In the past few years, people have become more aware of the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.
As a response to this call, many books were written to encourage people to live a healthy lifestyle.
Many industries have also begun using less toxic chemicals in their products. There are even those who encourage people to look for healthier alternatives to the things that they often use.
Out of all these responses, the development of devices like air fryers is one of our favorites.
This recently-famous kitchen appliance cooks food without using cooking oil. This is good news after learning about all the health risks that come with using cooking oil.
Because of this, many people have begun to like this kitchen device. It is now considered a healthier alternative for those who love fried foods.
HOW DOES AN AIR FRYER WORK
Before we discuss how to fix any problems with your air fryer, let us first explain how it works. The first thing that you need to know about this cooking device is that it has three main parts.
3 Main Parts of a Power Air Fryer
- Air fryer base: This is the part that cooks the food.
- The basket base: The part that holds the basket.
In cases that require a small amount of oil, this is where the excess oil goes after the cooking process.
- The basket: The air fryer basket holds the food while it is being cooked.
Some air fryer models, like the Ninja air fryer, have a led display panel.
This component allows you to digitally see some details such as the remaining time and the temperature that you used.
HOW TO FIX COMMON PROBLEMS WITH AN AIR FRYER
With an air fryer being one of the easiest kitchen appliances to use, it is only natural for you to want to use it every day.
It is possible to do so, but you have to make sure that you clean it properly afterward.
You also have to make sure that you use it properly and according to the instruction manual. By doing this, you may be able to avoid some of the air fryer’s most common problems.
Here are some of the common air fryer problems that you may encounter:
A. THE OVEN FAN OF THE POWER AIR FRYER IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY.
POSSIBLE REASONS:
- The Safety Switch. If your power air fryer fan is not working, the first thing that you should check is your safety button.
- If it is on, then it is probably not working because of the safety features. The safety interlock of your air fryer may be preventing your fan from opening.
- Electrical connection and Power Supply. The reason is that maybe there is no electricity to power up your air fryer properly.
- Check if you are able to plug your power cable into your wall socket properly. Loose connections can prevent the power supply from reaching your device.
- In line with this, you may also want to check if the cable of your air fryer has any damage. Check if the cable has a blown fuse.
- Poor power connections can sometimes cause your electrical appliances to malfunction.
- Faulty components. Always check if all of the parts of your air fryer are working properly.
HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM
- The first thing that you need to do is to determine the reason behind the problem.
- Open and remove the drawer of the air fryer. Check to see if there is any problem with it.
- If there is none, return it back, then plug the device in.
- Press the power button on.
- Repeat this procedure a couple of more times.
If it does not work, check if it is the safety switch. To do this, follow these steps:
- Remove the drawer once again.
- Wait for a couple of minutes, then put it back in.
- Slide the butter knife in the gap. You may use an old credit card or any thin flat object. This will activate or trigger the safety switch.
- Remove the butter knife or the old credit card.
- Press the power button again to turn it on.
If it still did not work, then it was probably the electrical connections.
If it’s electrical connections, then contact an electrical technician immediately.
Request them to check the specific power outlet where you are trying to connect your device. That particular wall socket may not be working properly.
That being said, you may also want to ask the technician to check the circuit breaker and control panel in your house. Never handle electrical problems on your own.
If you think it’s because of faulty components, follow these steps:
1. Check if you are still within the warranty period.
2. Call customer service.
If it is a new air fryer, maybe they can still replace it. If it is no longer covered by the warranty period, you may need to have it fixed yourself.
Ask if there are any replacement parts available in your area.
3. Bring it to the nearest repair shop. Ask the technician there to check the internal components. If you know where to find any of the replacement parts, tell the technician about it. In most cases, they already have it. In some cases, they will be the ones to buy it.
Never attempt to fix any internal components. The last thing you want is to create an even more serious problem.
The best way to handle these common issues is to seek help from a professional.
B. AIR FRYER PRODUCES WHITE SMOKE.
POSSIBLE REASONS:
a) It is probably steam. This is most likely to happen if you are cooking food that has high moisture content at a high temperature.
b) Something inside is burning. If you accidentally use a higher temperature for a longer period of time, then something may be burning.
It could be some of the internal components. If this is the case, then white smoke may emerge from your air fryer.
HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM
- Identify the cause of the problem.
- Check if the white smoke has a smell that is similar to the smell of food being cooked. If it is not, then something is definitely burning.
- Stop air frying and unplug your appliance immediately.
- Bring it to the nearest repair shop and have it fixed. Burnt foods emit black smoke, so its definitely not food.
C. AIR FRYER PRODUCES BLACK SMOKE WHILE COOKING.
POSSIBLE REASONS:
- FATTY FOODS. You are cooking food with high-fat content. Fatty foods will burn if you cook them at higher temperatures.
- You’ll know that the fat has started burning if you can smell a bad odor.
HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM:
- Put water in the basket whenever you cook fatty foods. By doing this, you will be able to prevent the production of black smoke.
- The fat will just go and be with the water instead of burning.
If your air fryer keeps emitting black smoke, then you should already bring it to a repair shop.
If you are not cooking fatty foods, then something is definitely wrong with the device.
D. AIR FRYER PRODUCES BLUE SMOKE AFTER TURNING IT ON.
POSSIBLE REASONS:
- Electrical problems. It is most likely malfunctioning.
HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM
- Do not attempt to fix it. Unplug the device immediately. It is a serious problem that should be handled by a technician.
E. THE RECENTLY COOKED MEAL SMELLS DIFFERENT
POSSIBLE REASONS:
- The smell may have come from the food items that were cooked previously.
This is most likely to happen if you use your device often to cook too much food.
HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM
- Make sure to clean your air fryer basket regularly every day. For best results, try cleaning it every cooking cycle, after the meal is prepared. Make sure to clean it using warm water and the appropriate liquid soap.
F. THE AIR FRYER STOPS WORKING WHILE COOKING.
POSSIBLE REASONS:
- Air fryers may malfunction if the cable has a blown fuse.
- Internal components are broken or malfunctioning.
HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM
- Remove the food from the basket.
- Try pressing the restart button. If it does not have a restart button, unplug the device, wait for a couple of minutes then replug.
- If it still does not work, bring it to the nearest repair shop.
The best thing about air fryers is that they allow you to cook food healthily. This unique device for cooking functions differently compared to your traditional fryers.
Its mechanism can allow you to cook differently with your new recipes.
FAQs
How Does an Air Fryer Work?
Air fryers work like your typical convection oven. The air fryer base has both a fan and an electronic part that produces heat.
When you turn the power on, the fan and the heating element produce hot air. The hot air is what cooks the food as it circulates around it.
The resulting food is similar to that cooked by most deep fryers.
Cooking a healthy meal using modern air fryers is actually quite simple. Here are the following steps to do this:
1. Put the food in the air fryer basket.
In some cases, you may need to add some cooking oil. Avoid using too much oil. You may use one or two teaspoons.
2. Set the cooking time and the required temperature to cook the food.
Air fryers cook food using hot air at high temperatures. The high temperature will vary from 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
The cooking time is usually around 5 to 25 minutes.
Both of these will depend on the type and amount of food you are trying to cook.
You can adjust the timer setting and use the reset button accordingly based on the following:
-required temperature
-what type of food you will be cooking.
3. Wait for the food to be cooked.
4. Take the food out and clean it properly.
You may want to check the instruction manual for you to be able to clean it properly.
WHY WILL MY AIR FRYER NOT TURN ON?
It is malfunctioning. In this case, check if your cable has a blown fuse.
Also, check if the cable has any damage. If there is none, then make sure to check if the basket is in its proper location.
CAN AN AIR FRYER OVERHEAT?
Yes, it can. This is most likely to happen if you often use high temperatures when cooking your food. This could also happen if you use too much oil.
SUMMARY
Air fryers offer a convenient way to cook a healthy meal. It is unique, modern, and recently developed. Just like many kitchen appliances, it may malfunction too.
Here, we discussed some of the common issues and their possible solutions.
Despite this, however, we still recommend that you hire a technician. This is especially necessary if you are unsure of what you need to do.
