Versatile Operation: Air Fryer Dual Basket Can You Use Only One
The double basket configuration of an air fryer provides more convenience for cooking. However, some people are curious whether they can choose to use only one basket for cooking activities in certain situations.
Can you use just one side of a dual air fryer?
You can use only one frying basket. This is a common way of using an air fryer. The original intention of the double-frying pan design is to allow us to cook two different ingredients at the same time. Especially when only making food for one or two people, one frying basket is enough.
When using a single frying basket, pay attention to several details: Don't put too much food in it. It is recommended to fill it to at most 70% full; push the frying basket hard into the card slot until you hear the click sound; choose the appropriate temperature and time. Because the heat is concentrated in one frying basket, it may take a little shorter time than when using two frying baskets at the same time.
Do dual air fryers take longer to cook?
If a double basket air fryer uses two baskets at the same time, the cooking time will be a little longer than that of a single basket. After all, the heating power is limited. If it is divided among two baskets, each basket will naturally get a little less heat. So generally, it is necessary to increase the cooking time by 2 to 3 minutes.
If the ingredients placed in the two baskets are different, it is best to place the ingredients that need longer cooking time in the upper basket, because the temperature of the upper layer will be a little higher. For example, if chicken wings are placed in the upper layer and french fries are placed in the lower layer, it will be easier to control the heat.
Is a one basket or two basket air fryer better?
Each of the single-basket and double-basket air fryers has its own advantages. Which one is better depends on specific needs.
If there are few people in the family, the kitchen space is limited, or it is mainly used for heating and simple cooking, it is recommended to choose a single-basket one. If you often need to prepare food for a large number of people, like to cook multiple ingredients at the same time, and have enough budget, you can consider a double-basket one.
Price
Single-basket air fryer: Usually it is more cost-effective and suitable for consumers with limited budget.
Double-basket air fryer: The price is generally relatively high and costs more.
Space occupation
Single-basket air fryer: It has a smaller volume and takes up less kitchen space, which is suitable for the situation where the kitchen area is not large.
Double-basket air fryer: It usually has a larger volume and takes up more space, which has certain requirements for kitchen storage.
Function characteristics
Single-basket air fryer: It has simple and direct operation and can meet the demand of occasionally making simple food.
Double-basket air fryer: It can cook different foods at the same time, set the time and temperature separately, has high cooking efficiency, is convenient to prepare various foods that need to be processed by air fryer, and is also suitable for the situation where there are many people in the family and a large amount of food needs to be made.
Application scenarios
Single-basket air fryer: It is suitable for users with small kitchen space, limited budget and low usage frequency.
Double-basket air fryer: It is suitable for users who often make various foods, have a large number of people in the family and don't care about the price and space problems.
Can you use the air fryer without the basket tray?
You can't use an air fryer without a basket tray.
Putting the food directly on the bottom of the machine is very dangerous. The grease will drip onto the heating tube, which is likely to cause a fire. Moreover, it's difficult for the food to be heated evenly, and the result of cooking will be very poor.
It's also extremely troublesome to clean. The oil stains and food scraps will stick to the inside of the machine and be difficult to wipe clean. If you keep using it in this way for a long time, the air fryer will become dirtier and dirtier.
If the tray is broken, you can buy a new replacement part online. The price won't be too expensive. Continuing to use the machine without the tray is not good for the service life and usage safety of the machine.
What size air fryer is best for 2 people?
An air fryer with a capacity of 3-4 liters is most suitable for two people to use.
This capacity is just enough to hold the ingredients for two people, such as 2-3 pieces of chicken cutlets, a plate of french fries, or 6-8 chicken wings. There won't be too much leftovers after cooking, and it won't be necessary to process in batches due to too small a capacity.
If you choose a larger one, it will take up space, and it will also take more time and electricity for heating. If you choose a smaller one, you will have to reheat it, which is more troublesome instead.
Are there any disadvantages of air fryer?
An air fryer has three main disadvantages: small capacity, single taste, and troublesome cleaning.
Generally, an ordinary air fryer has a limited capacity and can only make food for 1-2 people at a time. When entertaining guests, it has to be made in batches, which is quite time-consuming.
The taste of the food made is relatively single. It has a dry taste. It is not suitable for stewing or frying. Many traditional dishes cannot be completely restored.
It is troublesome to clean after use. Especially in the gaps of the baking basket grid, the oil stains and food scraps are difficult to clean completely and require special cleaning tools.
