What Oil do you use in Air Fryer?

Are you an amateur in air frying? Are you wondering how to use oil in an air fryer to get a super crispy exterior of the food? What amount of oil should I use? Well, we have got all what’s and whys covered. We will unveil all the hidden secrets and hacks that can make your life with the air fryer a lot easier, and you will be able to know the secret recipe of a perfectly air-fried food.

How to choose Oil for an Air Fryer?

When we talk about oils to be used in air fryers, we have to do some research before spending money on the oils. This is because it involves a little bit of science, specifically the chemistry of oils. By understanding this, you can easily choose the best oil for your air fryer and the one that tastes good to your taste buds. There are three factors that you need to consider while deciding on the oil.

• The Smoking point of Oil

The essential point that aids in choosing the best oil for your air fryer is its smoking point. You might be wondering what the hell is that exactly and why do we need to know? As promised, we have all answers to ifs and buts.

The smoking point of an oil or fat is the temperature point where oil or fat begins to smoke. The higher the smoke point, the better the oil for the air fryer.

The ideal smoking point starts from 400 F. Keep in mind that the refining process of oil increases the smoke point of oil, and it is because this process omits the elements that can cause the smoking of the oil at a high pace.

• Fatty Acids

The second point is the type of fats that the oil is containing. There are three types of fats, i.e., saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated.

1. Saturated fats are solid at room temperature. Their sources are meat and dairy.
2. Monounsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature and are plant-based in olive oil, sunflower oil, etc.
3. Polyunsaturated fats are also liquid at room temperature. They are seeds, nuts, and seafood-based oils. These also contain omega three, which is considered to be the healthiest cholesterol for the human body.

The whole point of discussing these types is to choose oil containing a low amount of saturated fats and a higher amount of mono and polyunsaturated fats and short fatty acid chains.

• Choose Pure Oils and as per your Taste

Last but not least, always choose pure oils and choose according to your taste. Suppose you liked flavored oils. Go for them. If you want plain tasteless oils, they are also good to go.

A list of Oils that can be used in Air Fryers

So we have got you a long list of oils that can be used in the air fryer with the gradual hike in smoking points.

• Canola oil- smoking point 400F
• Almond oil- smoking point 430F
• Peanut oil- smoking point 437F
• Rice bran oil- smoking point 450F
• Sesame oil- smoking point 450F
• Palm oil- smoking point 450F
• Soybean oil- smoking point 453F
• Corn oil- smoking point 460F
• Extra light olive oil- smoking point 463F
• Sunflower oil- smoking point 480F
• Mustard oil- smoking point 480F
• Clarified butter- smoking point 482F
• Refined sunflower oil- smoking point 510F
• Avocado oil- smoking point 4520F

Healthy Tips for a Healthy Meal

Now that you have a considerable choice of oils follow these points as they will help you cook a perfect meal and add to its nutritious value. It would help if you learned which oil is suitable for your food to air fry.

• Air frying is all about temperature. Do not cook high smoke point oils with the food that needs a low temperature to get it done and vice versa.
• Be cautious when using flavored oils. They can damage the food taste when exposed to high temperatures.
• Never use the oil that requires appropriate heat with foods having moderate or low temperatures.
• Oils having a significant proportion of unsaturated fats are the healthiest of all.
• If the food already has some fat content in it, do not grease the air fryer basket.
• If the food is high in starch and water content, you need to grease the basket.
• The need for oils also depends upon the choices from person to person and food to food.
• Processed foods usually do not require oiling as they already contain some fat content.

Gadgets you can use to Grease the Air Fryer

We have so far covered a lot about air fryer oils. This is another crucial part where we will discuss gadgets that are best to use for oiling or greasing the air fryer basket and how to use these gadgets to avoid messy situations.

1. Basting brushes are suitable for food large in size. It will equally grease the whole chicken or whatever that is bigger. Talking about basting brushes, silicone brushes are best of all. They have soft filaments that can sway in every movement and even spread oil or any other liquid coating.
2. Sprayers are another best option for you. Spritzers offer a very thin splash of oil, and they make an even covering outside the food giving you the same crisp you wanted. However, while purchasing a spritzer, do not compromise on quality for some extra dollars or pounds. Oil is a heavy liquid and if you are just worried about spending some extra bucks for only a sprayer be prepared because, after some splashes, that sprayer will disappoint you.

Bottom line

Air fryers have changed lives miraculously. For people with health issues and those who are calorie conscious, this is for you. Do add oils that are abundant in monounsaturated fats. Always read the composition of the oil before paying a buck for it. Get crisp and nutrition in a single bite with our recommended oils and follow the guidelines.