Have you ever defrosted food the traditional way— leaving it out at room temperature? It's time-taking, right?
Before cooking, you have to take the food items out of the freezer for at least an hour or so before to make them ready for cooking.
But what if I told you there is a quicker way to do the same tasks with an air fryer? Are you intrigued?
It is possible.
Yes, you can defrost food in an air fryer. Unlike a microwave, an air fryer defrosts food more evenly due to its rapid heating technology without leaving any hot or cold areas. Food thawed in an air fryer is soft from the inside and ready for further cooking.
Tips For Defrosting Food In An Air Fryer
Remember the tips below to ensure you are not doing anything wrong while using your air fryer for defrosting.
Don’t Skip Preheating
Preheating your air fryer is necessary for adequately defrosting food.
It is especially true when thawing white meat, such as frozen chicken breast and other thicker areas.
Keep The Temperature Low
It is essential to keep the temperature low and monitor the condition of your food during the thawing process.
Even the best air fryer for defrosting won’t help much if the temperature during defrosting is high.
High heat will result in partial cooking, burning your food from the outside while keeping it frozen from the inside.
Pay Heed To Defrost Time
When defrosting, monitor the time closely. Ensure the food doesn’t stay in the air fryer longer than required.
Don’t Overlap Food Pieces
Spread the food evenly on the air fryer basket, ensuring pieces do not overlap.
In such cases, hot air may not touch the food from all sides, resulting in inefficient defrosting.
Remove Plastic Wrapping
Before defrosting, remove all the plastic packaging. Otherwise, the plastic will not only melt and contaminate the food but also ruin your air fryer.
Flips The Sides Of The Food
If food is thick, flip its sides after a few minutes of defrosting to promote even thawing by exposing it to the hot surrounding air.
Don’t Place Food In A Water Bowl
Don’t defrost food in the air fryer on a plate or cup full of water, as it can cause condensation, leading to moisture build-up in the appliance.
What Foods Can Be Safely Defrosted In An Air Fryer?
Here are some foods you can soften with the help of an air fryer.
- Chicken wings
- French Fries
- Hot pockets
- Pizza Bagels
- Rotisserie chicken
- Fish Sticks
- Pizza
- Bread
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Conclusion
It is not tricky to defrost food in an air fryer. However, you must be careful about the time and temperature suitable for defrosting and adjust them according to food type and quantity. Using the correct settings is essential because defrosting food at a higher temperature and for longer can make it brittle and difficult to cook.