How to Prevent Food from Sticking to Your Air Fryer

When using your air fryer, you may find that food is sticking to the air fryer basket.

This can happen due to a couple of reasons. It may take trial and error to identify why this happens.

Over the last four years, I have used several types of air fryers and I’ve been able to identify why this occurs.

In this article, I will share my experience of how you can prevent food from sticking to your air fryer.

11 Ways to Prevent Food from Sticking to your Air Fryer

1. Preheat your Air fryer

Preheating an air fryer is the act of turning on the appliance and allowing it to reach the desired cooking temperature before adding the food to be cooked.

You set the temperature and time on the air fryer and allow it to reach the desired temperature before adding the food.

Some air fryers have a preheat function that you can use to preheat the appliance, while others may require you to set the temperature and timer manually.

Preheating the air fryer can take a few minutes, depending on the specific model and the desired cooking temperature.

For example, the Ninja AF161 Max XL air fryer requires you to preheat for 3 minutes before you start cooking.

Preheating your air fryer can help to ensure that your food cooks evenly and consistently.

When you preheat the air fryer, the heating element has a chance to reach the desired temperature, which can help to cook the food more efficiently.

Additionally, preheating the air fryer can help to prevent the food from sticking to the basket.

The hot surface can help to create a barrier between the food and the basket.

2. Add Oil to your Food

Adding oil to food before cooking it in an air fryer can help to prevent the food from sticking to the basket.

When food is coated in oil, the oil forms a barrier between the food and the surface of the basket.

This can help to prevent the food from sticking and make it easier to remove after cooking.

Additionally, the oil can help to add flavor to the food and can help to create a crispy, golden crust on the exterior of the food.

When using oil in an air fryer, it is important to use a small amount, as too much oil can cause the food to become greasy or soggy.

You should also use the right type of oil in the food to prevent the air fryer from smoking.

Read this article that details the best types of oil for an air fryer.

You can also try using a cooking spray or misting the food with oil before cooking to help prevent sticking.

3. Do not Overfill your Air Fryer

Overfilling an air fryer means adding too much food to the appliance at once, such that the food does not have enough space to cook evenly.

When the air fryer basket is overcrowded, there is less space between the pieces of food, which can cause them to stick together.

This makes it more difficult to separate them after cooking.

Also, overcrowding the air fryer can cause the food to cook more slowly, as there is less space for the hot air to circulate the food.

This may cause the food to overcook and stick to the basket more easily.

When you put too much food in the air fryer, you leave no room to turn or shake food during cooking, which can also contribute to sticking.

To prevent food from sticking in an air fryer, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for the maximum capacity of the appliance.

Always be mindful of how much food you are adding to the basket at a time.

4. Check your Food while Cooking

Checking on food in the air fryer while it is cooking can help you to produce the best possible results.

You ensure that the food does not stick to the air fryer and that it is cooked to your liking.

To check on the food, you will need to open the air fryer while it’s still cooking.

Monitoring also prevents overcooking.

Air fryers can cook food quickly, so it is important to check on the food regularly to make sure this is not happening.

Checking on the food while it is cooking can help you to gauge the progress of the cooking.

You can then make any necessary adjustments to the temperature or cooking time.

Depending on the recipe, you may need to stop the air fryer, shake or turn the food halfway through cooking to help ensure even cooking.

Checking on the food can allow you to do this.

If you are cooking something that can burn easily, such as chicken wings or French fries, checking on the food can help you to monitor the cooking process and prevent burning.

5. Set the Right Temperature

Using the right cooking temperature can help to prevent food from sticking to an air fryer in a few ways.

First, cooking at the correct temperature can help to ensure that the food is cooked evenly and consistently.

This can help to prevent the food from sticking to the basket.

If the temperature is too low, the food may take longer to cook and may be more prone to sticking.

On the other hand, if the temperature is too high, the food may overcook and stick to the basket more easily.

Using the right cooking temperature can help to prevent the food from drying out or becoming overcooked, which can also contribute to sticking.

By using the recommended cooking temperature for the food you are preparing, you ensure that it cooks properly and does not stick to the air fryer basket.

6. Use the Right Cooking Time

The cooking time is as important as the cooking temperature when you want to prevent food from sticking to your air fryer.

You need to adjust your cooking time to suit the conditions of the air fryer.

If the cooking time is too short, the food may not be fully cooked and may be more prone to sticking.

When the cooking time is too long, the food may overcook and stick to the basket more easily.

Using the right cooking time can help to prevent the food from drying out or becoming overcooked, which can also contribute to sticking.

Use the recommended cooking time for the food you are preparing.

Check on the recipe to ascertain what cooking time they describe.

If using oven cooking time and temperature, convert these using the available online conversion calculators.

7. Clean your Air Fryer  

Cleaning your air fryer regularly can help to prevent food from sticking to the basket.

It is recommended to clean your air fryer basket after every use.

After cleaning, dry the air fryer basket to prevent rust.

If the basket is dirty or has built-up food residue, it is more likely for more food to stick when cooking.

Check out the article on how to clean a Ninja air fryer.

8. Use a Foil

Using foil in an air fryer can be a useful way to help prevent food from sticking, maintain moisture, and make the cooking process easier.

You can use foil to line the basket of your air fryer to help prevent food from sticking and to make cleaning the basket easier.

Simply tear off a piece of foil that is slightly larger than the basket and place it in the basket before adding the food.

You can also use foil liners as shown above.

9. Use Parchment Paper

Using parchment paper in an air fryer can be an effective way to prevent food from sticking to the basket.

Parchment paper is a type of paper that is treated with silicone, which makes it non-stick and heat-resistant.

It is one of the most popular air fryer liners.

When you place parchment paper in the air fryer basket, it creates a barrier between the food and the basket, which can help to prevent the food from sticking.

To use parchment paper in an air fryer, simply place a sheet of parchment paper in the basket before adding the food.

Parchment paper is a convenient and easy-to-use option for preventing food from sticking in an air fryer, and it can also help to make cleaning the basket easier.

10. Use Silicone Mats

A silicone mat in an air fryer is also another effective way to prevent food from sticking to the basket.

Silicone mats are made of silicone, which is a non-stick and heat-resistant material.

When you place a silicone mat in the air fryer basket, it creates a barrier between the food and the basket, which prevents the food from sticking.

To use a silicone mat in an air fryer, simply place the mat in the basket before adding the food.

11. Make Use of your Air Fryer Accessories

There are air fryer accessories that you can use to help prevent food from sticking to the air fryer.

Accessories that come with the air fryer such as the crisper plate and air fryer rack act as a barrier between the food and the air fryer basket.

They enhance the flow of hot air between the food and the air fryer basket.

The accessories also make it possible to prepare more food at a time.