🔥 Preheating your Air Fryer: Quick & Efficient Instructions – Neary

Preheating your air fryer ensures you start cooking at the optimal temperature. You'll get crispiness, a golden color, and even cooking! The secret is to make sure the temperature is already reached before you put in your fries 🥔, vegetables, or nuggets: this way, every side gets the same burst of heat 💨 from the very first second.

Without preheating, some foods can stick, cook unevenly or remain mushy… So, this little ritual guarantees a chef-worthy result at home!

Generally, three to five minutes is enough for a standard air fryer. Some recent models even have an automatic preheating function: very convenient! If your appliance doesn't have this button, simply set the target temperature (often between 160°C and 200°C depending on the recipe), let it run empty for a few minutes, then add the food.

Tip: If you're cooking large quantities or very cold food, add an extra minute to compensate for heat loss. For more details, you can consult the air fryer preheating guide .

1. Plug in your air fryer and check that the basket is clean and dry.
2. Set the desired temperature (e.g., 180°C for fries, 200°C for crispy chicken!)
3. Start the device empty : let it run for three to five minutes with nothing inside.
4. Once preheating is complete (or the indicator light is off, depending on the model), open the basket, place your food inside and start cooking.
5. Remember to turn the food over halfway through cooking for perfect browning on both sides 😋.

Want to try it right away? Discover the Moulinex Easy Fry Max in our Neary shop!

• Don't overload the basket: let the hot air circulate around each piece (that's the magic of the air fryer!).
• Dry food well before cooking: less moisture = more crispiness 🥗.
• Add a drizzle of oil to the potatoes, breaded or vegetables to boost the browning (but not too much!).
• Always preheat for consistent results, especially for fries, doughnuts or breaded foods.
• Test different temperatures to find the ideal combination for your recipe: the Neary Air Fryer guide helps you personalize your cooking.

• Forgetting to preheat : some foods may cook unevenly or stick to the basket.
• Fill the basket during preheating : be careful, you must first heat it empty, then add the food!
• Neglecting cleaning : residue in the basket can burn and alter the taste of your dishes.
• Overcooking : if you adjust the cooking time without taking preheating into account, keep a close eye on the browning to avoid drying out the food.

• Is preheating necessary? For many recipes, yes, especially to achieve a perfect crispness and prevent food from sticking. But some very delicate or pre-cooked dishes don't require it.
• When should you avoid preheating? If you are cooking very delicate or marked foods, such as muffins or eggs, start from cold for more gentleness.
• Do you need to preheat for each batch? No, if you cook several batches in a row, the basket will stay hot. But if you wait more than ten minutes between batches, preheat again.
• Can all air fryer models be preheated? Yes, regardless of your model, the principle remains the same. Some even have a special button!
• Also discover recipes to try after proper preheating.