The Power XL Air Fryer is a popular kitchen appliance that allows you to make fried foods like french fries, chicken wings, and more with little to no oil. With its powerful heating elements and rapid air circulation, the Power XL can crisp up foods and give them that delicious fried flavor without the added calories from oil.
A common question from owners of the Power XL Air Fryer is whether you can use it to grill and air fry at the same time. The short answer is no – the Power XL Air Fryer is designed for air frying only. It does not have a separate heating element or temperature controls for grilling.
How does the Power XL Air Fryer work?
To understand why you can’t simultaneously grill and air fry in the Power XL, it helps to first look at how an air fryer works.
Air fryers like the Power XL circulate extremely hot air around the food at high speed to cook it. This rapid air circulation essentially mimics the results of deep frying by crisping up the outside of foods. The difference is that little to no oil is used in an air fryer.
The Power XL Air Fryer has a heating element and fan built into the top of the cooker. When turned on, the heating element warms up to temperatures between 200-400°F. The powerful fan then circulates the hot air down and around the food sitting in the fryer basket below. This constant flow of super heated air is what gives that crispy fried texture.
Air frying relies on rapid air circulation
Air frying relies on the constant, high-speed circulation of air to cook foods evenly. The entire cooking process centers around the rapid airflow in the chamber. This is different from grilling, which cooks foods primarily through direct radiant heat from an open flame or electric coil.
So while air frying relies on a constant blast of forced air, grilling exposes food directly to an open heat source. The Power XL was designed specifically for air frying, with no separate heating elements or controls suited for grilling.
Why the Power XL Air Fryer can’t grill
There are a few specific reasons why you can’t simultaneously grill in the Power XL Air Fryer:
No separate heat source for grilling
As mentioned, the Power XL was designed solely for air frying. It only has a single heating element and fan for circulating hot air. There is no separate, open heat source suited for grilling. You need direct radiant heat from below to get grill marks and that char-grilled flavor on foods.
No temperature controls for grilling
Grilling requires much higher temperatures than air frying. Most grills reach temperatures upwards of 500-700°F or more. The Power XL Air Fryer only goes up to 400°F. Without getting up to a high direct grilling temperature, you won’t get the right grill lines and char.
Small capacity
The Power XL Air Fryer has a 6-quart basket. This small capacity is suitable for air frying batches of fries, nuggets, etc. But it would be very difficult to grill any meaningful quantity of food at once with such a small surface area.
No open flame
An open flame is key for grilling to add that quintessential charred, smoky flavor. Since the Power XL is a completely enclosed air fryer, there is no open flame heat source inside that you could use for grilling.
Can you get grill marks using the Power XL?
While you can’t actually grill meat or veggies in the Power XL Air Fryer, some users have reported success getting grill marks on foods like chicken breasts and sausages:
- Use a grill press – Adding a heavy grill press lets you compress meats so the hot air fryer airflow sears in grill lines. Just be sure to spray/oil the press first.
- Broil with grill tray – The Power XL’s broil setting gets up to 400°F. Use a grill plate tray to get those chargrill marks from the top heating element.
- Add smoked paprika – Sprinkle on some smoked paprika or liquid smoke before air frying to get a smoky, grilled flavor without actual grilling.
While these methods can mimic grill marks, you won’t get quite the same flavor as on an actual grill with open flame. The Power XL simply lacks the direct radiant heat and smoke needed for true grilling.
Should you get a grill plate accessory?
Power XL and other brands sell grill plate accessories that fit inside the air fryer basket. These have raised grill lines to impart a charred, grill-marked texture.
The grill plates can definitely help add those lovely sear marks on meats, veggies, paninis, etc. However, they still won’t make your air fryer function exactly like a grill. You’ll miss out on some of that true open flame charred flavor.
A grill plate is a nice optional accessory for getting grill-like textures. But don’t expect it to magically transform an air fryer into a grill. You’ll get the best results using the grill plate for quicker foods like hot dogs, sausages, veggies, and thin meats.
Pros of a grill plate
- Adds grill marks and char lines
- Gives a grill-like texture
- Inexpensive add-on (~$20)
- Fits nicely in fryer basket
Cons of a grill plate
- Won’t mimic real grill flavor
- Can’t do thicker meats well
- Smaller capacity than grill
- Has to be cleaned/oiled
Should you get a grill-air fryer combo appliance instead?
If you’re really wanting to be able to both grill and air fry foods, then you may want to consider getting an appliance that offers both capabilities in one.
There are now several grill-air fryer combo appliances available from brands like Ninja, Instant, and Cosori. These multifunctional appliances have separate grill grates and heating elements in addition to a built-in air fryer.
These combo units allow you to switch seamlessly between grilling at high temps with an open flame to crispy air frying. That gives you a ton more versatility and options for the types of recipes you can make.
Here is a comparison of a standalone air fryer vs grill-air fryer combo:
| Air Fryer | Grill-Air Fryer Combo |
|---|---|
| Up to 400°F air fry temp | Up to 450+°F grilling temp |
| Circulation based heating | Radiant flame + circulation |
| Crispy frying only | Grilling + air frying |
| Smaller capacity | Larger grilling surface |
| Lower price (~$100) | Higher price (~$200-300) |
The combo grill-fryers cost a good deal more than standalone air fryers. But if you want that quick grilling convenience in addition to air frying, the 2-in-1 functionality can be worth it!
Conclusion
While the Power XL Air Fryer does an excellent job at crisping up fried favorites, it unfortunately can’t double as a grill. Without separate heating elements or temperature controls for grilling, you’ll be limited to just air frying in the Power XL.
You can get decent faux grill marks using a grill plate accessory. But for truly high-temp grilling with an open flame, your best bet is getting a grill-air fryer combo unit. Or pairing your Power XL Air Fryer with a separate compact grill for the full grilling experience.
Power XL Air Fryer FAQ:
What size is the Power XL Air Fryer?
The Power XL Air Fryer has a 6-quart capacity basket for cooking approximately 4-6 servings of food at once.
What is the temperature range?
The Power XL reaches temperatures between 200°F on the low end for dehydrating up to 400°F on max air fry setting.
What functions does it have?
The Power XL Air Fryer has 7 preset one-touch cooking functions including air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat, grill, and dehydrate modes.
Does it require oil?
Air frying requires little to no oil since the hot circulating air crisps up the outside. You may want to spritz a small amount of oil on foods, but nowhere near deep frying.
What accessories are included?
The Power XL Air Fryer comes with a multi-level rack, rotisserie spit, rotisserie fetch tools, drip tray, and recipe book.
Can you put it in the dishwasher?
The fryer basket and other accessories can be washed in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.