This article on How to Properly Season Air Fryer Basket to Prevent Sticking, will help teach you how to prevent most sticking issues.
How to Properly Season Air Fryer Basket to Prevent Sticking
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.
Cast of Tools for Properly Season Air Fryer Basket to Prevent Sticking
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.
Wash and Dry your Air Fryer
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.
Rub the Basket with Coconut Oil
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!
Properly Seasoned Air Fryer Basket
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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How to Properly Season Air Fryer Basket to Prevent Sticking
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Carol Roberts says
July 24, 2019 at 8:53 pmI 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
July 12, 2019 at 3:12 pmThis should be done after each and every use, shouldn’t it?
Florencio says
February 12, 2019 at 12:16 pmThere 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.
Kathy says
February 3, 2019 at 11:41 amThank 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
December 30, 2018 at 5:08 amThank you
Marcia says
December 13, 2018 at 12:01 pmI love the idea of seasoning the fryer before use, mine is a mess right now! Thanks😉
Tammy says
December 1, 2018 at 2:37 amCan you spray the inside of the air fryer basket with a spray of its coconut oil?
Jill says
December 1, 2018 at 2:29 pmYes.
Carl says
November 10, 2018 at 12:23 amGreat information thanks
DIANE MARSH says
September 17, 2018 at 1:57 pmHI DO YOU ALSO HAVE AN AIR FRYER COOKBOOK OUT?
Jill says
September 18, 2018 at 1:06 amI’m working on it. Jill
Dianne Oliger says
September 10, 2018 at 7:55 amThis would not work for me as I am allergic to coconut. Any alternatives?
Linda says
October 9, 2018 at 12:58 pmIn preparation of receiving my first airfryer tomorrow, I called the vendor asking the same question and was told any oil (EVOO, Vegetable, Canola, etc) will do
Jill says
October 9, 2018 at 1:19 pmTry grapeseed oil.
Carl says
November 10, 2018 at 12:34 amGrapeseed oil
Kathy Messano says
August 24, 2018 at 2:17 amCan you tell us how to clean the AF basket of backed on grease? Nothing I have tried will even begin to remove the build up.
Debra Diner says
August 23, 2018 at 12:06 pmI don’t have coconut oil. Will vegetable oil or olive oil work?
Nikki says
August 22, 2018 at 6:02 amI’m just wondering does the coconut oil make your food taste like coconut because I have a very intense taste bud and I don’t like coconut lol
Jill says
August 22, 2018 at 8:58 pmI don’t think so, Nikki. Jill
Diane Sudkamp says
August 3, 2018 at 9:44 amBuying a air fryer and looking for ideas and recipes for air fryers. Thank you!
Barbara Brown says
July 29, 2018 at 8:57 amThank you, Jill, for providing us with this valuable information. I followed your seasoning directions the first time I used my new AF. Second time using, and every time thereafter, following cooking, cleaning, and drying, do we season and heat again prior to putting AF away until next time?
Thank you so much 😊
Tally says
July 3, 2018 at 10:50 amThank you for the information
Natasha says
June 27, 2018 at 11:22 amI’m interested in why it doesnt talk about seasoning at all in my gowise owners manual? I assumed you needed to, but wouldnt have if I didnt see this post before trying it out for the first time.
Mary Krienke says
June 19, 2018 at 4:45 amThank you! Thank you! Thank you! I was starting to look around for a copper lined basket air fryer. I haven’t seen anything i’d like. Then i came upon this post this morning! You really are awesome!
WallyT says
April 15, 2018 at 8:10 amJust bought air fryer. You seem to have all the info I need to get frying. Thanks 😉
RLoeding says
February 25, 2018 at 6:35 amThank you- for sharing. Very helpful and got us off on a good start with our Air Fryer!
Beth says
February 8, 2018 at 1:35 pmWhat is the dimensions of this air fryer? I need to find a spot for it before I order it.
Is this still your favorite?