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Best Oils For An Air Fryer
Today, we are going to look at the best oils for an air fryer.
When choosing an oil for use in an air fryer, there are a few key qualities to consider.
First, is the recipe. This is the food you are going to be cooking. Different oils impart different flavors into the food. Therefore, you should try to match flavors that go together well.
Second, is the temperature that the recipe requires the food to be cooked at.
And last, the smoking point of the oil itself. You want to make sure that the cooking temperature is lower or equal to the smoking point to maintain maximum taste of your dish.
Benefits of air frying
We all know that eating deep fried foods isn’t exactly good for our health. Many of us over the last few years have become increasingly health conscious and more discerning when it comes to the food that we eat.
That doesn’t mean that we want to eat boring old salads for every meal though. What we need is way to make small changes to our favorite meals in order make them far better for us.
This is exactly what the air fryer does! Our trusty little kitchen sidekick can allow us to cook our family favorites with far less fat and calories than other cooking methods.
What Is A Smoking Point?
The smoking point of an oil is the temperature at which it begins to smoke. This smoking occurs when the fats in the oil break down due to the heat. This can not only fill your kitchen with smoke but can also alter the flavor of the food that you’re cooking. The easiest way to avoid these unwanted outcomes and therefore the best oils for an air fryer is one that has a smoking point that is greater than the cooking temperature of the recipe.
The smoking point for cooking oils varies wildly. It depends on a few factors including, the components, origin, and level of refinement for that particular oil. The smoking point tends to increase as the level of refinement increases and as the free fatty acid content decreases. In addition, the act of heating oil produces more free fatty acid which, in turn, lowers the smoke point. This drives the science behind the cooking rule that you should not use the same oil to cook with repeatedly.
List of oils and smoke points
Below is a list of all the most popular, best oils for an air fryer. Please bear in mind that these figures are as a guide only. You should check the individual product to confirm before cooking.
Avocado Oil – 570°F (298°C)
Clarified Ghee Butter – 485°F (251°C)
Extra Light Olive Oil – 468°F (242°C)
Soybean Oil – 460°F (237°C)
Coconut Oil – 450°F (232°C)
Peanut Oil – 450°F (232°C)
Canola Oil – 400°F (204°C)
Vegetable Oil – 400°F (204°C)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil – 375°F (190°C)
Sesame Oil – 350°F (177°C)
Butter – 250-350°F (121-177°C)
Oils For An Air Fryer Available On Amazon
 |
| Avocado Oil |
| Ghee Butter |
| Extra Light Olive Oil |
| Soybean Oil |
| Coconut Oil |
| Peanut Oil |
| Canola Oil |
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil |
| Sesame Oil |
FAQs
Can I Use Olive Oil In An Air Fryer?
Whilst some people will tell you that you shouldn’t use extra virgin olive oil in the air fryer, this simply isn’t true.
It is true however, that some air fryer recipes require a temperature of greater than the smoking point of olive oil. In this case you should NOT use olive oil.
As long as you only use olive oil in recipes that cook at 375°F (190°C) or less, you will perfectly fine. If the recipe you are using cooks at a higher temperature, then you should consider using a different oil. One with a smoking point of greater than the required temperature.
How Much Oil Do I Use When Cooking In An Air Fryer?
There is no one rule fits all when using oils for air frying. Always follow the recipe for best results.
Some recipes, like our Homemade Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets, will require a quick spritz of oil just to prevent them from sticking to the air fryer basket.
Others, like our Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos, will use the oil to bend the spices to the shrimp prior to cooking.
While in general, most frozen foods will not need any oil at all when air frying.
Following the recipe will give you the best chance for success!
Final Thoughts
Hopefully this guide has given you a better understanding of why the choice of which oil to use matters. Now armed with all the information to choose the best oils for an air fryer, go forth and experiment with different flavors and recipes. Cooking with an air fryer is unbelievably fun when your kitchen isn’t filling up with smoke!
If you are looking for some recipe ideas to test your new knowledge, then head over to our recipe section to find something yummy to try! Such as:-
Or if you do not have an air fryer yet, or are looking to upgrade, then check out our air fryer reviews section here. Here are a few of our most popular reviews:-
