How to Use an Air Fryer: First-Time Guide for Indian Kitchens

How to Use an Air Fryer for the First Time

Learning how to use an air fryer the right way makes all the difference between crispy food and disappointing results.

When you first get an air fryer, unbox it and remove all packaging material, stickers, and plastic wraps. Wash the basket and tray with warm soapy water. Dry them fully. Then run an empty cycle at 200 degrees Celsius for 5 minutes to burn off any factory coating smell.

I remember unboxing my first air fryer and being confused by the plastic smell. That smell is normal. Every new air fryer has a faint chemical odour from the manufacturing process. The empty dry run burns it off completely. After that first cycle, your air fryer is ready to cook real food.

Here is exactly how to use an air fryer, step by step. I have broken down the entire process so even a first-time user can follow along without any confusion.

Why it is worth learning: a 2023 study in the journal Foods found air frying uses about 50-70% less oil than regular frying. The acrylamide side needs the honest version, though: the drop is not automatic, it depends on the settings you choose. A 2026 trial in Food Science & Nutrition (Can et al., PMC13260683) optimised air-fried potatoes at 160 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes and found acrylamide stayed below the limit of quantification of 0.1 mg per kg; run the same potatoes hotter and longer and the number climbs. Lower temperature, shorter time, paler colour — that is the actual lever.

Should You Wash an Air Fryer Before First Use?

Yes. Wash the basket and the tray before you cook anything in a new air fryer, but never wash the main body. Take the basket and the crisper tray out, wash them in warm water with mild dish soap and a soft sponge, rinse, and dry them fully. Wipe the inside of the main unit with a damp cloth only, and keep the body away from the tap — the heating element and the fan are in there.

This is the step most first-time owners skip, and it is the reason a first batch of samosas can taste faintly of plastic. A new basket carries factory dust, release oil and sometimes a protective film. Philips’ own first-use guidance is to remove all packaging and stickers and to clean the appliance before using it.

Forgot to clean it before the first batch? Nothing is ruined. Let the air fryer cool, wash the basket and tray now, run the empty cycle described below, and carry on. The one thing worth doing in order is wash first, then the empty run — the dry run burns off the factory smell, and it works better on a clean basket.

Do not use steel wool, scouring powder or a metal scraper on the basket at any point. They cut the non-stick coating, and a cut coating flakes into food later.

How to Do the First Dry Run (Empty Cycle)

The first dry run removes factory chemicals and the plastic smell from a new air fryer. Set the temperature to 200 degrees Celsius and the timer to 5 minutes. Run the air fryer empty, with nothing in the basket. This one step makes your first batch of food taste clean and fresh.

Here is the step-by-step process:

1. Remove all packaging - take out cardboard inserts, plastic films, and silica gel packets from the basket and drip tray
2. Wash the basket and tray - use warm water, a soft sponge, and mild dish soap. Do not use steel wool
3. Dry everything completely - wipe with a clean cloth or let air dry for 10 minutes
4. Place the basket back - slide it into the air fryer until it clicks into place
5. Set temperature to 200 degrees Celsius - this is the maximum on most models
6. Set timer to 5 minutes - some guides say 10 minutes, but 5 is enough for the first burn-off
7. Let it run and cool down - you will notice a faint smell. This is normal and goes away after this cycle

Fact: Philips’ official first-use guide says to remove all packaging and stickers, then clean the appliance well before you use it. Philips also notes a new air fryer can smoke a little on its first run. That is normal. The empty cycle clears it before any food goes in.

How to Use a Havells, Prestige, Kent or Cookwell Air Fryer for the First Time

The first-use routine is the same on every air fryer sold in India, whatever the brand on the box. Unpack it, wash the basket and tray, run it empty at the highest setting for about 5 minutes, let it cool, then cook. Havells, Prestige, Kent, Cookwell, Philips and the rest all work the same way, because they are all the same machine underneath: a heating element, a fan, and a basket that lets hot air move around the food.

What actually differs between brands is only the controls. Budget models use two mechanical dials, one for temperature and one for a wind-up timer that starts the moment you turn it. Digital models use a touch panel with preset buttons for chips, chicken or fish, and those presets are just saved temperature-and-time pairs; you can ignore them and set the numbers yourself. Some units will not start until the basket is pushed fully in, which is a safety switch, not a fault.

Two things are worth checking in your own manual rather than any guide, because they are the two that vary: the maximum temperature your model reaches, and its rated wattage. Every air fryer sold in India runs on the standard 230 V household supply, so the voltage is never the question — the wattage is. IS 1293:2005, the Bureau of Indian Standards rule for plugs and socket-outlets, lists the preferred socket ratings as 6 A, 10 A and 16 A at 230 V (Table 1). A 6 A socket carries 1,380 W at 230 V, so a 1,500 W air fryer belongs in a 16 A socket and not on a shared extension board.

If your model has a shake reminder, a beep or a prompt part-way through the cycle, that is asking you to pull the basket out and shake it. It is not an error code, and pulling the basket out mid-cycle is safe on every model.

How to Load Food in the Air Fryer Basket

Place food in a single layer inside the air fryer basket. Leave gaps between pieces so hot air can flow around each item. Overcrowding the basket is the number one reason food comes out soggy instead of crispy. For Indian snacks like samosa and pakora, leave at least 1 cm of space between each piece.

Think of the basket like a drying rack. Clothes dry faster when spread out, not bunched together. The same logic applies here. Hot air needs to touch every surface of the food to make it crispy.

A few rules I follow:

• Fill the basket only 60-70% full, never to the brim
• For samosas, place them standing upright with space between each one
• For chips or fries, spread them in one layer - cook in two batches if needed
• Lightly brush or spray 1 teaspoon of oil on the food - not in the basket
• For paneer tikka, thread pieces on skewers to keep them elevated

Common mistake: Many beginners dump a full bag of frozen snacks into the basket. This blocks airflow. The food in the centre stays soft while the edges burn. Always cook in smaller batches.

What Temperature and Time Should You Set?

Most Indian snacks cook well between 180-200 degrees Celsius for 10-15 minutes. Frozen foods need 180 degrees for 12-15 minutes. Fresh foods like chicken tikka need 200 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Always preheat the air fryer for 3 minutes before adding food for crispier results.

Here is a quick reference chart for common Indian foods:

Pro tip: Start with 2-3 minutes less than recommended. You can always add more time, but you cannot undo overcooking. Check your food early and adjust.

Why Should You Shake or Flip Food Halfway?

Shaking or flipping food halfway through cooking ensures even browning on all sides. The bottom of food sits on the basket grate and gets less direct airflow. A quick shake at the halfway mark exposes new surfaces to the hot air, giving you evenly crispy results instead of one brown side and one pale side.

For small items like fries, peanuts, or chakli, pull the basket out and shake it 2-3 times. For larger items like chicken legs or whole samosas, flip each piece with tongs. The basket is designed to slide out safely without stopping the heating element on most models.

Important: Use silicone-tipped tongs, not metal forks. Metal scratches the non-stick coating. A scratched coating flakes into your food over time.

How to Remove Food Safely After Cooking

When the timer beeps, pull the basket out slowly using the handle. Place it on a heat-proof surface like a wooden chopping board or a thick cloth. Never place the hot basket directly on a granite countertop or plastic surface. Use tongs or a silicone spatula to lift food out of the basket.

A few safety points I have learned the hard way:

• The basket handle stays cool, but the basket body is extremely hot - never touch the metal parts
• Steam rushes out when you open the basket. Keep your face at a distance
• Let the air fryer cool for 10-15 minutes before cleaning
• Never pour cold water into a hot basket - it can warp the non-stick coating

FSSAI guideline: Do not leave cooked food at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If you are making batches, keep cooked food warm in a casserole or oven at 60 degrees Celsius.

What Are the Most Common Air Fryer Mistakes?

The five most common air fryer mistakes are: using too much oil, overcrowding the basket, skipping the preheat, opening the basket too often, and not cleaning after every use. Each of these mistakes leads to soggy food, uneven cooking, or a shorter appliance lifespan.

1. Too much oil - an air fryer needs just 1-2 teaspoons. Using tablespoons of oil defeats the entire purpose of air frying. Excess oil drips to the bottom and creates smoke
2. Overcrowding - piling food high blocks airflow. Cook in batches instead. Yes, it takes longer, but the results are worth it
3. Not preheating - 3 minutes of preheating gives noticeably crispier results. I have tested this side by side, and preheated batches brown better every time
4. Opening too often - every time you open the basket, heat escapes. Check once at the halfway mark, not every 2 minutes
5. Skipping cleaning - leftover grease and crumbs burn in the next cycle and create a bad smell. Wash the basket after every use with warm soapy water. Our guide on how to clean an air fryer covers burnt-on grease and smells

Every air fryer has limits too. Read our honest list of air fryer disadvantages before you plan every meal around it.

Air Fryer Tips Specific to Indian Cooking

Indian cooking in an air fryer works best when you adjust recipes for dry heat instead of deep frying. Use thick batters (besan with less water) so they stick to food instead of dripping through the basket. Marinate paneer and chicken for at least 30 minutes so flavours penetrate deeper with less oil.

Tips I have found helpful for Indian kitchens:

• Samosas: Brush the outer layer with oil. Place them standing up. Cook at 180 degrees Celsius for 12 minutes, flip at 6 minutes
• Pakoras: Make the besan batter slightly thicker than normal. Thin batter drips through the grate. Spray oil on top before cooking
• Tandoori chicken: Marinate overnight in yoghurt and spices. The yoghurt creates a natural crust when air fried at 200 degrees Celsius
• Reheating rotis: Spray a tiny bit of water on the roti, then air fry at 160 degrees Celsius for 2-3 minutes. It comes out soft, not rubbery
• Roasting papad: Place 2-3 papads in the basket at 200 degrees Celsius for 2 minutes. They puff up like flame-roasted ones without any oil

Indian kitchen fact: India’s air fryer market was worth about USD 48.8 million in 2025, per IMARC Group. IMARC expects it to reach USD 80.6 million by 2034. Every year, more Indian homes switch to low-oil cooking.

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