Air fryers have become increasingly popular in recent years as a healthy alternative to traditional deep frying. One of the reasons for their popularity is the crisper tray that comes with most air fryer models. But what exactly is the purpose of the crisper tray?
Keeps Food Above Fat and Oil
The main function of the crisper tray is to keep food elevated above any fat or oil that is emitted during the cooking process. In a traditional deep fryer, food is submerged in hot oil. The rapid circulation of oil is what allows the food to cook quickly and become crispy.
An air fryer works differently – it uses super heated air to mimic the effects of deep frying. Little to no oil is required. But as food cooks, some natural fats and oils will drip out. The crisper tray prevents food from sitting in these drippings. This allows the hot air to circulate fully around each piece of food for even cooking and crispiness.
Facilitates Air Flow
The crisper tray has open slats or a mesh bottom that permits maximum airflow. Air fryers work by rapidly circulating hot air up to 400°F around the food. The tray design allows the air to flow through and around the food, cooking all surfaces evenly.
Without the crisper tray, air flow would be restricted. Food pieces would likely overlap or stack up against each other impeding the air circulation. The result would be food that is unevenly cooked.
Avoids Messes
The perforated bottom of the crisper tray allows any fats or juices released during cooking to drip down into the slide out drip tray below. This keeps the interior cooking chamber clean and avoids potential messes or smoking from drippings burning on the bottom heating element.
The drip tray can be easily accessed and cleaned out after each use. Some air fryer models even have non-stick coated trays and drip pans for faster cleanup.
Maximizes Browning and Crispness
The well-ventilated, elevated design of the crisper tray promotes air flow on all sides of the food. This allows for maximum exposure to the hot air resulting in fast, even browning and crisping.
Without the tray, food would end up stewing in its own juices on the bottom of the cooking basket. It would cook through but lack that crispy exterior texture you expect from an air fryer.
Permits Stirring and Shaking
Most air fryer manufacturers recommend shaking or stirring food midway during the cooking time. This helps ensure even exposure to the circulating air. The crisper tray can be removed so you can easily mix up or turn food pieces.
Some models even come with a food agitator or paddle that drops into the tray to stir food automatically during cooking. The tray is designed to accommodate these accessories.
Allows for Additional Cooking Space
Some air fryer models come with multiple crisper trays. The trays stack to provide additional cooking space when needed. This allows you to cook larger batches of food.
The ability to add more trays gives you flexibility. For example, you can cook two different foods simultaneously – fries on one tray and chicken tenders on the other.
Promotes Air Fryer Safety
The crisper tray only fits properly in the intended model of air fryer. It will not slide fully into the cooking drawer if you accidentally placed it in the wrong model. This helps prevent accidental use and potential overheating issues.
The tray also protects the heating mechanism and other interior parts from splatter or dripping. By containing the food and any drippings, the tray protects the air fryer for longer lasting performance.
Allows for Experimentation
The crisper tray gives you a designated space to safely experiment with air fryer cooking. For example, you can try out seasoning rubs, batters, marinades and sauces on foods to develop your own signature flavor.
The tray contains any potential drips or overspray from experiments that might make a mess in the cooking chamber. It lets you explore different foods and flavors worry-free.
Saves Energy
Using a crisper tray allows your air fryer to cook food more efficiently and evenly. This means you typically need less cooking time at high heat. Your air fryer doesn’t have to work as hard or long to achieve crispy results.
By promoting air flow and reducing cooking time, the crisper tray helps your appliance use less electricity overall. This saves energy and money in the long run.
Key Takeaways
Here are the key points on why crisper trays are important in air fryers:
- Elevates food above fat and oil drippings
- Allows air flow on all sides for even cooking
- Lets juices drip away from food and into drip tray
- Gets food crispier by fully exposing to hot air
- Designed for stirring and shaking during cooking
- Provides ability to cook larger batches or multiple foods
- Prevents accidents by only fitting one air fryer model
- Protects appliance interior from splatter
- Gives designated space for flavor experiments
- Saves energy by enabling shorter cook times
Common Crisper Tray Uses
Here are some of the most popular ways to utilize your air fryer’s crisper tray:
| Food | Crisper Tray Benefits |
|---|---|
| French fries | Prevents sogginess, allows shaking for even browning |
| Chicken wings | Lets air circulate to crisp skin, elevates away from drippings |
| Beef jerky | Exposes all surfaces to dehydrate evenly |
| Fish fillets | Allows air flow to cook through without steaming |
| Chicken nuggets | Gets crispy coating without frying, contains crumbs for easy cleanup |
| Chips and snacks | Keeps pieces separate for even cooking, catches seasoning that falls off |
| Vegetables | Avoids stewing in juices for caramelized crispness |
Tips for Using the Crisper Tray
Follow these tips to get the most out of your air fryer’s crisper tray:
1. Don’t Overload the Tray
Be sure not to overfill the crisper tray with food. Too much food restricts air circulation leading to uneven cooking. Leave some space around items for optimal air flow.
2. Use a Little Oil
While air frying uses minimal oil, lightly brushing or misting food with oil can improve browning and crispness. The tray contains any excess drippings.
3. Stir or Shake Foods
Shake items like fries midway through cooking to redistribute them for consistent crisping. Consider getting a model with an agitator to automate stirring.
4. Allow Air Flow Around Trays
If your air fryer comes with multiple crisper trays, be sure to stack them so air can flow evenly around each layer.
5. Clean Trays Promptly
Wash trays after each use to avoid food residue baking on. Avoid abrasives that could damage the coating.
6. Secure Trays Properly
Always slide crisper trays fully into the cooking compartment and ensure they are securely in place before activating the air fryer.
Using a Crisper Tray for Dehydrating
The well-ventilated crisper tray design also circulates air ideal for dehydrating foods in an air fryer. To use your air fryer as a dehydrator, follow these steps:
- Slice food thinly and evenly for uniform drying.
- Arrange pieces in a single layer without overcrowding the crisper tray.
- Set temperature between 95°F to 160°F depending on food.
- Dehydrate for the appropriate time, checking food and stirring periodically.
- Test food for desired dryness. Expect up to 6-12 hours for full dehydration.
- Let food cool fully before tightly sealing in airtight containers for storage.
Fruits like mango, banana, apple and pineapple work well for air fryer dehydrating. You can also dehydrate vegetables, herbs, meat jerkies, fruit leathers and more. Play with seasonings to create fun flavored snacks.
Common Crisper Tray Problems
Crisper trays take a lot of wear and tear during use. Here are some potential problems and solutions:
| Problem | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Warped tray | Excess heat or overloading | Replace tray |
| Rust spots | Not properly dried after washing | Re-season with oil, replace if excessive rust |
| Difficulty sliding in or out | Food debris or grease in track | Clean track thoroughly |
| Lost crisper tray | Not replaced correctly after cleaning | Always slide fully into air fryer compartment |
| Holes or cracks | Normal wear and tear over time | Order replacement tray from manufacturer |
Conclusion
The crisper tray is an essential part of getting optimal performance from your air fryer. It promotes air circulation for fast, crispy, evenly cooked food with minimal added fat or oil. While simple in concept, the ventilated tray design makes air frying results possible. Just be sure to use and care for it properly so you can enjoy consistently delicious air fried meals.