Air fryers are kitchen appliances used for “frying” foods without cooking the food in oils. Although ovens are larger and hold more food, air fryers, which are essentially countertop convection ovens, cook food faster and consume less energy.

How They Work

Consumers place food into the fryer basket. After the user turns on the air fryer, hot air is released through the air fryer’s heating mechanism. The food then becomes crisp due to the quick circulation of hot air. The appliance is airtight, thus keeping hot air inside, while also helping to ensure that the food is heated intensely and rapidly. Foods generally require 5 to 25 minutes of cooking at a temperature range of 350 degrees F to 400 degrees F. When available, consumers should follow manufacturer’s instructions on food packages to ensure food is safely cooked. Always check that food has reached a safe minimum internal temperature with a food thermometer.

What Can They Do?

A wide variety of foods can be cooked or heated in air fryers such as chicken nuggets, meatballs, pork chops, chicken wings and more. Air fryers can be used for baking, roasting and reheating food without the food becoming soggy.

Food Safety Tips to Remember while Air Frying

Air fryers generally don’t have a lot of room inside. Overcrowding the appliance can prevent enough air circulation to properly cook the food. When air frying a large amount of food, it may be best to do so in batches rather than all at once.

Despite the convenience of cooking with an air fryer, follow the four food safety steps to air fry safely:

• Clean—Always wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before and after preparing food. Clean and sanitize surfaces before and after food preparation.
• Separate—Don’t place cooked food on the same plate that previously held raw food. Raw meats, poultry and seafood should be kept away from cooked foods or other foods that are ready to eat to prevent cross-contamination. Use separate cutting boards—one for raw meat and poultry and another for fruits and vegetables.
• Cook—Be sure not to overfill the air frying basket to avoid uneven cooking and undercooking. Cook all air fried foods to a safe minimum internal temperature and measure with a food thermometer:
  • Fish is safe at 145 degrees F.
  • Whole cuts of beef, pork, veal and lamb are safe at 145 degrees F with a 3-minute rest time.
  • Ground meat products are ready to eat at 160 degrees F.
  • Poultry, including ground poultry, is safe to eat once it's reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
    • For raw, stuffed breaded chicken breast products, do not cook in the air fryer. Always follow the manufacturer cooking instructions.
• Chill—Don’t forget about your cooked food sitting in the air fryer. Leftover foods should be refrigerated within 2 hours, otherwise they can enter the Danger Zone. The Danger Zone is the range of temperatures between 40 degrees F and 140 degrees F where foodborne illness bacteria multiply and can reach dangerous levels.

Note: Whether you are air frying raw or pre-cooked meat, always follow the manufacturer instructions. Each air fryer will have varying cooking times due to the size and power of the appliance, but the safe internal temperature is always the same. Use a food thermometer to make sure your meat and poultry is fully cooked.