Air fryers work by using rapid hot air circulation to cook food, creating a crispy exterior while retaining moisture inside. But some people complain that they are getting dried food when they cook with an air fryer. That is true sometimes and people may find that their food turns out dry when using an air fryer. The primary reason for this is the fast-blowing hot air, which can quickly evaporate the moisture present in the food. As a result, the food may lose more moisture than it would through other cooking methods, leading to a drier texture. To prevent this issue, I have suggested some useful tips which will not just make your food crispy but will retain its moisture and juice.
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Reasons For Dried Food In Air Fryer
If your air fryer food turns out too dry, it may be due to one or more of the following reasons:
Overcooking
Cooking food for too long in an air fryer is the obvious reason for dried food. The prolonged stay of food in an air fryer exposes it to hot air, causing it to lose even more moisture than necessary, which can result in a dry texture.
Also, using higher temperatures causes the food to cook too quickly on the outside while remaining partially cooked on the inside.
So, make sure to follow the recommended cooking times and temperatures for each specific recipe and type of food.
Insufficient Oil
The air fryer is known to cook food without the use of oil. But sometimes no use of oil makes the food dry. And recipes in times require a small amount of oil but still way less than deep frying. So, a small amount of oil is still necessary to help retain moisture and achieve a crispy texture.
Overcrowding The Basket
Overcrowding and overfilling the air fryer basket causes uneven cooking and hinders air circulation, which causes your food to become dried out. The more the basket is filled up, the more the upper food gets close to the heating element, as a result, the food cooks quickly and the top layer becomes dry.
Some people don’t like to flip the sides of food in the air fryer as well. This also causes uneven cooking on the bottom side of the food. Make sure to turn or shake your food halfway through cooking to achieve equal cooking and prevent the food from getting dried out.
Solutions To Prevent Dryness In Air Fried Food
I have tried many air fryer recipes and I do get crispy and juicy results. I will share some of the tips that I follow, and you can do the same.
1- Use A Little Oil
I know most people don’t like to use oil while cooking food in an air fryer. In fact, this is the main purpose of an air fryer to cook food without oil. But using a teaspoon of oil or spraying some oil on the basket is not too bad. It will keep your food moist, and it will prevent it from getting dried out.
Your meal will be wonderfully crispy and have a lovely texture if you lightly mist it with oil. Some food occasionally becomes dry and tastes like cardboard or rubber. But spraying oil can alleviate and reduce this problem.
Initially, I also didn’t believe in the concept of spraying oil but trust me it doesn’t do any bad and the results are satisfactory. So, give it a try and I am sure you won’t be disappointed.
2- Keep An Eye On Cooking Time
Air fryer recipes are pretty simple and most things can be cooked in a small portion of time. Especially frozen food really cooks well with an air fryer, there is no need to thaw the food and no hectic procedures. Simply put the food straight from the freezer and start cooking. Cooking time can also impact the end result.
3- Experiment With Time & Temperature
If you are making something new or for the first time, it is more likely that your dish can be overcooked or undercooked. Even if you are following step-by-step instructions for any air fryer recipe still there is a chance of miscalculation in time. Recipe timing are general guidelines and the precise cooking time can vary according to your air fryer brand and model. Some models of air fryers perform better than others and that’s why they can cook more quickly. So, it’s a wise idea to test-try recipe timings if you are cooking it for the first time.
4- Marinate Your Food
Marinating the food before air frying is another effective way to get a juicy and flavorful meal. This is suitable for meat products especially. If you are cooking chicken drumsticks, stuffed salmon, frozen chicken wings, shrimp, and chicken tenderloins you can easily marinate them before putting them in the air fryer. Marination helps the meat to cook early and retains its moisture and juice.
You can also marinate some vegetables as well such as baby carrots, Brussels sprouts, frozen asparagus, and squash. Of course, the marination of vegetables will be different from meat but still, it is possible. Your simple marination can comprise olive oil, salt and pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, ginger powder, chili flakes, and so on. You can customize it according to your taste and preference.
And that’s it, you can follow the tips that I have provided while you make food in air fryer and avoid the reasons I have laid above which results in making the food dried.
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Hi, my name is Basit Ali. I’m a cooking enthusiast who loves trying out new recipes in the kitchen! I also like to upgrading my kitchen accessories from time-to-time with all sorts of interesting gadgets for making food prep easier and more convenient than ever before.
