Many foods don't require any oil when cooked in your air fryer, while others benefit from a light spritz. If you're simply grabbing whichever cooking oil is closest to your countertop cooker, that may be a mistake.
The air fryer has revolutionized the way we make dinner. While it isn't perfect for every dish, many recipes, including grilled cheese, chicken wings, french fries and veggies can be made quickly and without the use of much oil.
Despite nearly two-thirds of US households owning one, common air fryer mistakes are still being made. According to a chef I spoke with, one of those is using the wrong cooking oil inside your air fryer.
"The convenience air fryers provide is the ability to cook with the same speed and efficiency as a deep fryer without having to use as much oil," says John Marchetti, executive chef of Carcara in Phoenix. "It's for anything that you want that deep-fried crispness but without the extra fat."
With Marchetti's help, we've compiled the most important air fryer oil information, including which oils work best in the air fryer and which ones to avoid.
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How to use oil in an air fryer
An oil sprayer helps to distribute oil evenly over food before cooking. Flairosol
When using oil with your air fryer, in general, your choice should have less to do with type and everything to do with volume. "Any oil that you put too much of, the heat will distribute unevenly, and the food will burn," Marchetti warns.
With too little oil, food might not crisp up and will remain soggy, especially when applied to ingredients with batters. "If I were to batter an item, I would freeze it, lightly season it with oil, salt and pepper, and then cook a small amount at a time to prevent [the ingredients from] sticking and cooling the air fryer down," he says.
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