Cooking Dinner in the Air Fryer? Avoid the Olive Oil and Use This Instead

The air fryer has revolutionized the way I cook dinner. To try new recipes I would never have considered concocting favorites like the parfait grilled cheesethis kitchen gadget is my favorite for making a delicious meal every time. While it’s not perfect for every food, the recipes he uses are always flavorful and served in a fraction of the time.

The small but mighty air fryer has changed the way many of us cook. However, despite almost two-thirds of American households own one, Common Mistakes in Air Fryers are still done frequently. One of those mistakes, according to a chef I spoke with, is using the wrong cooking oil.

“The convenience that air fryers offer is the ability to cook with the same speed and efficiency as a deep fryer without having to use as much oil,” says John Marchetti, executive chef at Carcara in Phoenix. “It’s for whatever you want that fried crunch but without the extra fat.”

That said, a little oil can help take something from good to great. With Marchetti’s help, we’ve compiled the most important information about air fryer oil, including which oils work best and which ones you should avoid.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased technical content and lab reviews. Add CNET as your preferred Google source.

How to Use Oil in an Air Fryer

When using oil with your air fryer, in general, your choice should have less to do with type and more to do with volume. “If you add too much oil, the heat will be unevenly distributed and the food will burn,” warns Marchetti.

With too little oil, foods may not crisp up and will remain soggy, especially when applied to ingredients containing batters. “If I had to beat an item, I would freeze it, season it lightly with oil, salt and pepper, then cook it a small amount at a time to avoid [the ingredients from] stick and cool the air fryer,” he says.

While some chefs we spoke to object to oil sprayers, I find this affordable device useful for evenly coating foods before cooking them in the air fryer.

Other air frying tips to consider:

• Do not overload the basket: If pieces of food touch each other, the heat will not be distributed evenly and the ingredients will stick together.
• Choose the right temperature: Cooking times and temperatures with air fryers are accurate and generally do not reflect those of a standard oven. Be sure to research these two settings in advance.
• Turn ingredients halfway through cooking: This will ensure that both sides get that newsworthy crunch.
• Make sure the ingredients are mostly dry:Again, air fryer items that are too wet with oil will yield soggy, burnt, or unappetizing results.

Best Oils to Use in an Air Fryer

Oils with a high smoke point tend to perform better because they can withstand higher temperatures without burning, smoking, or setting the house on fire. Since air fryers cook foods at high temperatures for a short period of time, it is essential to find an oil that maintains its flavor integrity and ability to infuse moisture, while producing light, crispy results for proteins and produce.

Three of the most common oils for air fryers are avocado oil, grapeseed oil And extra light olive oil (Okay, no all olive oil is a no-no).

Marchetti, however, is an even bigger fan of peanut oilparticularly for its depth of flavor, affordability, and potential health benefits. “I think the best oil for frying is peanut oil. It has a high smoke point and is healthier than most common frying oils. If you can’t use peanut oil, avocado oil offers similar benefits but can be expensive,” he says.

While flavor is the top priority, canola and sunflower oils also have distinct tastes that pair well with a range of dishes, from broccoli to chicken.

The Worst Oils to Use in an Air Fryer

Unrefined oils, such as extra virgin olive oil and some coconut oilshave lower smoke points and may not produce the coveted crispiness when used in an air fryer. It is also advisable to avoid melted butterbecause it has a low smoke point and can burn easily.

Aerosol cooking sprays, like Pam, seem good in theory for an even coating, but many contain lecithin (a lubricant to prevent food from sticking) and other additives that can damage the interior of your air fryer and degrade the quality of nonstick trays. Lecithin has also been proven to cause gastrointestinal upset.

Finally, while many Asian specialties, such as spring rolls and crab rangoons, taste fantastic when cooked in an air fryer, options like grilled dishes sesame oil make better finishers or additions to dips and salad dressings. They lose their essence when exposed to higher temperatures, rendering them bland and virtually useless.

When in doubt, experiment

Air fryers allow even the most novice home cooks to experiment (safely, of course) with different varieties of oil until you identify a winner. Take something neutral like potato slices and air fry them with a range of oils to determine which one works for your favorite recipes. Keep in mind that a little goes a long way, which is entirely the point of what will inevitably be your new favorite investment.