What Is The Best Cooking Spray for Air Fryers?
Air fryers have become such a popular kitchen appliance for their ability to create crispy, delicious food with less oil than traditional deep frying (I think you all know just how much I love my air fryer by now!). However, when it comes to using an air fryer, one of the questions that pops up is what type of oil to use, and if cooking spray is a good option.
While some air fryers boast a non-stick surface, a light coating of oil can still help ensure your food crisps up evenly and doesn't stick to the basket. However, not all cooking sprays are created equal, and using the wrong type of oil can actually damage your air fryer or lead to burnt food.
Why Use Cooking Spray in Air Fryers?
Utilizing cooking spray in air fryers is essential for two key reasons:
Crisping and Prevention of Sticking: A light coating of oil ensures food crisps up evenly while preventing it from sticking to the basket, enhancing both texture and taste.
Importance of Choosing the Right Spray: Selecting the correct cooking spray is crucial. Factors such as smoke point and purity of ingredients significantly impact cooking outcomes, ensuring optimal results without compromising taste or texture.
Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Spray: Why It's My Top Pick
There are many cooking sprays out there, but Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Spray quickly became my favorite for air frying. Here's a closer look at why:
High Smoke Point: Air fryers cook at high temperatures, so you need an oil that can handle the heat without burning. Avocado oil has a smoke point of around 520°F (271°C), making it a great option for air frying.
Pure, Healthy Ingredients: Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Spray is simply 100% pure avocado oil. There are no additives, fillers, or propellants, so you can feel good about what you're putting on your food.
Easy Application: Using a cooking spray oil makes it simple to lightly coat your air fryer basket or food with a thin layer of oil. No need for messy pouring or trying to evenly distribute oil with a brush.
Versatile: You can use Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Spray in your air fryer, oven, on the stovetop, or even for grilling. It's a great all-purpose cooking oil spray that can be used for a variety of dishes.
Non-Stick Properties: A light coating of avocado oil spray helps prevent food from sticking to your air fryer basket, making cleanup a super easy!
Buy Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Spray here!
The Other Sprays:
While Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Spray stands out for its quality and health benefits, there are other cooking sprays on the market. However, many fall short for air fryer use:
The Leading Brand (Rhymes with "Dam"): These sprays often contain a blend of seed oils, which may have lower smoke points than avocado oil and can't withstand air fryer temperatures. They may also contain additives and unnatural ingredients. See image below.
Olive Oil Spray: While olive oil is a healthy choice for lower temperature cooking, it has a smoke point of around 375°F (190°C) and isn't the best option for air frying.
Using Less Oil with High Smoke Point Options
One of the biggest advantages of air frying is that it uses significantly less oil than traditional deep frying. Using a cooking spray with a high smoke point like avocado oil allows you to use just a light coating, which translates to less oil consumption and potentially healthier meals.
Can I Use Regular Olive Oil in My Air Fryer?
Technically, you can use a small amount of olive oil in your air fryer, but it's not the best option. As mentioned before, olive oil has a lower smoke point than what's ideal for air frying. This could lead to the oil burning and giving your food an off flavor.
What About Vegetable or Canola Oil Spray?
Canola oil spray is a common option, but it typically has a smoke point around 400°F (204°C) which may not be high enough for all air fryer recipes. In addition, it can be highly inflammatory, which can cause various issues. Vegetable oil spray can also contain a blend of oils, so it's important to check the label carefully.
Important Considerations When Choosing a Cooking Spray for Air Frying
There are a few key factors to consider when choosing a cooking spray for your air fryer:
Smoke Point: Make sure the oil in the spray has a high enough smoke point to handle air frying temperatures. Smoke point refers to the temperature at which an oil starts to break down and smoke. When oil smokes, it releases harmful free radicals and can impart a burnt flavor to your food.
Here's a quick breakdown of high smoke point vs low smoke point oils:
High Smoke Point Oils (Great for Air Frying):
Avocado Oil (around 520°F)
Grapeseed Oil (around 420°F)
Peanut Oil (around 450°F)
Sunflower Oil (around 450°F)
Safflower Oil (around 470°F)
Low Smoke Point Oils (Not Ideal for Air Frying):
Olive Oil (around 375°F)
Coconut Oil (around 350°F)
Butter (around 300°F)
Flaxseed Oil (around 225°F)
Spray Bottle vs. Mister vs. Refilling a Spray Bottle
There are a few different ways to get oil onto your food for air frying:
Spray Bottle: This is a convenient option, especially if you opt for a pre-filled spray bottle like Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Spray. They typically come with a mister nozzle that dispenses a fine mist of oil, allowing for even coating with minimal oil use.
Mister: An oil mister is a refillable pump sprayer that allows you to use your favorite oil. They are a good eco-friendly option as you can avoid constantly buying new spray bottles. However, they don't always produce the finest mist, and you may end up using more oil than intended.
Refilling a Spray Bottle: You can also refill a store-bought spray bottle with your preferred oil. This can be a budget-friendly option, but be sure the spray bottle is designed for refilling and thoroughly clean it with soapy water before adding new oil.
Safety Tips for Using Cooking Spray in Your Air Fryer
Short Bursts: When using a spray bottle, apply the oil in short bursts to ensure even coating and avoid overdoing it.
Non-Stick Basket: Using a cooking spray with a non-stick basket can further reduce the amount of oil you need.
Cleanliness: Make sure your air fryer basket is clean and free of debris before using any cooking spray.
Heat Resistance: Double-check that the spray bottle you're using is heat-resistant if refilling.
Easy Air Fryer Recipes to Try with Avocado Oil Spray
Now that you've got the oil covered, here are a few delicious air fryer recipes to put your Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Spray to good use:
For even more recipes using Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Spray fryer, check out this link HERE!
FAQ
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Since air fryers cook using hot air, you don't need a ton of oil for crispy results. However, a light coating of oil with a high smoke point oil like avocado oil can help ensure your food crisps up evenly and doesn't stick to the nonstick surface of your air fryer basket. Avoid non-stick sprays or canola oil sprays, as they may not be able to handle the high heat.
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You can, but it can be messier and lead to using more oil than necessary. A good oil sprayer like Chosen Foods dispenses a fine mist, allowing for even coating with a small amount of oil.
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You can find it at most major retail stores or online retailers. (I've included some links for easy purchase in the blog post above!) Delivery times will vary depending on your buyer's proximity and the retailer you choose.
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Refillable sprayers can be a good eco-friendly choice, but ensure yours is designed for oils and not water-based solutions like soy sauce or salad dressings. Refilling can be messy and some refillable sprayers don't produce the finest mist, potentially leading to using more oil than intended.
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The beauty of air frying is its versatility! Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Spray is a great choice for a variety of air fryer recipes beyond chicken nuggets and tater tots. From vegetables to fish to even baked goods, a light coating of avocado oil spray can help achieve crispy results with minimal oil and maximum flavor. Check out the air fryer recipes linked throughout this post for more inspiration!
