My mom's air fryer tip about preheating was dead wrong for two years

When I first got my air fryer in 2021, my mom told me to always preheat it for 5 minutes before putting food in. She swore by it. I followed that advice for almost two years until I accidentally put frozen french fries in a cold basket one night. They came out way crispier and more even than my preheated batches ever did. Now I only preheat for things like chicken wings or battered items. Has anyone else found that skipping preheat works better for frozen stuff?

2 comments

2 Comments

angelafisher3d ago

Dude yes! I had the exact same thing happen with tater tots. I always preheated and they'd be kinda dry on the outside. One night I forgot and just threw frozen tots in a cold basket and they came out perfectly golden and crispy. Now I only preheat for stuff like fresh battered fish or chicken where you need that immediate sear. Frozen stuff definitely does way better without it.

emmasmith3d ago

Swear to god I had the same revelation with frozen egg rolls. I used to preheat the air fryer for like 5 minutes and then throw them in and they'd come out hard on the outside but still kinda cold in the middle. One day I just dumped them in straight from the freezer and set it for a few extra minutes. Total game changer. They came out perfectly crunchy all the way through and the filling was actually hot instead of lukewarm. Now I never preheat unless I'm doing something like a fresh mozzarella stick or a raw potato wedge where you need that instant crust. Frozen stuff just needs time to thaw and cook evenly, not a blast of heat right away.