A person setting up an air fryer

The Common Mistakes Preventing Air Fryer Foods From Crisping Up

NEWS

S. FERRARI

Fries prepared in an air fryer
There are plenty of mistakes that can ruin an air-fried meal and prevent foods from becoming perfectly crispy. However, these common blunders are fairly easy to avoid.
Fried food in an overcrowded air fryer basket
Ninja Test Kitchen senior demo chef Rachel Buck explained that overcrowding the basket is one such mistake since stacking food too high traps moisture and inhibits even cooking.
A person turning on the air fryer
Another mistake is not preheating the fryer, which ensures that the food starts cooking immediately, promoting crispiness. This takes a few minutes but makes a huge difference.
Beef in an air fryer basket
Finally, not using enough oil is also a mistake. While a fryer typically requires very little oil, foods like fries and breaded chicken need a light coating of oil to be crispy.