make sure to check your appliance's manual for specific guidance:
Turn on your air fryer.
Set the temperature to the recommended heat setting specified in your recipe.
Leave in your cooking basket (or baskets if it's a dual design) so they heat up along with the whole appliance.
Press start and let your air fryer warm up for a few minutes, then put your food in the basket(s).
Models with preheat settings
Some air fryers actually have a dedicated preheat button, which makes the process even simpler! All you’ll have to do is switch on your air fryer as normal, then press the preheat button. Your appliance will even alert you when it's finished preheating so there's no guess work needed when it comes to adding your food.
FAQs
Do you need to preheat a Ninja air fryer?
SharkNinja recommend preheating their Ninja air fryers. In an interview with Business Insider, the company's senior vice president of product development, Purvin Shah, said that "you should preheat an air fryer if the user manual instructs you to do so" as it "maximizes both cooking and crisping results."
Check out Ninja’s high-flying new air fryers for 2024 if you’re looking for a big kitchen upgrade.
How long do you preheat an air fryer for?
This will depend on the make and model of your air fryer. But between 3 to 5 minutes should give your appliance enough time to circulate that hot air around the baskets so they’re ready to cook your food right away.
Any more questions?
We've answered loads more of your burning questions on air fryers. How about checking out our air fryer vs oven article? Or if you want to learn more about their benefits, check out our piece on are air fryers healthy?
