Air fryer newbie

I don't know what sort of air fryer you have but we put chicken or fish or whatever in an oven proof pot, tin or bowl and put the receptacle in the air fryer. I have made banana bread in a loaf tin in the fryer. I also use greaseproof paper to line/wrap food.

When it says no oil to be used, does it mean a large amount of oil (as you would when frying foods in a deep fat fryer or pan), rather than just a spray of oil on the items to be cooked? I lightly spray oil on my chicken pieces, potatoes, etc without any ill effect at all.
If you could tell us which brand of air fryer you have, we might be able to advise you further.
I’m surprised you can’t use foil, either. I’d expect that instruction for a microwave but not an air fryer, which is, after all, a mini oven. As long as you keep it clear of the element, I would have thought it would be safe to use foil.

My airfrier is a Ninja, two drawers.
I cook certain foods, fish for instance, in foil parcels, with a little butter. Parmentier potatoes are regularly cooked, using oil. I I toss the potatoes in the oil prior to putting them in the airfrier. If I'm doing roast potatoes the trivit is removed, oil preheated.
I brush items such as chicken breasts with oil. Spray oil is, I understand, detrimental to airfriers.
Please let us know the type of airfrier you have.

I bought a small halogen oven rather than an air fryer. It is really a smaller version of a fan oven with a halogen element under a grid in the lid. foil is OK if firmly wrapped around something, but if it can work loose it flies about in the hot breeze, and it can blow against the grid and catch fire. Perhaps the heating element in the air fryer could also get covered by loose foil and burn?

A little oil to help brown the food and moisten it may work, even though they say oil is not needed, but more than a light spray may overheat and spit.

Chicken can quickly dry out if cooked for longer than it needs, and the airfryer, like the halogen oven, cooks faster than a convectional oven. A kitchen thermometer with a spike to push into the food tells you accurately the internal temperature, which is what shows that it is ready. Mine (a Thermapen) says 74 C for chicken, turkey and duck - I was impressed by how much better the chicken was than when I just guessed at when it would be ready and gave it a bit extra to be sure.

By spray of oil, I mean I spray oil on the food, spread it with a spatula, before placing in the air fryer, I don’t spray the food when it’s in the air fryer.

The instructions sound quite odd for an air fryer. What make and model is it?

Ziplok

By spray of oil, I mean I spray oil on the food, spread it with a spatula, before placing in the air fryer, I don’t spray the food when it’s in the air fryer.

I have tended to spray potatoes and other veg with oil once I put them in the air fryer, but read a while ago that this was not a good idea - the oil makes the surface of the basket less non stick?

LucyAnna3

Ziplok

By spray of oil, I mean I spray oil on the food, spread it with a spatula, before placing in the air fryer, I don’t spray the food when it’s in the air fryer.

I have tended to spray potatoes and other veg with oil once I put them in the air fryer, but read a while ago that this was not a good idea - the oil makes the surface of the basket less non stick?

It is frylight or any spray oil containing lecithin which will ruin the non stick coating . I use a spray bottle bought from Amazon and fill it with vegetable oil.

We bought a silicon liner for ours.

Kate1949

We bought a silicon liner for ours.

And then spray? Or no spray?

It is a daewoo model

My favourite accessory is this set , available to fit different fryers. air fryer racks
For most items I use a silicone liner , often with a parchment paper liner too. They don't inhibit the cooking at all. A bit 'belt and braces' I know but saves on washing up. I spray oil onto the food before putting in. I don't remove the trivet unless cooking something like mince on the drawer bottom, although I prefer to cook this in a tin or dish inside.
The use of foil is fine as long as it isn't loose. The action of the fan can suck it up onto the element which would be dangerous.
This all sounds complicated but becomes second nature very soon.

LucyAnna Yes we spray.

That’s what I do, Maggymay. I’ve got a glass spray bottle which I put vegetable oil in. I don’t use frylight.

Kate1949

LucyAnna Yes we spray.

👍

I think the fundamental problem is that air fryers are somewhat misnamed and some people may have tried to use them as deep fat fryers or even shallow fryers.

They are more like an intense fan oven where hot air is blown around the food. Blowing a lot of hot air around a lot of oil in a small drawer would be dangerous. Part of the cooking process with air frying is that you will often be instructed to slide the drawer(s) out half way through the cooking time to shake (or turn) the food so that it cooks evenly. Obviously, that would be very dangerous with a lot of hot oil.

One of the points of an airfyer is that they are healthier. Food only needs a light spray of oil to make it crisp. Pre-bought frozen chips and roast potatoes have oil on them already so can be put straight into the air fryer. For making chips or roasties from scratch, you need a light spray of oil.

(My top tip for cooking jacket spuds in the air fryer is to cook them in the microwave for 5-7 minutes first depending on size then a quick spray of oil and ten minutes in the air fryer to brown and crisp up the skin.)

The trivet aka crisper trays help the air to circulate and for excess oil or food juices to drip through. You don’t have to use the crisper trays. This short video explains:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fc7gzlGNqo

Regarding foil, I think Daewoo are being extra safe in their instructions. You can use foil but it needs to be weighted down and secured so it cannot fly around and touch the heating elements which could damage them. Wrapping a piece of fish and putting it in the air fryer would be fine. Were you to try to cook something large wrapped in foil that filled the drawer, again there would be a risk the foil could touch the heating elements.

Thank you all for your really helpful advice. I will persevere!