Spread the food before adding more
If the top browns while the bottom stays pale, spread the food out or split it into smaller batches. Splitting the batch can give a more useful result than repeatedly heating the same overcrowded pile. Write down the amount that actually cooks well in your basket.
Turn or shake with a purpose
Philips explains that shaking helps separate overlapping foods, while fragile foods may need a single layer because shaking can damage them. Read the instructions for your model and the food. Turning individual pieces with a suitable utensil may be better for a delicate coating.
Pull the drawer out safely and set it only where the manual allows. Keep hands clear of hot surfaces. If a recipe calls for oil, distribute the amount it specifies; a large puddle at the bottom does not help the exposed surfaces brown evenly.
Use the food's endpoint
The appliance setting describes hot air, not the center of a thick piece of meat. Use a food thermometer and the appropriate safe internal temperature. USDA guidance also distinguishes products marked fully cooked from raw products that happen to have a browned exterior.
Check the package instructions when cooking frozen food. A familiar color is not proof that a raw breaded product is ready. If the surface is browning too fast, use the recipe's temperature adjustment and continue to the safe endpoint rather than serving it early.
Choose the tool for the quantity
An air fryer can suit a small portion while an oven sheet suits a larger meal. Compare the real number of batches, not just the first batch's short cooking time. A busy dinner can become slower when a small basket has to handle every component.
Clean the basket and removable parts as the manufacturer directs, once they have cooled appropriately. Keep ventilation clear. The next cook starts more predictably when it is not heating yesterday's residue along with today's potatoes.
Keep in mind
The photograph does not establish that these potatoes were air-fried.
Never put loose parchment into an operating appliance without the food or setup its manufacturer requires.
