How to Preheat Air Fryer XL?

Air frying is a new cooking method, so it is bound to come with many questions. With so many styles and sizes of air fryers cooking differently, there is no universal way to answer them. However, in this article, I will answer one such question involving the preheating of the air fryer using my air fryer as a case study. I use a Power Air Fryer XL for all my home cooking, but I was fortunate to use some other models, so this article cuts my experience using them. I will also advise you to read your manual first for the best guidance on using your specific air fryer model. It helps answer any specific preheating problems you may have with your air fryer.

Power Air Fryer XL

The Power Air Fryer XL, with a dimension of 15.9 x 14 x 13.8 inches and weighs roughly 15.62 pounds, stands as an instrument of marvel in any modern kitchen. It has a state-of-the-art digital touchscreen with seven one-touch easy pre-sets for French fries, chicken, steak, roasts, shrimp & baked goods. It was first made available to the public on September 12, 2016, in Rapid Air Technology. The secret of this technology is it surrounds your food with Turbo Cyclonic superheated Air instead of oil.

The Power Air Fryer XL will cook your favorite fast foods at about half the time of other methods, and you don’t need to worry about extra calories added fat/oil, from fat or oil. I should not also fail to mention that you are not losing anything taste-wise. It is the same, crispy fried taste and texture with little to no oil.

How to Preheat on an Air Fryer XI?

Some air fryers have pre-heat automatic functions already, which you press for the preheating process. If your model does not have this feature, all you need to do is set the preheating temperature, and the air fryer takes care of the rest. However, the air fryer XI doesn’t have this feature, so you will have to preheat it manually. To set the temperature at which you are cooking the food or the temperature stated in your recipe, click “on” and let the air fryer heat for 3-5 minutes. I suggest 2 minutes for a small air fryer, and for larger air fryers, we recommend about 5 minutes.

Preheating in an Air Fryer?

Preheating your food in an Air Fryer is neither necessary nor compulsory, but I have found it helpful when cooking. Preheating can be a huge time saver when it matters; that is why I have done extensive research into it using my air fryer XI to see the effect of preheating on some food.

Times not to Consider Preheating:

• When a heating element of the air fryer is close to the basket, some small to medium air fryers have the cooking element relative to the food, means food cook quicker and you don’t need to preheat.
• When cooking thick food material, food items that need to be cooked through the center do not need to be preheated. Preheating will cook the outside way too quickly and crispy before it cooks to the center.
• Delicate foods that you don’t want crispy. Like I said earlier, preheating will make foods cook hotter and crisper on the outside. In a case when you’re cooking delicate and might burn on the outside before the inside is tender, it is better to turn off the preheating. Preheating also dries out the food.
• When baking cakes and pastries, cake and pastries usually take longer in an air fryer to cook evenly and adequately. Preheating will only cook the outside too crispy and leave the inside raw and doughy. So when air frying quick bread or small cakes, you want to start in a cold air fryer to heat or cook the pastry slowly.
• Don’t preheat with parchment paper in your air fryer. The paper will blow around during pre-heat and may hit the heating element, which will cause it to burn.

Time to Consider Preheating;

• When Re-heating leftovers. Leftovers are already cooked food, so the only thing an air fryer does is reheating the food. This can make food crispy and cook faster.
• When all you are looking for is a crispy texture. If you want a good sear on food and have crispy outside, preheating will help achieve this texture.
• When making pre-cooked frozen foods, I have found that frozen food like frozen French fries, frozen egg rolls, and frozen tater tots are perfectly made when you preheat first. Time is also saved significantly.

Precaution when using your Air Fryer XI

• If you are using your air fryer for the first time, before you plug the Power Air Fryer XL into a power outlet, make sure you remove all packaging material from both outside and inside the Unit.
• After the cooking cycle has ended, the Red Heat Light will disappear along with all other icons on the Digital Control Panel. However, the Blue Fan Icon will continue to spin while the Unit cools down. After 20 seconds, the Unit will power OFF automatically.
• It is not intended for use by persons who lack experience and knowledge unless they have supervision.
• Check the voltage indicated on the appliance before you connect the air fryer to electricity.
• Always make sure that the plug is adequately inserted into a wall outlet. Do not operate any appliance with a damaged cord or plug after the appliance malfunctions.
• Close supervision is necessary when any appliance is used near children
• To protect against electric shock, do not immerse the cord, plugs, or appliance in water or other liquid.
•  Do not let the appliance operate unattended.
•  Do not touch the hot surfaces; use a handle.
• During air frying, hot steam is released through the air outlet openings. Keep your hands and face at a safe distance from the air outlet.

Bottom Line

In conclusion, preheating doesn’t make much difference when cooking in a large batch, but you get to save a little more cooking time on those nights when we can’t wait to munch on your recipes.