Using an air fryer as a grill is something that many people wonder about when considering purchasing an air fryer. Air fryers have become incredibly popular in recent years as a healthy alternative to deep frying. With their convection heating and rapid air circulation, air fryers can produce crispy “fried” foods like french fries, chicken wings, and more using little to no oil. So it’s natural to wonder whether an air fryer could also be used to grill foods like steaks, burgers, vegetables, etc.
Quick Answer
The quick answer is yes, you can use an air fryer to grill foods to some extent. However, there are some important differences between an air fryer and a traditional grill that impact their grilling abilities.
How Air Fryers Work
To understand if and how an air fryer can be used for grilling, it helps to first understand what sets air fryers apart from other cooking appliances.
Air fryers use convection heating, meaning they circulate hot air around food at high speed to cook it. A heating element and fan are located in the top or side of the air fryer cooking chamber. The heating element warms up the air, while the high-speed fan blows the hot air around and over the food.
This rapid circulation of hot air allows air fryers to quickly cook foods from the outside in. The external surface of the food becomes hot and crispy, while the inside cooks more gently. Air fryers can reach temperatures from 200°F to 400°F.
How Grills Work
Grills work quite differently from air fryers. Grilling relies on high, direct heat from below to cook foods. The open flame, electric coil, or extremely hot surface in a grill sears and chars the exterior of foods. Grills reach much higher temperatures than air fryers, often over 500°F.
Grilling imparts that classic charred, slightly smoky flavor into foods. The drippings from grilled foods falling onto the heat source also produce smoke that flavors the food. This is much different from the convection heating of an air fryer.
Comparing Grilling Capabilities
When comparing the grilling capabilities of an air fryer versus a grill, there are some key considerations:
- Temperature – Grills reach much higher temperatures than typical air fryers, allowing better searing and charring.
- Direct heat – The direct radiant heat of a grill sear foods differently than an air fryer.
- Smoke flavor – Grills impart a smoky flavor that air fryers cannot replicate.
- Space – Grills offer more space for larger foods or batches than many air fryer baskets.
- Flip ability – Grills allow easy flipping of foods for even cooking – difficult in an air fryer.
For these reasons, while air fryers can produce delicious foods, they cannot fully replicate the performance, flavor, and experience of grilling.
Grilling in an Air Fryer
While air fryers cannot fully mimic an outdoor grill, you can still use an air fryer to make dishes with a grilled flavor. Here are some tips for “grilling” in your air fryer:
- Use firm, thin cuts of meat like steaks, chops, or chicken breasts. Thick cuts won’t cook evenly.
- Brush or rub meats with oil and spices/rubs before air frying for flavor.
- Cut softer vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, and peppers into planks rather than chunks.
- Spray vegetables lightly with oil before cooking.
- Cook foods in batches – don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket.
- Flip foods halfway during cooking for more even browning.
- Brush or toss cooked foods with bbq sauce or glazes.
While results may not have the true char of grilling, foods will come out with a crispy, browned exterior while still remaining juicy inside. It’s a much healthier cooking method than deep frying.
Tips for “Grilling” in an Air Fryer
Here are some top tips to get the most grill-like results when using your air fryer:
- Use a model with high maximum temperature (400°F+).
- Let foods come up to room temp before air frying for faster browning.
- Coat foods lightly with oil using a brush or sprayer.
- Use a grill tray insert if your model allows – it gets hotter.
- Cook in batches and don’t overcrowd the fryer basket.
- Manually flip and rotate foods during cooking.
- Add smoky flavor using spices, marinades, or sauces.
Best Foods to “Grill” in an Air Fryer
These foods are most likely to achieve a nice char and grill-like flavor when cooked in an air fryer:
- Steaks
- Burgers
- Chicken or turkey cutlets
- Fish fillets or steaks
- Shrimp or scallops
- Vegetable planks like zucchini, eggplant, and peppers
- Fruit slices like pineapple, peaches, apples
- Small veggie skewers
- Corn on the cob
Thicker cuts of meat like a whole chicken breast or large chops will likely not cook evenly or develop much char. Stick to thinner cuts for best results.
Grilling vs. Air Frying Comparison
Here is a comparison of some key factors when grilling foods versus air frying:
| Factor | Grilling | Air Frying |
|---|---|---|
| Temperatures reached | 500°F+ | Max 400°F |
| Source of heat | Direct radiant below | Convection circulated hot air |
| Charring/searing | Significant | Moderate |
| Smoky flavor | Yes | No |
| Cooks evenly | With flipping | From all sides |
| Fat/oil needed | Little | Some |
Best Air Fryer Models for Grilling
If you want an air fryer that can produce grill-like results, look for models with these features:
- Digital controls with programmable temperature up to 400°F+
- High-performance heating elements and fan
- Grill pan or tray accessory
- Large basket or flat cooking surface
- Dehydration function to make jerky
- Rotisserie function
The following air fryer models have great reviews for performance and grill-like cooking:
- Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven
- Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Grill Air Fryer
- Philips Premium XXL Airfryer
- Cosori Dual Blaze Grill & Air Fryer
- Innsky Grill Air Fryer Oven
Grill Accessories for Air Fryers
Certain accessories can help enhance the grilling experience with your air fryer. Useful accessories include:
- Grill pans or trays – Get grill marks and better heat transfer.
- Skewers – Make kebabs and veggies.
- Grill baskets – For small items like shrimp.
- Rotisserie forks – Use to roast chickens or small roasts.
- Meat thermometers – Monitor doneness of meats.
- Basting brushes – For sauces and glazes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get grill marks using an air fryer?
It is difficult to achieve dark, distinctive grill marks when cooking in an air fryer. The convection heating browns foods evenly rather than searing in lines. Using a grill pan may help enhance the grill marks slightly. Brushing with a browning sauce can also darken certain spots after cooking.
Do air fryers make food taste grilled?
Air fryers cannot fully replicate the smoky charcoal or gas flavors of grilled food. However, using some grilling spice rubs and basting sauces can impart a similar taste. The exterior browning on foods may resemble grilling as well.
What is the best cut of meat to grill in an air fryer?
Thin cuts of meat 1 inch or less in thickness work best, like beef steaks, pork chops, chicken cutlets, or fish fillets. The high heat will quickly sear the exterior while thinner pieces cook through without overdoing the inside.
Can you put wood chips in an air fryer?
It is not recommended to put wood chips meant for smoking into an air fryer. The high fan speed and enclosed design are not ideal for producing smoke flavor. The wood chips could also potentially ignite and damage the appliance.
Is grilling meat in an air fryer healthy?
Grilling meat in an air fryer is healthier than deep frying. The convection heat helps any fats drain away while keeping foods juicy. Minimal oil is needed compared to pan frying. Meats cooked in an air fryer are lower in calories than deep fried alternatives.
Conclusion
While air fryers cannot fully match the performance and flavor of an outdoor grill, they can be used to cook foods with a crispy, browned exterior reminiscent of grilling. Thinner steaks, chops, fillets, and vegetables are the best candidates for “grilling” in an air fryer. High-temperature models with grilling accessories allow you to achieve the best possible grill-like results. With the right foods and a few seasoning tricks, you can absolutely cook delicious “grilled” foods indoors using your air fryer.