Air fryers are amazing inventions that allow you to get crispy foods without requiring you to soak them in unhealthy grease and oil. But what are the best oils to use with an air fryer?
The best oils to use for air fryers are avocado oil, olive oil, peanut oil, grape seed oil, safflower oil, and canola oil. Corn oil, coconut oil, and sesame oil impart a lot of flavor into the food when used with an air fryer, so you may choose to avoid those when frying your favorite foods.
Many people do not think that they should add oil to their air fryer, but when oil is used while air frying food, the food becomes crispier and more flavorful.
Best Oils to Use in an Air Fryer
Avocado Oil
When avocado oil is used with an air fryer in temperatures of 350 degrees Fahrenheit, it gives the food in the air fryer a slight avocado flavor, which is great for avocado lovers. It is not typically used to deep fry foods, so you may not think of using it with your air fryer, but it is a great oil to use. It has a more neutral flavor than olive oil.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is a great oil to use with your air fryer. Extra-light olive oil is the best kind of olive oil to use because it has a very neutral flavor and does not burn easily, but any type of olive oil will work. The flavor that the olive oil has depends on what type of olive oil you get. Extra-virgin olive oil tends to have a fruity, bitter, and peppery taste, but that may vary depending on the brand of olive oil that you purchase.
Peanut Oil
Peanut oil is a great oil to use with your air fryer because it gives the fried food a sweet, nutty flavor. Do not use peanut oil if you are allergic to peanuts. Peanut oil is typically used when deep frying foods, so when you use this oil with this air fryer you can get the same flavors you would have with a classic deep-fried dish, just in a slightly healthier form. Plus, you may already have it in your pantry!
Grapeseed Oil
Grapeseed oil is a great oil to use with an air fryer because it has a very neutral flavor, and does not burn at high temperatures. Because of the neutral flavor, the food that you pair it with in the air fryer will not change very much in flavor. It will just give the flavor an extra boost.
Canola Oil
Canola oil is a great oil to use with your air fryer, but it is slightly more fatty than the other oils on this list. However, it is not an unhealthy oil and is great to use because it has a very mild nutty flavor. If you use this oil in your air fryer, the flavor of the food will not change very much. However, do not use this oil in your air fryer if you do not like nuts.
Vegetable Oil
Vegetable oil is one of the most commonly used oils in America, and it is a great one to use in your air fryer. It does not burn at high temperatures and has almost no taste. This means that your food will be crispy, but will not have any unexpected flavors.
What Oils Should I Avoid While Using an Air Fryer?
Corn Oil
Corn oil is an oil that you should avoid using with your air fryer because it puts a lot of flavor into food. While it is among the most commonly used oils in America because of its low cost, it is mainly used for baking purposes rather than frying purposes. If you want to give your food an extra flavor while getting it crispy in your air fryer, then feel free to use this oil. It does not easily burn at high temperatures.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is an oil that you should avoid using with your air fryer because it can burn easily. It burns at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a temperature that many people exceed while using their air fryers. However, if you are using your air fryer at a low temperature and want your food to have a coconut flavor added to it, then feel free to use coconut oil.
Sesame Oil
Sesame oil is an oil that you should avoid using with your air fryer because it gives the food a strong nutty flavor. While cold-pressed sesame oil has a slightly milder flavor, commonly found sesame oil will add a strong nutty flavor to your food, which may become unpleasant. However, if you do not mind the strong nutty flavor, feel free to use it with your air fryer. It does not burn easily at high temperatures like coconut oil.
Air Fryer Tips and Tricks
Grease your air fryer basket with oil or a cooking spray, even if your food does not require oil. This will ensure that your food will not stick to the bottom of the air fryer basket. You can either brush the oil onto the air fryer basket or use an oil sprayer. You can also use butter to grease the fryer basket if you want to add a buttery flavor to your food.
Only use a small amount of oil. A little oil goes a long way, especially with an air fryer. If oil is included in your food’s recipe, then use less of it. 1-2 teaspoons (or 1-2 tablespoons for breaded items) should be all that you need.
Check the smoke point, otherwise known as flashpoint, of the oil that you are using. Some oils start smoking and burn at low temperatures, while others do so at high temperatures. Since air fryer coils are close to the food, the oil may start to smoke earlier than you expect it to. If you use an oil that has a high smoke point, like peanut oil and avocado oil, then you will have great tasting food, and will not have to worry about smoke.
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