An air fryer is a machine like any other, and that means there’s a likelihood that it will malfunction at some point. After all, all machines cease working effectively after a while.
The good thing with an air fryer is that a majority of the issues can be fixed or even avoided with proper care and maintenance. In the following post, we’ll highlight the most common problems you’re likely to encounter when using an air fryer and how to fix them.
Air Fryer Fails to Turn On
While this is one of the most common issues, it’s also an easy one to fix. Often, the main culprit for your air fryer failing to power on is because the plug is not inserted correctly into the socket.
Thus all you need to do is counter check the connection and verify that the appliance is well plugged in.
Another likely reason why an air fryer fails to switch on is if there are too many appliances that have been plugged into the same socket. When this happens, it could be that there’s not enough power reaching your air fryer; hence the failure to switch on.
If you’ve confirmed that the connection is done properly and the air fryer still won’t work, try unplugging a couple of appliances and connect them once you’re done using your air fryer. Alternatively, you can look for an idle socket and plug in your air fryer.
Air Fryer Releases Smoke
You’re in the comfort of your kitchen roasting some pork chops in your air fryer. The next minute, you find yourself in a cloud of smoke that you can’t really explain. If you see smoke coming out of your air fryer, don’t panic. There are a few reasons why this happens:
Cooking fatty food
The first thing you should do is examine the color of the smoke. If it’s a white cloud, there’s no cause for alarm.
This is simply an indication that you added too much oil to the food, and as a result, excess amounts of grease have collected at the bottom. Once temperatures start soaring, this excess grease starts to burn, emitting white smoke in the process.
To avoid this, you should choose oil or fat you’ll use to air fry wisely. Given that most air fryers operate at temperatures as high as 400°F, it’s advisable to use vegetable oil that has a higher smoke point than that.
If you’ve already chosen the wrong type of cooking oil and are now experiencing white smoke, consider turning off the fryer.
When it’s cooled completely, detach the cooking chamber and basket and wipe off excess oil from the bottom. Next, put all the elements back and use a smaller amount of oil. Whatever cooking oil you decide to use should be well-suited for air frying.
Blue Smoke
If your air fryer is emitting blue smoke, this is a clear sign that there’s an electrical problem. In such cases, it’s wise to unplug the appliance immediately.
Unfortunately, this one is a tough one to fix on your own. Unless you have any experience in the electrical field, it’s better to let a professional handle such a problem. You can either contact the manufacturer and ask for help or hire your own technician to solve the problem.
If they cannot fix it, or you cannot find an affordable technician, then it may be time to find a replacement. There are many affordable options, as low as £29.99.
Crowding food in the air fryer basket
Another reason why you’re likely to see smoke coming out of the fryer is if you put too much food in the cooking chamber.
Chances are, the force of the hot air is causing food to splatter on the heating element. As a result, the tiny food particles are burning; hence, releasing smoke.
In this case, all you need to do is reduce the amount of food in the basket. If you want to air fry large amounts of food at a time, then invest in a large-capacity air fryer.
Food Lacks a Crispy Finish
Disappointed that none of your air fried food ends up with that crispy texture you like? Well, there are a couple of reasons why this is happening:
Too much food cooked at the same time
As we mentioned before, you should not air fry a large amount of snacks or too much food at the same time. By putting smaller portions, you’re allowing food to cook evenly. Doing so also ensures the food caramelizes and gets that crispy texture.
Failing to prepare home-made fries correctly
If you’re cooking fries using an air fryer, follow these steps:
- Start by peeling the potatoes and cutting them into equally-sized sticks
- Next, soak them in a bowl of water for no less than 30 minutes. Once this duration elapses, take them out and dry using kitchen paper
- Put the sticks in a different bowl, and add half a teaspoon of olive oil. Mix them until they’re all coated with the oil
- Use a kitchen utensil to scoop the potatoes from the bowl so as to drain any excess oil. Next, place in the basket and air fry at a temperature of 350°F. Shake the basket gently mid-way through the hot air frying process. This helps to ensure more even results.
Failing to set the correct temperature
If you don’t configure your air fryer to the right temperature setting, you won’t get the crispy results you desire. For snacks, the ideal temperature is 400°F with an exception for pastry products. The latter can be air-fried at a lower temperature of 350°F.
Using non oven-ready food or snacks
Another reason why you fail to get a golden brown texture is that you use non oven-ready products. For the best results, always use oven-ready products.
Air Fryer Produces Too Much Noise
There are two main reasons why air fryers make a lot of noise:
The fan
If the fan is rotating at a very high speed, it’s not unusual for it to generate noise in the process. The fan is what keeps the internal components cool, and it can produce noise reaching up to 65 decibels. This is about as loud as the noise made by a standard vacuum.
If the fan is the cause of the noise, then there’s nothing to worry about.
One of the components is loose
If you hear unusual sounds like rattling noise, it’s likely that one of the parts inside the air fryer is loose. In this case, you should switch off the fryer and give it time to cool. You can then clean and inspect the interior to see if there’s any element that needs to be tightened.
Air Fryer Peeling
Once you purchase an air fryer, it may start peeling after a few weeks or months of use. The main reason why the non-stick surface starts to peel is that you’re using abrasive cleaning equipment.
Thus, to prevent the fryer from flaking, clean it using a soft sponge, some warm water and soap. It’s also advisable to clean the fryer regularly to prevent the build-up of grease as this can also have a negative impact on the non-stick surface.
Conclusion
Using an air fryer is not always simple. There are times when you’ll experience problems like unusual sounds, smoke, peeling of the non-stick surface and power issues.
However, these should not deter you from using this handy kitchen appliance. Just use the remedies we’ve recommended and you’ll be back to using your air fryer in no time.
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