Chips stick in your air fryer usually because of not enough oil, not preheating the basket, overcrowding, or a dirty basket, with a key fix being to toss potatoes in a little oil and shake them often to create a barrier against the hot metal. Soaking potatoes first to remove starch and using air fryer-safe liners can also prevent sticking and ensure crispier results.
Soaking the potatoes does something magical with the starches—it helps achieve the coveted French fry crispiness and prevents the fries from sticking together. This is what I did for the air fryer, too. I soaked these potatoes for about an hour or so, but I've also soaked them for up to 24 hours with no ill effect.
Spray or brush a thin layer on the basket before adding food. Avoid non-stick sprays like PAM (they can damage nonstick coatings over time). Use oil misters instead. ✅ 3. Use Parchment Paper Liners or Silicone Mats Air fryer parchment liners (with holes) allow airflow and prevent sticking.
“For a good even bake, you shouldn't overfill your air fryer. Food won't cook properly and be soggy instead of crisp – this is especially important to remember for things like chips or roast potatoes.”
Best air fryer chips temperature
I typically pre-heat my air fryer for 10 minutes on 200˚C before adding my chips. This allows the basket to get hot and creates an immediate sizzle when you add in the potatoes. I continue cooking my chips at 200˚C, whilst shaking them every so often.
TIP: To convert an oven-cooked recipe to an air-fryer one, a general rule of thumb is to reduce the suggested temperature by 25°F and then cut the cook time by about 20%. Just use the pause button on your machine to occasionally check the doneness and flip for balanced crispness on all sides.
Lining your air fryer with parchment paper is the best way to keep your appliance clean and your food delicious. Nothing beats cooking with an air fryer to get you crispy, tender food with a fraction of the oil.
“If you are using recipes that are for conventional ovens, you will generally want to reduce the cooking time by 20% and lower the heat by 20C (that's from the fan temperature) to account for the air fryer's efficiency.”
The crucial air fryer mistakes professional chefs and cleaners avoid
Toss with the oil and a generous amount of salt. Air-fry for 20–30 minutes at 180C, tossing every 10 minutes or so until the chips are crisp and golden, making sure they don't stick to the bottom of the basket towards the beginning of cooking.
How to Prevent Food from Sticking to Your Air Fryer Basket
5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using an Air Fryer
It's ok to add a small amount of water to your air fryer and can even be beneficial in some instances. The main reason for using a small amount of water is that it can help the food retain moisture while cooking and prevents burning. It can also reduce the amount of smoke if you're cooking greasy foods.
You can use foil in an oven with an Air Fry mode. Foil can be used to line a baking sheet on a rack or two below the air fry basket. This can help make clean-up easier and even help minimize the need to frequently clean your oven by catching drips and crumbs that might fall during the cooking process.
Using knives or other sharp utensils inside the air fryer can scratch the non-stick coating, which is crucial for its performance, keeping it undamaged will prolong the life of your appliance.
In just a few minutes, you get perfectly cooked eggs. Whether it's a quick breakfast or a tasty topping for rice bowls or toast, air fryer eggs are fast, fuss-free, and seriously delicious.
Some vegetables, such as brussels sprouts, are good at retaining moisture, so crisp up well in an air fryer. Broccoli, however, can dry out and become chewy and bitter. Roasting is usually a better way to get crunchy, crispy broccoli florets, which you can do in an oven or an air fryer that has an oven extension.
The average air fryer operates at around 1.4–1.7 kW/h (kilowatts per hour) of electricity per hour. If used daily for an hour, this translates to approximately £0.30-£0.50 added to your monthly electric bill. In comparison, conventional ovens consume between 2 and 5 kWh.