My brother told me to always preheat the air fryer, but I tried skipping it

He swore by it for years, saying it made everything crispier. Last Tuesday, I was in a rush and just threw in some frozen chicken tenders without preheating. They came out soggy on the outside and took almost 25 minutes, way longer than usual. I guess he was right after all. Anyone have a good trick for when you're really short on time and can't wait for the preheat?

2 comments

2 Comments

hayes.joel6d ago

That soggy chicken is a classic sign. The preheat isn't just about temperature, it's about getting the fan going to blast moisture off the food right away. If you're truly in a pinch, try lowering the basket into a cold air fryer, then turn it on. It starts cooking a bit faster than waiting for a full preheat cycle. Still not as good as a proper preheat, but better than cold food hitting hot air.

alice_hart6d ago

My old PowerXL air fryer manual actually said not to preheat for most foods. I tried it both ways with frozen fries and the texture came out the same. The fan kicks on immediately anyway, so that moisture blast starts right when you press start.