Air fryers have become an increasingly popular kitchen appliance in recent years. Their ability to make crispy “fried” foods using little to no oil is very appealing to health-conscious cooks. But can you actually pan fry foods in an air fryer? Let’s take a look at the possibilities and techniques for getting that crispy pan fried texture from your air fryer.
Is Pan Frying Possible in an Air Fryer?
While air fryers are great at mimicking deep fried results, they do function quite differently from a skillet or pan on a stovetop. Air fryers work by circulating hot air at high speed to quickly cook and crisp the exterior of foods. A true pan frying method relies on oil and direct contact with a hot surface to achieve that crispy texture.
However, with the right techniques and expectations, you can absolutely get results very similar to pan frying in your air fryer! While it may take some tweaking of timing and food prep, you can make breaded fried dishes, seared meats, and more using your air fryer. You’ll just need to adjust your process slightly from stovetop pan frying.
Tips for “Pan Frying” in an Air Fryer
Here are some tips to follow for getting the best results when mimicking pan fried foods in your air fryer:
- Use a thin coating of oil – Lightly brush or spray foods with a thin layer of oil before air frying. This helps promote browning and crisping. Aim for just 1/2 to 1 tsp of oil per serving.
- Go for smaller sized items – Cut ingredients into smaller pieces or thin fillets rather than large pieces. This allows for quick, even cooking.
- Use a light breading – Breadcrumbs, panko, or flour dredges should be very light and thin for air frying. Too heavy of a coating prevents crisping.
- Spray breaded items with oil – After breading foods, spray the exterior with a light coating of oil. This helps the coating crisp up nicely.
- Spread in a single layer – Avoid overcrowding, which prevents adequate air circulation.
- Flip halfway through – Flipping or tossing items midway through allows both sides to brown evenly.
- Extend cook times – Pan frying is usually quicker, so you may need to air fry items slightly longer to reach the level of doneness and crisping you want.
- Check for doneness and crispness – Use a thermometer or toothpick test, and visually inspect the crispness level before removing food.
- Let rest before serving – Allowing fried items to rest 1-2 minutes out of the air fryer allows crispness to further develop.
Best Foods to “Pan Fry” in an Air Fryer
Certain foods are especially well-suited to achieving a nicely pan fried texture in the air fryer. Here are some of the top foods to try:
Breaded meats
Chicken breasts, pork chops, or steak pieces coated in a light breading get remarkably crispy and juicy when “fried” in an air fryer. Always brush breaded meats with oil before cooking.
Breaded vegetables
From eggplant and zucchini to green beans or peppers, thinly slicing vegetables before dredging in flour and breadcrumbs results in crispy veggie fritters and fries.
Smaller fish fillets
Fish with a delicate texture like tilapia, sole, and trout fillets hold up well to air frying. Brush with oil and use light breading for a crispy, pan fried effect.
Seared meats
Steaks, pork chops, and chicken thighs and drumsticks develop a nice sear when cooked uncovered in an air fryer. Brush with oil and flip midway for even browning.
Potatoes
Cubes of potato tossed in oil become crispy roasted potatoes. Shredded potatoes pressed into patties make lovely pan fried potato cakes.
Empanadas
Latin American stuffed pastries develop a perfect golden crispy crust when air fried. Make sure to vent steam from fillings.
Dumplings
Vietnamese fried spring rolls, potstickers, and other filled dumplings turn out great using an air fryer. They get that signature crispy bottom with tender dough on top.
Tips for Air Frying Battered Foods
Getting the crispiest possible coating when air frying battered foods like fried chicken, fish, and more requires paying attention to a few key steps:
1. Choose a thin, light batter
Thick batters end up bready rather than crispy when air fried. A thin mixture of flour, cornstarch, and sparkling water works best.
2. Let battered items rest before frying
Letting breaded or battered items sit 5-10 minutes allows coating to further adhere before cooking begins.
3. Apply a very thin layer of batter
Too thick of a batter layer prevents food from crisping fully. Dip just to coat lightly and allow excess to drip off.
4. Use a light breading over batter
For extra crunch, apply a light sprinkle of panko, cornflakes, or flour over battered items before air frying.
5. Mist coated foods with oil
Spritzing a light coating of oil over battered foods helps promote even browning and maximum crispness.
6. Allow cooked foods to rest
Letting hot air fried battered foods sit a minute or two out of the fryer allows the coating to further crisp as residual heat dissipates.
Air Fryer Settings for Pan Fried Results
Dialing in the right timing and temperature settings is key to getting the crispiest, pan fried style results in your air fryer. Here are some guidelines for settings to use:
Temperature
When trying to mimic pan frying, use temperatures on the higher side – generally between 380°F to 400°F. This level of heat helps create a crispy sear.
Time
Since you aren’t cooking submerged in hot oil, air frying times need to be longer than deep frying. Increase cooking times by 2 to 4 times what you would pan fry an item on the stovetop.
Flipping
Always flip or toss air fried items about halfway during cooking to ensure even browning. Frequent flipping can help mimic pan frying.
Smaller batches
Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Cook foods in smaller batches for optimum crisping results.
Preheating
Preheat your air fryer 5 minutes before cooking for faster browning. The cooking chamber needs to fully heat first.
Oil spraying
Periodically mist foods with oil during air frying for added browning if needed. Take care to avoid overspraying.
Venting
With stuffed or filled foods, venting steam from inside during cooking can help maintain crispy textures on the outside.
Choosing an Air Fryer for Pan Fried Results
While all air fryer models can achieve some level of pan fried results, certain features are especially desirable for optimal cooking performance:
Fan speed
High-speed fan models will mimic pan frying best. Faster airflow results in quick, crispy browning.
Wattage
Higher wattage means more rapid heat up time and recovery when tossing or flipping foods during cooking.
Basket capacity
A slightly larger basket (7-10 quarts) allows cooking more food at once while still avoiding overcrowding issues.
Adjustable settings
Models with the ability to precisely dial in time and temp provide the best results when trying to simulate pan frying.
Presets
Having air fryer presets for commonly pan fried foods like french fries, fish, chicken, and steaks takes the guesswork out of getting the right cook settings.
Common Problems and Solutions
When adapting pan frying recipes to an air fryer, there can be some challenges. Here are some potential issues and ways to troubleshoot them:
Problem: Breading falls off food
- Solution: Use a very light breading and press to adhere. Mist with oil after breading.
- Solution: Let breaded foods sit for 5+ minutes before air frying so coating sticks better.
Problem: Food isn’t getting crispy
- Solution: Use a little less batter or breading so surface is more exposed.
- Solution: Spray food with oil if it looks dry while cooking to promote browning.
- Solution: Increase air fryer temperature and cook time to enhance crispness.
Problem: Inside is undercooked
- Solution: Cut food into smaller, thinner pieces for quicker cooking through.
- Solution: Brush or spray food with oil to help inside cook faster.
- Solution: Increase cook time and check frequently for doneness.
Problem: Food has greasy or oily spots
- Solution: Don’t overdo oil spraying when misting foods during cooking.
- Solution: Remove excess marinades and oils before cooking.
- Solution: Drain fried foods on paper towels to absorb excess grease.
Best Practices
Here are some top tips for achieving the best pan fried results in your air fryer:
- Pat foods dry before breading to help coating stick better.
- Use instant-read thermometer to ensure food is cooked through.
- Let just-cooked foods rest 1-2 minutes for optimal texture.
- Work in smaller batches to avoid overcrowding the fryer basket.
- Record times and temp when you get the results you want.
- Consider using wire racks or grilling pans with holes to maximize airflow all around food.
Recipes to Try
To get started with pan frying in your air fryer, here are some delicious recipes to try out:
Crispy Air Fried Chicken Cutlets
Chicken breasts pounded thin, breaded, and perfectly crisped, these are juicy and tender just like pan fried cutlets.
Air Fried Fish Sticks
Frozen fish sticks become crunchy on the outside while tender and flaky on the inside when air fried.
Air Fried Zucchini Fritters
Grating zucchini before mixing with eggs, flour, and spices and frying makes for feather-light veggie fritters.
Crispy Air Fried Potato Pancakes
Shredded potato and onion patties get beautifully browned and crispy edges when air fried.
Air Fried Pork Schnitzel
Lean pork cutlets breaded and air fried develop a crisp crust similar to pan frying but are lower in fat.
Air Fried Sole with Lemon Herb Crust
Delicate sole fillets with a zesty lemon breadcrumb topping turn out moist and tender.
Air Fried Spring Rolls
Vietnamese-style fresh spring rolls develop crispy fried exteriors and piping hot fillings when air fried.
Spicy Air Fried Chicken Wings
Crisp, saucy chicken wings are a perfect party food you can easily make in your air fryer.
Air Fried Falafel
Chickpea falafel patties get an outer crunch but stay soft and moist inside your air fryer.
Conclusion
While it requires a bit of tweaking from pan frying techniques, your air fryer is absolutely capable of producing delicious crispy “fried” foods. With the right preparations and cooking guidelines, you can enjoy your favorite pan-fried dishes minus all the excess oil and fat that typically comes with them. Get creative with the recipes and ingredients you try – the options are endless for your air fryer to crisp, sear, and “fry” for you. With a little practice, you’ll be turning out amazing air fried creations that rival the texture of pan frying!