Food - Drink
Why You May Want To Add Water To
Your Air
Fryer Drawer
By LAUREN ROTHMAN
An air fryer may be a convenient, set-it-and-forget-it appliance that doesn't need much fuss, but it's still possible to commit common air fryer mistakes, like not preheating it and overfilling its basket. In some cases, not adding a small amount of water to the appliance's drawer could also be a mistake.
Smoke is produced when greasy foods drip fat onto the appliance’s heating element, and adding a thin layer of water to the air fryer drawer will help eliminate it. Alternatively, the method can also be achieved using slices of bread instead of water.
The best protection against a smoking unit is to keep the air fryer nice and clean, as cooked-on grease and stray crumbs cause the appliance to become smoky consistently. Air Fryer World suggests starting with a cool, unplugged unit, then using a rag or sponge to wipe the inside of the fryer and its heating elements.