Realized I was preheating wrong after 2 years of dry chicken

I always put the basket in and waited for the light to go off, but the chicken still came out dry and chewy every time. My buddy in Detroit said to just run it empty for 5 minutes first and it's night and day, has anyone else been doing that this whole time?

2 comments

2 Comments

robinc661mo ago

Man, I felt this in my soul. Two years of sad, rubbery chicken and you just thought that's how it was, right? Same thing happened to me with fries, they came out pale and soggy until my neighbor yelled at me about preheating. It's wild how one little step changes everything, like the whole machine finally wakes up. Now I just turn it on when I start cutting veggies, and by the time I'm done, it's roaring hot and ready. Your buddy saved you from a lifetime of disappointment, that's a real friend.

sagesingh1mo ago

Preheating the air fryer empty is the only way. That light just means it’s ready to cook, not that it’s hot enough inside. Five minutes makes the basket actually sear the chicken instead of steaming it. Dry and chewy is exactly what you get from a cold start. Your buddy in Detroit knows what’s up. Just do it every single time now.