I just found out I've been crowding my air fryer basket for a year

I was making frozen fries for my kids last night and they came out soggy on one side, again. I was about to blame the brand when my wife pointed out I was dumping the whole bag in. I looked it up and the manual literally says 'single layer for best results' on page 3. I've been piling stuff in since I got it, thinking more food at once was smart. No wonder my chicken wings never got that crispy skin I see online. I feel like a total goof. How do you guys cook for a family of four without doing a million small batches? Is there a trick or do I just need to be patient?

3 comments

3 Comments

beth_hart681mo ago

Oh man, did I do the exact same thing with my first air fryer? I was so annoyed my fries were never right until my sister asked if I was overcrowding it. I felt like a real dummy. For my family, I just do two batches and keep the first batch warm in the oven on low.

barbara2781mo ago

Yeah, the "keep it warm in the oven" trick is a lifesaver. It reminds me of when I tried to host my first big family taco night. I was trying to cook all the ground beef in one huge pan, and it just steamed into a gray blob. My mom walked in and was like, "Honey, you gotta do it in batches." Now I use two skillets, or I cook the meat ahead and keep it warm in a slow cooker. It seems obvious now, but in the moment you just want to get it all done at once.

hannaht2912d ago

The "gray blob" thing is way too relatable, I cringed reading that because I've been there. My first attempt at chili turned into a sad, watery mess because I threw everything in at once. Turns out browning meat in batches is a skill you have to learn the hard way, not something they teach you in school. Now I just accept that I'm going to dirty every pan in the kitchen when I cook for a crowd. At least the oven trick saves me from eating cold tacos while everyone else is done.