The air fryer is one of the hottest kitchen gadgets on the market. And for a good reason! They’re a healthier alternative to deep frying and can cook food faster and more evenly.
But as with any new appliance, there is a learning curve. And sometimes, things can go wrong. This blog post will explore some of the most common air fryer problems and how to avoid them.
From burnt food to uneven cooking, we’ve got you covered.
An air fryer is a modern version of a conventional oil fryer that delivers excellent frying outcomes with minimal fat or oil use.
The cooking procedure of an air fryer is quite the same as an outdoor chicken fryer, but both are very different.
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The Most Common Air Fryer Problems (And How To Avoid Them)
Though, sometimes you might encounter some problems and issues with your air fryer.
Right below this part, we’re going to list the most common air fryer problems and issues and their solutions.
Air fryer smells terrible? Clean it with vinegar and water
Old food smell is one of the most common issues that some users usually face with their air fryer machine.
It has occurred when you are not cleaning the air fryer rightly.
As the source of this issue is not cleaning the air fryer rightly, you can eliminate it with proper cleaning.
Ensure you have washed the air fryer thoroughly so that whole the lingering food smells clean with your washing.
If your air fryer smells terrible, it’s probably because it’s dirty. Mix one part vinegar with three parts water in a bowl to clean it.
Then, put a cup of this mixture in the air fryer and run it on the highest setting for 20 minutes. After that, let the air fryer cool down before taking everything out and washing it by hand.
Air fryer not working? Check the power cord!
Air fryer power problem is widespread among most encounter air fryer consumer. You might face this issue in 2 different ways.
First, the air fryer power does not come on at all. And the 2nd, the power suddenly goes out while you are still frying.
If the air fryer has a power problem, the primary thing you’ve to do is to check the power cord. Ensure the line is linked rightly.
If the wire is not connected rightly, unplug and reconnect it. After reconnecting the plug, if the issue still exists, possibly there’s an issue with the circuit breaker. It might get blown, and you have to change it if it gets blown.
If the power cord is tightly connected and the circuit breaker is also acceptable, it is time to check the air fryer timer.
Because sometimes power does not come back if the timer is set in mid of the cooking session. Stop the air fryer timer will resolve the issue.
Read Next – Air Fryer Tips Every Air Fryer Owner Should Know
Is the air fryer not hot enough? Try preheating it
If your air fryer isn’t getting hot enough, it’s likely because it hasn’t been appropriately preheated.
To preheat your air fryer, turn it on and set it to the desired temperature. Most air fryers have a preheat setting that automatically does this for you.
Once the indicator light goes off, the air fryer is ready to use.
If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat setting, wait until it reaches the desired temperature before adding your food.
Is air fryer food not crispy? Check the cook time and temperature
If you’re finding that your air fryer food isn’t crisp, it’s likely an issue with the cooking time or temperature. First, check to ensure you’re using the correct cook time for your food.
If the cooking time is too short, the food won’t be able to crisp up. If the cooking time is too long, the food will be overcooked and dry.
Next, check the temperature to make sure it’s set correctly. The ideal temperature for air frying is between 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit. If the temperature is too low, the food won’t crisp up. If the temperature is too high, the food will be burnt outside but not cooked through on the inside.
Finally, make sure you’re using enough oil. If you’re not using enough oil, the food will be dry and not crispy. Air-fried foods need a light coating of fat to help them crisp up.
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Overcooking or burning Food
Overcooking or burning food is a prevalent issue for new air fryers. This often occurs with those consumers who try to cook oven meals in the air fryer.
The great thing you do to prevent this issue is to check your meal regularly. By doing this frequently, you can ensure that the food is not burned or overcooked.
This is essential only when you try a new dish and do not have any experience with the correct cooking time.
With the time being, you’ll get used to that and learn about the appropriate food cooking time.
Food is all over the inside.
Pumping warm air inside your air fryer is the general procedure of cooking on an air fryer. Regularly pumped hot air puts pressure on your food.
If food is light and thin, it flies inside and blocks the heating components of warm air.
You can’t stop the flying air, but the main thing you can do is utilize something to prevent your food from flying inside your air fryer.
With the two simple methods, you can do this. The 1st method uses a 2nd wire rack over the foot holder or the 1st wire rack to hold the food down.
And the 2nd method is to pin the food using toothpicks. Do not count this issue as a simple problem, while the flying food could cause harmful pain with your heating element.
Air fryer White Smoke Issue
Sometimes you might notice that the air fryer is producing smoke.
Mostly, they’re a stream of the food that you are cooking. But sometimes, it’d be real smoke reasoned by internal machinery issues.
As we have said, most food steams look like white smoke. This usually occurs when you cook fatty or moist food.
In both cases, the vaporized air looks like this. Smelling means you can identify whether it is white smoke or food steam.
If the smell is off your cooking meal, it’s steam, and if the odor feels like fire, there is something wrong inside. Unplug it immediately and take it to the repair store to fix the issue.
Read Next – Is Cooking With Air Fryer Healthy?
Smoking Issue
Considering all the air fryer problems and issues, this one is the worst. Some people started to dislike the air fryer technique just because of this.
This issue arises when there’s excess oil remains below your air fryer.
As this issue arises from the excess oil remaining, sucking up the oil will remove this issue. To eliminate access to oil, you can utilize anything that can consume all the fat.
For instance, you can utilize a slice of bread. Clean the bottom of your air fryer with water to eliminate the oil.
If the above step cannot solve the issue, you must place the air fryer under an extractor bin. I am sure that’ll help you to remove this issue.
Air fryer leaking oil? Check the seal and gasket.
If your air fryer is leaking oil, it’s most likely due to a problem with the seal or gasket. Check if the seal is appropriately inserted and seated in the air fryer.
You may need to replace the seal or gasket if it’s not. You can also try tightening the screws that hold the seal or gasket in place.
Conclusion
If you’re having trouble with your air fryer, don’t despair! In this article, we’ve gone over some of the people’s most common problems with their air fryers and how to avoid them.
With care and attention, you can keep your air fryer in tip-top shape and enjoy delicious, healthy meals for years to come.
Read Next – 10 Best Air Fryers Under $100 For Healthy Food In 2023
