Kitchen

[monicakm]

I bought this insert for my 9x9 6.8qt air fryer.  The handles stick up a bit past the sides of the basket.  My air fryer has dual elements (top and bottom).  The handles don't stick up enough to touch the upper element but do you think it's too close to the element if it sticks up 1/2 inch?

Wait, I guess it's not a problem.  They show it that way.

Smoke...I had so much smoke when cooking a thick frozen hamburger pattie that it set off the smoke detectors.  Has this happened to you?

[VanSleepy]

I don't have a big problem with smoke, but if you're cooking something greasy you can put a little water in the bottom to cut down on smoking. 

[Lilysmom1]

Silicone microwave pieces are also safe to use in the air fryer, according to Google.

[monicakm]

@VanSleepy 

Thank you.  I was cooking something greasy.  It was a thick frozen hamburger pattie.  About how much water?  a tsp? tbl?  I may need to swap the microwave and air fryer locations.  The microwave is next to the stove  and I can turn on the vent-a-hood.

[wagirl]

@monicakm ---put maybe a 1/4 cup or more--you want the water to just cover th bottom!

[Happy2BHere]

I bought a silicone insert like this from "A" and have used it all the time but never had that problem with any smoke, etc. I don't use any water in the bottom, but agree you should try it to see what happens.

Otherwise I can't figure out what it would be unless maybe yours is getting too hot for some reason? Maybe try airfrying at a lower temp? Good luck! 

[monicakm]

@wagirl 

I'll give it a try.  Thanks

[monicakm]

@Happy2BHere 

My silicone insert is just like yours only square.  I was air frying a thickish frozen hamburger pattie.  The quoted cook time and temp just wasn't getting it done and not browning.  Oh well, I'm still in learning mode.  

[loriqvc]

For whatever it's worth, I found that a full silicone liner like the one shown here had a detrimental effect on the cooking ability of my air fryer. It doesn't really allow the air to fully circulate like the inserts that are perforated, so in some cases, my food seemed to take a bit longer to cook and was less crispy if I didn't increase the temperature or time. In addition, even though the silicone is supposed to be helping with cleanup, it often was a bit greasy even after really scrubbing it, and stronger smells lingered unless I used a special paste treatment or soaked it, defeating the purpose of easier cleaning.

When I cook a frozen burger in my air fryer (same basic barrel style shown in the original post), I put about two tablespoons of water in the bottom of the drawer—enough to not quite cover the surface—and place the patty on a little wire rack to keep it elevated. Halfway through the cooking time, I use tongs to flip it. The results are always perfect, and I absolutely love not having the smell of grease or smoke fill my kitchen like it would with a skillet or indoor grill. The air fryer is wonderful for burgers, steaks, chops, and chicken with much less hassle and much cleaner air. 

[Icegoddess]

I agree with @loriqvc ,  The purpose of an air fryer is to circulate the air around the food.  That's why the basket has holes or slots in them.  That's why they're called air fryers and not tiny ovens.