Air fryers pride themselves on quick, crispy meals made with a minimum amount of oil. Whether for making potato fries or any delicious air fryer chips recipe, this kitchen gadget makes food preparation more accessible and much healthier.
Like all appliances, air fryers also encounter problems from time to time. Knowing how to troubleshoot these common issues will ensure that your air fryer runs smoothly and your meals are perfectly cooked every time.
Common air fryer problems: simple solutions to ten of them are highlighted below.
Air Fryer Not Heating Properly
Probably the most frequent problem a lot of people have reported as users of the air fryer is that this appliance does not heat up as it should. When one finds out his food doesn’t cook, probably the heating element is bad, or the appliance isn’t getting enough power.
How to Solve It:
- Firstly, ensure that the air fryer is plugged in.
- Then, examine the power cord for any visible signs of damage.
- Ensure that the heating element is free from grease and food particles that may be blocking it.
If these remedies do not override this issue, try reaching out to a manufacturer for replacement or repair options.
Quick Tip:
- Clean your air fryer from time to time, but pay more attention to its heating element so that it can avoid overheating problems.
Food not crispy enough: whenever you find that your air fryer meals are just not coming crispy, that is usually an indication of overcrowding or not using enough oil.
How to Fix It:
- Don’t overfill the basket because air fryers cook food by wrapping the food in hot air, and too much food in the basket inhibits proper air circulation.
- Spray oil on your finger foods in a small quantity very lightly before cooking to help bring in crispiness.
Quick Tip:
- Shake the basket halfway through cooking when you are making an air fryer chips recipe for evenly crisp results.
White smoke coming from the Air Fryer: most of the time, this is due to an excessive amount of grease or pieces of food burned inside the air fryer. This is rather common when high-fat food is cooked in an air fryer, such as bacon or burgers.
How to Fix It:
- Clean up the tray and the basket of this air fryer after use so that residual grease may be removed.
- Place a little water at the bottom of the tray beneath the basket when cooking fatty foods to prevent the grease from burning.
Air Fryer Smells Bad
The air fryer normally has a continuous bad smell if food particles are inside, or it may be because of the fat buildup or overcooked food that usually gets stuck inside.
How to Fix It:
Clean the basket, tray, and interior walls thoroughly. Soak the basket and tray in warm, soapy water, scrub them with a soft sponge, and use a damp cloth to wipe down the interior walls. For stubborn smells, you can place a small bowl of vinegar or lemon juice inside the air fryer and run it at a low temperature for a few minutes to help neutralize odors.
The Air Fryer Basket Won’t Scroll In
If the basket won’t scroll in properly, there is a chance that foods are stuck around the edges of the basket or it isn’t properly aligned with the grooves.
How to Fix It:
- Do not forget to clear food particles or grease accumulation around its edges.
- Properly clean both the basket and tray, ensuring alignment of the basket with the grooves well, before trying to slide it in.
Air Fryer Keeps Turning Off While Cooking
If this keeps happening with your air fryer, it might be due to overheating or some failure within the electrical connection.
How to Solve It:
- Turn the air fryer off, have it cool down, and then try plugging it in again.
- Ensure that it is plugged into a proper working outlet, and also ensure the cord is fully plugged in. If you still see problems, then this might be a safety feature engaging itself because of overheating, and you should contact the manufacturer.
Food is cooked uneasily: If your food ends up being undercooked, it is because the air can’t circulate properly due to overcrowding or because the food hasn’t been moved during cooking.
How to solve it:
- Do not overcrowd the basket. If needed, cook your food in batches.
- For fries or chicken wings, etc., always shake the basket halfway through for even results.
Quick Tip:
Flip halfway, or even shake your food in the middle of cooking to get that cook.
Want more tips for air fryer cooking? Check out the Best Air Fryer Cookbook for Beginners UK [TOP 7 Reviewed] on Amazon for some easy recipes to make your meal perfect! Air Fryer is Noisy Yes, the fan is noisy on most of them, but if yours sounds a little bit more than usual, chances are the problem is with the fan or loose parts.
How to Fix It:
- First, switch off the air fryer and ensure that no food or debris is stuck inside the fan.
- This may also be due to loose screws or components, which, if you find any, should be tightened.
If, however, these mentioned steps are followed and it still doesn’t stop, it may indicate that the fan is defective, and you should contact Customer Service.
Digital Display Not Working
If the digital display on your air fryer ever shows blank or simply doesn’t respond, this might be the signal of an issue with power or an internal fault.
How to Make It Right:
- Make sure that the air fryer is adequately plugged into a power source.
- Try changing to another outlet just in case it is an issue with the power.
- If it still doesn’t work, consult your manual or contact the manufacturer.
Air Fryer Takes Too Long to Cook
If your air fryer is taking just a little more than you’d feel it should, with a full basket or without preheating the appliance.
How to Solve It:
- Preheat the air fryer for 3-5 minutes before adding food.
- Never overload the air fryer basket, since this will cause poor air circulation, which may result in longer and uneven cooking times.
Quick Tip:
- This way, the air fryer is preheated to ensure quicker and more equal cooking.
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Conclusion
Air fryers are wondrous contraptions for providing a healthy meal of crisp food, but like any appliance in the kitchen, they sometimes go on the fritz. Knowing how to solve these ten most common challenges will help you have your air fryer in perfect condition to make every meal– from an air fryer chips recipe to a whole dinner– turn out just right.
Discover the Ultimate Air Fryer Cookbook for Beginners and enjoy a variety of mouthwatering, easy-to-make recipes that fit perfectly into your healthy lifestyle! Plus, don’t forget to check out our recently published articles for more tips, reviews, and air fryer inspiration.
