The common air fryer mistakes you're probably making - but should stop now

Air fryer enthusiasts be warned, as an expert has highlighted the critical errors you're likely making with your favourite kitchen gadget, potentially causing harm to both the appliance and your meals.

In recent years, air fryers have been flying off the shelves across the UK, hailed not only as a cornerstone of modern kitchens but also as a tool for slashing energy costs and whipping up healthier takes on beloved foods. Despite its popularity, maintaining the device is crucial and many cooks might unknowingly be using it incorrectly, claims a report by the Mirror.

Joshua Warren, who specialises in air fryers at AO.com, revealed the most prevalent blunders that are made when using air fryers, along with key advice to dodge them.

A prime error, as Warren notes, is overloading the basket with an excess of ingredients, which may result in undercooked fare and extended cooking times. When doing so you risk the food not being cooked properly, forcing you to cook the grub for longer than expected.

Another pitfall is the liberal use of oil which, although important for flavour in some recipes, can lead to soggy outcomes if overdone, reports the Daily Record. In a crisp piece of guidance, Joshua stated: "It also defeats the point of using an air fryer, largely seen as a healthier cooking option. Try to limit yourself to small amounts or none for the healthiest cooking."

So remember to give your air fryer's contents a good shake. Not everybody knows this, but for the best results when cooking, it's recommended to shake or flip your food in the middle of the cooking time.

Neglecting this step could result in a meal that's cooked unevenly a situation everyone would prefer to avoid. As Joshua points out, "It's a handy idea to set