One of the first things that come to mind when you consider fried dishes is the oil that is used to give them their delectable crispiness and savory aroma.
But as we all know, it’s not always a good idea to put too much oil in our bodies. Bring on the ever-popular air fryer, which consumes relatively little oil while yet producing perfectly crispy mozzarella sticks, french fries, and baked potatoes.
While the air fryer’s use of very little oil makes it ideal for individuals who wish to cook healthy meals, there is one drawback: occasionally, food might get stuck to the basket, and you must scrape it off without harming the coating.
For some people, the solution for this is to use a little spray on the air fryer. But the real question is can you use an air fryer without the spray?
This article will answer all your questions regarding the subject.
What Is An Air Fryer?
An air fryer can bake and roast dishes like a convection oven, but its design allows for faster and more even cooking for extra crisp results.
The air fryer, which has a heating mechanism and a fan built into the top, heats up quickly and circulates hot air quickly, cooking food in the metal frying basket. As long as the air fryer is not overcrowded, the dish will have a crunchy, almost deep-fried texture due to the concentrated heat source.
Types of Air Fryer
- Paddle-Type Air Fryer
- Basket-Type Air Fryer
- Countertop Convection Oven
When shopping for a new kitchen appliance, make sure it can handle a wide variety of dishes and food types.
Despite the fact that air fryers are not the most ancient appliance on the market, they offer incredible cooking power and versatility. I’ve always enjoyed fried foods, but as I’ve gotten older, the idea of soaking my meals in hot oil has grown less appealing, at least for everyday use.
How Does An Air fryer Works?
An air fryer’s top section houses the heating element and fan. Hot air flows down and around the food that you place in the basket. This instant flow gives the food a crispy texture that is very much like deep-frying, with no oil use.
Here’s a table to help you understand how an air fryer works:
| Steps | Explanation |
| Place your food in the basket | The basket’s capacity can range from 2 to 10 quarts, depending on the size of your air fryer. To make the dish lovely and crispy, you usually need to add 1 or 2 teaspoons of oil. To speed up cleanup if you’re pressed for time, use foil in the air fryer. |
| Set the time and temperature | Depending on the item you’re cooking, air fryer cooking duration and temperatures might range from 5 to 25 minutes at 350° to 400°F. |
| Let the food cook | You may occasionally need to rotate or turn the item halfway through cooking to ensure even crisping. After cooking is complete, your air fryer needs to be cleaned. |
Can You Use an Air fryer Without the Spray?
You can use an air fryer without the spray. There’re two main reasons for avoiding sprays when using air fryers.
The words “soy,” “corn,” or “canola” will most likely be mentioned in the ingredients section on the back of a Spray bottle. These oils are not of the highest quality and are primarily derived from GM crops that have been designed to tolerate pesticide applications.
As a result of using it, you wind up consuming genetically engineered crops. This would be the main deterrent to using these sprays if health were an issue.
The employment of fuels in these kinds of sprays is the second justification. These fuels, which combine butane and propane, are used to power portable appliances like stoves or lighters.
In addition to being dangerous to consume, these can harm your air fryer’s non-stick coating and cause premature peeling. Essentially, if you choose non-stick coating on your cookware, it will speed up the collapse of the air fryer.
Using Spray Oil in an Air fryer
The most important thing to keep in mind is that not all sprays are made equal, and some may perform best if you can locate them in their organic forms.
Look for extra virgin olive oil, grape seed oil, or avocado oil and make sure the label says it has no hydrocarbons in it if you want to buy an organic cooking spray.
To help the oil escape the can, organic oil sprays use pressurized carbon dioxide. You can use grilling, baking, roasting, and frying oil as long as it is not cold-pressed because cold-pressed oil burns at high temperatures, according to the Philips Air Fryer website.
Best Sprays For Air fryers
There is no “one” ideal cooking spray for an air fryer, although several of them work incredibly well due to their high smoke points.
You shouldn’t use a cooking spray with a low smoke point because air fryers don’t have a lot of ventilation for smoke, which could harm your air fryer and the food within.
Instead, choose a frying spray with a high smoke point, which essentially means that smoking won’t occur until the oil or fat reaches a very high temperature. The best cooking sprays for an air fryer are often those that are over 400 degrees.
Avocado Oil
Omega 3 is included in avocado oil, which has a high smoke point of 520 degrees Fahrenheit.
Although pricey, avocado oil is said to be of good quality. Use flax seed or walnuts if you prefer a stronger nut flavor because they both have high smoke points.
Extra Light Olive Oil
Extra Light Olive Oil is monounsaturated in fats, has a high smoke point of 486 degrees Fahrenheit, and is available in non-GMO (Genetically Modified) varieties.
The only thing you need to watch out for is that it might include butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a food preservative that is chemically generated from phenol.
Peanut Oil
The best oil for individuals who prefer a nuttier flavor is peanut oil, which has a high smoke point of 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Although it contains Omega-3 as well, people with peanut allergies may have problems with it.
Other Oils With High Smoke Points
Sunflower oil (510°F), rice bran oil (490°F), vegetable oil (400–450°F), soybean oil (450°F), and lard are some other oils with high smoke points.
Lard is the oil with the lowest smoke point at 370°F. Just be aware that soybean and vegetable oils might not be produced using high-quality components and might even contain propellants.
Before making a purchase, always verify your ingredient lists!
When to Use Oil in an Air fryer?
In an air fryer, utilizing oil helps the meal get the desired classic crispiness while still keeping it moist. The basket is already nonstick, so you don’t need to add oil to it. Add it to your food instead.
- You can either brush oil on your food with a pastry brush or use the spray bottle to apply a little oil to your cuisine.
- You may also season your food after tossing it in a little bit (1-2 tablespoons) of oil and then place it in the basket.
- On items like raw chicken, turkey, salmon, seafood, homemade egg rolls, and vegetables, you should add a modest amount of oil.
- Burgers, hot dogs, morning sausage, and bacon don’t require any more oil because they are already fatty enough.
- Foods that are frozen, such as chicken nuggets and fries, don’t require any oil either, so you can just toss them in, press the appropriate buttons, and then eat them with some dipping sauce.
Nonstick cooking sprays are very famous due to their ease of usage. Unfortunately, they eventually tend to harm your air fryer’s baskets. Your handy kitchen tool will last a lot longer if you utilize one of the techniques discussed in the video here, and your meals will taste much better!
Conclusion
- While using non-stick cooking spray in your air fryer may be your first instinct, it is not recommended because it might cause your air fryer to peel before its time and is not the healthiest option.
- There are several organic, non-GMO, and reasonably priced cooking spray solutions available. Purchase a cooking spray with a high smoke point and no propellants, as that is the main consideration.
- You can either brush oil on your food with a pastry brush or use the spray bottle to apply a little oil to your cuisine.
- There is no “one” ideal cooking spray for an air fryer, although a number of them work incredibly well due to their high smoke points.