Why Won’t My Food Get Crispy in the Air Fryer?

If you’re one of the many people who have invested in an air fryer, you know how convenient and efficient it can be when cooking.

Based on my observation, sometimes you cook food only to find it disappointingly soggy instead of crispy.

The good news is that there are several reasons why your food may not be getting crispy in the air fryer.

And, many of them can be easily remedied.

In this article, we’ll tackle these reasons and provide practical solutions to help you achieve that perfect, crispy texture every time.

Whether you’re a seasoned air fryer user or just starting, these tips are for you.

Air Fryer Basics

Before we dive into the reasons, let’s review some basic information about air fryers.

Air fryers use hot air to cook food. They work by circulating hot air around the food, which creates a crispy exterior without the need for oil.

Most air fryers have a temperature range of 200-450°F and a timer that can be set between 30 to 60 minutes.

Air fryers with the highest temperatures can get up to 500°F.

They also come with a basket or tray where the food is placed for cooking.

Some air fryers have additional features such as a preheat function, multiple cooking settings, and a digital display.

7 Reasons for Food Not Getting Crispy Food in Air Fryers

While air fryers are a great way to cook crispy food, sometimes the food doesn’t come out as crispy as expected.

Reasons for this include:

1. Insufficient Oil

While the air fryer is designed to cook food with little to no oil, using too little oil can result in dry, un-crispy food.

A variety of oils are available for cooking with an air fryer.

Just make sure the oil you use has a high smoke point to prevent smoke from coming out of the air fryer.

2. Overcrowding the Air Fryer Basket

Adding too much food when cooking prevents the hot air from circulating.

This results in unevenly cooked and less crispy food.

If you have a small air fryer, it is recommended to cook in batches and leave enough space between the food items.

Alternatively, you can stack food in the air fryer.

3. Not Preheating the Air Fryer

Preheating the air fryer is crucial for achieving crispy and evenly cooked food.

The preheating of the air fryer process helps to create a hot and dry cooking environment, which is essential for achieving crispy food.

4. Not Shaking or Flipping the Food

Shaking or flipping the food halfway through ensures both sides of the food get adequate heat exposure.

You are allowed to open the air fryer basket when cooking.

This allows for even cooking and a crispy texture on all sides. Skipping this step may result in unbalanced cooking.

5. Using The Wrong Temperature and Time Settings

Different foods require different temperatures and time settings for optimal crispiness.

Make sure to follow the recommended settings for the food you are cooking.

Experiment with different temperature and time settings to find what works best for your specific air fryer and the type of food you are cooking.

Using a meat thermometer can also help ensure that your food is cooked to the proper internal temperature.

Consider buying this air fryer cheat sheet to guide you when using your air fryer.

6. Cooking Food Full of Moisture

Not all foods are created equal when it comes to air frying.

Moisture is the enemy of crispy food. You may not always get crispy results when the water content of food is too high.

Also, not all foods prepared in an air fryer come out crispy for example eggs and rice.

7. Faulty Air Fryer

If your air fryer is faulty, it may not be able to produce enough heat required to cook food properly.

Find out the common air fryer problems here.

Tips for Getting Crispy Food in Air Fryer

Now that we’ve identified some of the reasons why your air fryer food might not be getting crispy, let’s explore some tips for achieving that perfect, crunchy texture:

• Preheat the air fryer
• Spray the food with cooking oil when cooking
• Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket
• Flip or shake the food halfway through cooking
• Use the right temperature and time
• Prepare relatively dry and seasoned food in the air fryer

By following these simple tips, you are more likely to get tasty and crispy food.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How Do You Put Oil in An Air Fryer?

Adding oil to food in an air fryer is a simple process.

You can use an oil mister or a pastry brush to lightly coat the food with oil. Remember we don’t add oil to the air fryer but to the food to ensure crispiness.

 Alternatively, you can also use a brush to apply the oil to the food.

Q. How Long Do You Preheat and Air Fryer?

The amount of time needed to preheat an air fryer varies depending on the model.

As a general rule, air fryers need to preheat for 3 to 5 minutes before use.

During the preheating process, the air fryer will heat up to the set temperature.

This will help to ensure that the food cooks evenly and is crispy on the outside.

Q. Do You Preheat an Air Fryer with The Basket in Or Out

In my experience, most models recommend preheating an air fryer with the basket inside the machine.

This allows the basket to heat up with the air fryer.

Once the air fryer has preheated, you can then remove the basket and add your food.

When using an air fryer liner, DO NOT preheat the air fryer with the liner inside. Add the liner with the food after preheating.