Is there anything that Drew Barrymore cannot do? Not only is she an award-winning actress, author, talk-show host, director and producer, but she also has her very own line of stylish kitchenware, Beautiful by Drew Barrymore (opens in new tab), sold exclusively at Walmart. Her colorful and contemporary collection of designs includes appliances such as stand mixers, slow cookers and microwave ovens, as well as cookware, cutlery, tools, and gadgets. Plus, her touchscreen air fryer (opens in new tab) is voted one of our top buys in our best air fryer guide – she really can do it all. In an exclusive interview with People (opens in new tab), Drew shared her top tips when using her air fryer at home, so read on if you want to be in the know.
Drew Barrymore’s air fryer tips
To ensure you are cooking dishes in your air fryer to perfection every time, explore Drew Barrymore’s air fryer tips below, and for further insight, see our guide from our reviews expert on how to use an air fryer.
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1. Pat down your food before frying to remove any moisture
It’s easy to simply chop up your veggies, potatoes, and meats and then let your air fryer do the rest of the work, but there is one key step to factor in before you start cooking to ensure your food becomes nice and crisp. Drew advises, you should always pat down your food to get rid of any moisture, as this will ‘prevent excess smoke and encourage browning.’ So whether you’re cooking potatoes, zucchini or steak, if you want your food to cook well, remember to give it a good pat before placing it in the air fryer.
2. Make sure your food is equally spread out in the air fryer
‘Don’t overcrowd the basket; it’ll lead to uneven cooking,’ says Drew. As tempting as it may be to chuck everything in all at once, if you’re cooking big quantities of food in your air fryer, try to cook in small, separate batches, as this will ensure everything will cook evenly. Cooking in batches may take longer, but it is definitely worth it if you want all of your food to taste good. Also, just like you would when using an oven, check on your food frequently and give the fryer basket a good old shake so your food becomes thoroughly crispy.
3. Use an air fryer to reheat food
We’re so used to relying on our microwaves for reheating food, but air fryers can be just as speedy, and make your food crispy again. Drew says, ‘instead of the microwave, use your air fryer to reheat foods for tastier leftovers.’ No one wants soggy reheated pizza from the microwave, instead, use your air fryer for all of your reheating needs, so you can get that delicious crisp finish.
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What can you cook in an air fryer?
One reason why air fryers are so popular is that you can cook all manner of food in them – and it’s quick and easy! A photo posted by on Available in a stylish selection of five colors, the Beautiful Coffee Maker has a sleek, touch-activated display and can brew 14 cups in under 14 minutes. From roast chicken to fries and vegetables, an air fryer basically works as a mini-oven, but you can also use it to achieve that perfect crisp, just like when using a frying pan, so they really are quite versatile. Our guide on what to cook in an air fryer provides a detailed list of food items that you can cook in an air fryer.
Are air fryers healthy?
Of course, it depends on a number of factors, such as what you’re cooking and how much oil you use, etc. but compared to deep frying, air frying is definitely the healthier option. See what the experts think in our exploration of whether air fryers are healthy.
