This article on How to Properly Season Air Fryer Basket to Prevent Sticking, will help teach you how to prevent most sticking issues.
The latest kitchen appliance to become super popular is the Air Fryer. We can all have our favorite deep fried foods without actually deep frying and without using oil. Wrong!
An Air Fryer does not take the place of a deep fat fryer, but it does allow us to have many of our favorite fried foods without deep frying and without tons of oil. However, oil is still needed in an Air Fryer.
Most of the Air Fryer on the market have a “non-stick” coating. Unfortunately, that coating is definitely not “non-stick.” In order to help keep your food from sticking to the Air Fryer basket, it is important to season your Air Fryer before cooking and/or after cleaning. You will only need Coconut Oil and a piece of Paper Towel. Please do not use aerosol sprays like Pam, as that will only build up grease and cause more peeling.
Using a soft sponge, soap and water, wash your Air Fryer basket and drawer in the sink. Use a kitchen towel and lightly dry the Air Fryer drawer and basket. You don’t need to dry it totally, as the Air Fryer itself will do a great job of drying the basket and drawer.
Place the basket inside the drawer and place it into your Air Fryer. Turn the temperature to 400 degrees and set the timer for 5 minutes. Remove the drawer after three minutes.
Using a paper towel, scoop out some Coconut Oil and rub it all over the Air Fryer basket. Just a thin layer is needed. Don’t go crazy with a thick coating. Place the drawer and basket back into the Air Fryer, which will continue to stay on for two more minutes.
That’s it!
Prior to using your Air Fryer before cooking anything, rub a thin coating of Coconut Oil over the whole basket. I like to use The Fine Life Ideal Olive Oil Mister for spraying food with oil. Remember, this is not a deep fryer, but most food, will require that you spray your food, top and bottom, with Oil.
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Brooke says
Do you have to season it with the coconut oil every time you use it? Also can you put tinfoil in it if you want to reheat something like pizza 🍕 & don’t want the cheese to get everywhere ?
Brooke says
Do you have to preseason it with the coconut oil every time you use it? Also can you use tinfoil in it if you wanted to reheat something like pizza 🍕 & don’t want the cheese getting everywhere??
Anonymous says
There were so many popup ads I had a hard time reading the article or seeing the pictures. Just thought you should know.
Jill Selkowitz says
Thanks, the ads are how I get compensated, so glad they are there. You are welcome for the free information. Jill
Gail says
Ran onto this article on Pinterest. My question is…we have had the air fryer for several months now. Is it too late to season the basket? We already have baked on grease on the basket. Very unattractive. Thank you in advance.
Jill Selkowitz says
You can certainly do it, however, the baked on will not come out. Jill
Barbara ball says
My basket was easy to clean. The grease was hard to get off the plane that held the basket. Can you use foul on the pan.
Christina Aracil says
Do you like air fryer parchment paper?
Jill Selkowitz says
I do and use it frequently. I use this brand of parchment paper rounds. Jill
Carol Roberts says
I followed the instructions, but my basket didn’t come out shiny like that. Does it take several times before it becomes shiny? Also, would it work just as well to dry the basket more, put the coconut oil on right away before heating the basket and then heat for 5 min.? That way you wouldn’t have to stick your hand into a really hot AF basket to apply oi.
Darlene says
This should be done after each and every use, shouldn’t it?
Florencio says
There should be warning when seasoning AF. While applying the oil, make sure to wear a heat resistant gloves because the cooking basket will be very hot and will cause severe burn if any part of the metal basket is accidentally touched without hand protection.
CommonSense says
Well, It does not take a genius to know not to touch a 400 degree rack. You are the reason we have to put warning labels on everything
Kathy says
Thank you, Jill, this makes so much sense to me! The last thing I want to experience is flecks of “nonstick” coating in my food – that would gross me out.
Your instructions are thorough but simple.
Cathy says
Thank you
Marcia says
I love the idea of seasoning the fryer before use, mine is a mess right now! Thanks?