Air fryers have taken Aussie kitchens by storm, offering a faster, healthier alternative to traditional frying. And in many cases, has replaced the conventional oven.
But a common question remains: do you need to preheat your air fryer? The short answer? Sometimes. It depends on your air fryer model, the type of food you’re cooking, and how crispy you want your ingredients to be.
When should you preheat an air fryer?
So, if preheating your air fryer isn’t always necessary, how do you know when to do it?
Many air fryer recipes are designed to be cooked directly in the basket without preheating, which is part of what makes air fryers so convenient. However, if a recipe calls for preheating—especially when cooking crispy or breaded foods—it’s a good idea to follow that step. Preheating provides your food with the initial blast of hot air it needs to make it deliciously crispy.
Additionally, some manufacturers, like Ninja, recommend preheating their air fryers before cooking.
“For best results, we recommend preheating the unit before adding ingredients,” says this Ninja Air Fryer Max – AF160 manual.
It’s thought that preheating your air fryer can make a noticeable impact on texture, particularly for foods like:
- Frozen fries
- Chicken wings
- Breaded fish fillets
- Thin-cut vegetables
When you don’t need to preheat
Some air fryer models (like newer Philips) automatically adjust the temperature and don’t require preheating.
“You do not need to preheat your Philips Airfryer. You can immediately put the ingredients into the basket, without preheating,” says the Philips website.
You can also skip preheating when:
- Cooking food that doesn’t need crisping (like reheating leftovers)
- Baking moist foods (like muffins or banana bread)
- Roasting whole chicken breasts or dense cuts of meat
Ultimately, preheating comes down to personal preference. In fact, many users in online forums report that they’ve never preheated their air fryer and haven’t noticed a significant difference.
How to preheat an air fryer
If your model doesn’t have a preheat button, here’s a simple method:
- Turn your air fryer to the temperature specified in your recipe.
- Let it run empty for 3–5 minutes.
- Add your food once the time is up or the indicator light beeps.
Always preheat with the basket in place for accurate temperature build-up.
How long to preheat an air fryer
Most air fryers take 3 to 5 minutes to preheat, depending on the model and desired temperature.
- For lower temps (150–180°C): 3 minutes is usually enough
- For higher temps (190–200°C): aim for 5 minutes
Refer to your air fryer’s manual for specific instructions.
What happens if you don’t preheat?
Skipping the preheat can:
- Increase your cooking time slightly
- Lead to less even crisping
- Result in food that’s slightly softer or steamed rather than seared
But for many everyday meals, the difference is minimal.
Can you preheat with foil or baking paper inside?
It’s best not to preheat with loose foil or baking paper in the basket. Without food to weigh it down, the paper can fly into the heating element and burn.
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