Can You Grill In An Air Fryer? Yes: The Air Fryer Grill Combo
If you love grilling outdoors, you should know it depends highly on the weather. Also, setting up the grill and all the other necessary tools takes a lot of time and effort. But, there is a much better solution: grilling in an air fryer.
An air fryer is one of the most versatile kitchen appliances. It can air fry, bake, and roast. You can now add grilling to these applications.
After choosing a good air fryer grill combo, it allows you to grill indoors anytime you want, it can also make some of the tastiest grilled foods. And to crown it all up, they are much healthier as you will use little to no oil.
Knowing how to grill in an air fryer is crucial to get the best result. This article explains everything you need to know about grilling in an air fryer. It also provides some of the best air fryer grill recipes and some handy tips.
Let’s get started!
How does grilling work in an air fryer?
An air fryer uses convection heating for most of its cooking functions. And like all other air fryer cooking modes, grilling relies on circulating superheated air around the food.
But here, you do not place the food directly in the basket or tray. Rather the food is placed over grill grates or a grill/griddle plate.
The hot air heats both the food and the grates/grill plate. The hot air cooks the food while the grill plate sears it and gives it grill marks. We will look at how to grill in an air fryer in more detail later.
Pros and cons of an air fryer grill combo
You should have known that the air fryer has many benefits, but is it better to grill on the air fryer grill combo? Here is an overview of the pros and cons:
Pros
1. It is healthier – You hardly ever need to use any oil when grilling in an air fryer. This cuts down the number of calories in the food. And so, it is healthier than grilling on your regular grill.
2. Faster cooking – Air fryers heat up fast and are more effective at maintaining heat. This results in faster grilling times.
3. Easy grilling – It is hard to mess things up when grilling in an air fryer. You only need to get the time and temperature right. Also, remember to flip the food; you can expect perfect results every time.
4. Easy cleaning – Cleaning your grill can be hectic as it involves a lot of scrubbing and dealing with a greasy mess. With an air fryer, there is much less to do. Simply pop the accessories into the dishwasher and wipe the surfaces. And you are done.
Cons
1. Takes longer – Grilling in an air fryer is easy but can take much longer. The smaller capacity means you have to cook food in several batches. This consumes a lot of time.
2. No smoky flavor – An air fryer will not give your food the smoky flavor you would get when grilling in an outdoor charcoal grill.
What do you need to grill in an air fryer?
The first thing you need is an air fryer with grilling capability. While it is true you can grill in almost any air fryer, one with a dedicated grill mode will give you an easy time.
Such an air fryer can reach the ideal grilling temperature quickly. Also, it is designed to make it easier to manage the drippings from the food when grilling.
Also, you will need the grilling accessories. Grill grate and griddle/grill plates are the most common. But, other things like skewers are also highly useful. If your air fryer does not come with the grill accessories, you can still get aftermarket ones.
How to grill in an air fryer
Grilling in an air fryer is a straightforward process that involves a few main steps. Here is a breakdown of the main steps:
Step 1: Prep your food
The first step is to prep your food. If you are grilling steaks, you need to marinate them in the oil and spices of your choosing. Also, ensure you cut them into the same size and get them to the same temperature. Doing this ensures more even cooking.
Step 2: Prep grill accessories
Next, you should prep the air fryer and accessories. Some experts recommend rubbing an onion on the grill grates or plate to add extra flavor. Also, if you plan to use skewers, you must pre-soak them to prevent burning.
Step 3: Preheat the air fryer
You should then preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Getting it that hot is vital for replicating the cooking results you would get on your grill. Once pre-heated, you can reduce the heat to 380°F when ready to start grilling.
Step 4: Grill for 6 to 10 minutes
Place the steaks on the basket grates or tray to start grilling. At the halfway point, stop to flip the steaks or shake the basket to ensure even cooking.
Step 5: Let it sit before serving
When the steaks are ready, remove them and leave them to rest for 5 minutes, You can then cut and serve.
Pro Tip: Always use oils with a high smoking point, like avocado or vegetable oil. Also, you can use grill seasonings to mimic char flavor.
Grilling in an air fryer vs an actual grill
1. Cooking time
Air fryers are famous for their super fast cooking. They heat up fast and contain the heat within the cooking chamber. This way, the food cooks faster and more evenly.
That said, an actual grill also cooks fast once you give it enough time to heat up. When comparing the cooking time in an air fryer and an actual grill, there is hardly any difference.
The only thing that might give an air fryer an edge is the shorter heat-up time. An air fryer only takes about 5 minutes to preheat, but a grill can take up to 25 minutes to preheat.
2. Grilling process
The grilling process is also largely the same. With both appliances, you always start by prepping the food and accessories you will be using.
But, while you almost always need to season your grates when using a grill, this step is optional when grilling in an air fryer. Also, you can grill with no oil when using an air fryer. But an actual grill requires some oil for optimal results.
3. Food texture and moisture content
Not using oil when grilling in an air fryer can cause the food to lose moisture. Also, the food’s exterior will often have a dry and unpleasant texture. But, when done correctly with a drizzle of oil, grilling in an air fryer can leave your foods with a nice, crispy texture.
Grilling on an actual grill makes some juicy foods with a nice char on the outside. The texture you get from an actual grill is hard to replicate on any other appliance.
4. Taste and finish
Air fryers can make some delicious meals with a perfect finish. But it is important to note that they will not have that authentic smoky flavor you would get from your charcoal grill.
That said, there are several ingredients you can use to add a smoky flavor to your air-fried foods. Also, grilling in an air fryer can give you some nice grill marks.
Is it safe to grill in an air fryer?
Grilling in an air fryer is the same as other cooking functions. And so there is hardly any safety issue to worry about. Also, you can do it indoors without worrying about filling the kitchen with smoke.
But, it is still important to take safety precautions when using aluminum foil or parchment paper for grilling. Both can end up touching the heating element and catching fire.
Best foods to grill in an air fryer: 4 best recipes
1. Steak
Ingredients: 2 1-inch thick ribeye steaks, olive oil, steak seasoning, salt & pepper
Total time: 15 minutes
Serving: 2 people
Instructions
⦁ Prepare the steak by rubbing it with oil, seasoning, salt, and pepper
⦁ Preheat the air fryer to 400°F
⦁ Place the steaks on the grates and cook for a total of 12 minutes
⦁ Flip the steak at the halfway point
⦁ Allow it to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before service
2. Corn on the cob
Ingredients: 4 sweet corn on the cob, olive oil, salt, and pepper
Total time: 15 minutes
Serving: 2 people
Instructions
⦁ Rub corn with olive oil and seasoning
⦁ Preheat the air fryer to 370°F
⦁ Add the corn to the basket and grill for 10 to 15 minutes
3. Chicken breasts
Ingredients: 2 chicken breasts, your favorite chicken seasoning and spices, olive oil, salt, and pepper
Total time: 30 minutes
Serving: 2 people
Instructions
⦁ Mix your seasonings in a bowl until they are perfectly combined
⦁ Pound out the breasts and rub the seasoning mix
⦁ Preheat the air fryer to 370°F
⦁ Add the chicken breasts and grill each side for 10 minutes
4. Lemmon pepper fish
Ingredients: 4 tilapia filets, lemon zest, wedges of lemon, fish seasoning and spices, olive oil
Total time: 20 minutes
Serving: 4 people
Instructions
⦁ Rinse the fillets and pat them dry
⦁ Combine lemon zest, olive oil, and other ingredients. Rub the mixture on the fish
⦁ Preheat the air fryer to 400°F
⦁ Spray the basket with cooking spray or oil and add the fillets
⦁ Cook for 7 to 10 minutes and flip the fish at the halfway mark
⦁ Remove and serve the fillets
Can you grill in the basket-style air fryers?
Yes, you can grill on the basket-style air fryers with no issues. But, it is important to ensure it can get hot enough for grilling. Something that can reach at least 400°F is preferable.
Also, a basket-style air fryer that comes with grilling accessories is ideal. Look for something that comes with a grill plate or grates and skewers. Additionally, the basket design should make it easy for the drippings to flow away from the food.
Will grilling in an air fryer be healthier?
Grilling in an air fryer should be healthier than using an actual grill. The main reason is that it reduces the calories in food. You will use little to no oil when grilling, meaning your food will have fewer calories.
Also, an air fryer cooks the food in an enclosed chamber, mostly indoors. This means there is less likelihood of unwanted things getting to your food. With an outdoor grill, all kinds of things around the grill can end up in your food.
Tips and tricks to get the best outcomes when grilling in an air fryer
⦁ Always use oils with a high smoking point, like a vegetable to avocado oils
⦁ Use a grill plate attachment to get nice grill marks
⦁ Make sure the food is arranged in a single layer for fast and even cooking
⦁ Ensure that your food is cut into uniform sizes
⦁ Brush a basting sauce on the food as it cooks to enhance the flavor
Wrap Up
An air fryer is one of the best alternatives to a grill. It can make some of the best grilled foods with nice flavors and fantastic grill marks. Moreover, it is much easier to master than using an actual grill.
So would you want to grill in an air fryer? What are your thoughts on air fryer grilling if you have already tried it? Drop your answers in the comments section. And remember to share this article.
About the Author： Kimi
It’s been 12 years since I first stepped into the kitchen, and with my vast experience and expertise, I will share many ideas on how to make dishes more delicious!
I love to taste food in restaurants all over the country and can’t stop myself, I’m also working on becoming a formal Michelin chef!
