Do You Need to Preheat an Air Fryer?
One of the questions I’m asked most often is whether you should preheat your air fryer before cooking.
My answer?
In most cases, no.
I’ve tested recipes across several different air fryers over the years, and I very rarely preheat mine.
For everyday cooking, I’ve never found it makes enough difference to justify waiting around for it to heat up.
What does preheating actually do?
Preheating simply means allowing your air fryer to reach the cooking temperature before adding your food.
It’s exactly the same idea as preheating a conventional oven.
Some air fryers even have a dedicated preheat setting.
Do I preheat my air fryer?
Honestly?
Almost never.
Whether I’m cooking chicken, vegetables, chips or fish, I simply add the food, set the temperature and let the air fryer get to work.
I’ve used several different air fryer brands over the years, and I’ve never found preheating makes a noticeable difference to the finished result for the vast majority of recipes.
When might you want to preheat?
Although I rarely do it myself, there are a few occasions where preheating can be useful.
For example:
Cooking a steak where you want an immediate sizzle.
Baking certain pastries.
Following a recipe that specifically asks you to preheat.
If a recipe tells you to preheat, it’s usually for a reason, so it’s worth following the instructions.
Does preheating make food crispier?
In my experience, not enough to worry about.
The air fryer heats up so quickly that the difference is usually minimal.
I’d say things like not overcrowding the basket, using a little oil where needed and turning your food halfway through cooking have a much bigger impact on getting great results.
Does preheating affect cooking times?
It can do, but only slightly.
If you don’t preheat, your food may take an extra minute or two while the air fryer comes up to temperature.
Personally, I’d rather add that extra minute than stand waiting for the air fryer to preheat before I even start cooking.
What do manufacturers recommend?
Some manufacturers recommend preheating, while others say it’s optional.
That’s because different models heat up at different speeds.
If your instruction manual recommends preheating for certain recipes, it’s worth following that advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it bad if you don’t preheat an air fryer?
No. Most everyday recipes cook perfectly well without preheating.
Which foods benefit from preheating?
Steaks, pastries and recipes that specifically ask for preheating may benefit.
Do Ninja air fryers need preheating?
Ninja recommends preheating for some recipes, but for everyday cooking I don’t tend to bother.
Will my food cook if I don’t preheat?
Absolutely. You may simply find it takes an extra minute or two.
Is preheating worth it?
For me, not usually.
I’d rather get the food cooking straight away.
The Bottom Line
Do you need to preheat an air fryer?
For most everyday cooking, I’d say no.
After using several different air fryers and testing hundreds of recipes, I’ve found that starting with a cold air fryer works perfectly well for almost everything I cook.
There are a few exceptions, such as steaks or recipes that specifically call for preheating, but for day-to-day cooking I don’t think it’s worth worrying about.
If you’re new to air frying, my advice is simple:
Don’t overthink it.
Put your food in, set the temperature and enjoy the results.
