How to Access and Use the Air Fry Feature
Air Fry is a special, no-preheat, cooking mode that is designed to produce foods with a crispier exterior than traditional oven cooking. The Air Fry mode is intended for single rack cooking only, with no preheat. Foods may cook faster than expected if the oven is already hot when food is placed in the oven.
Accessing this feature varies depending on your model:
For models with a color LCD touch screen:
Select Air Fry from the touch screen. Scroll to your selected temperature and hit Start.
For non-LCD models:
Select the Options pad, which will open a menu with additional cooking modes. Press “1” on the number pad to select Air Fry, change the temperature if desired, then press Start.
Air Fry Tips & Tricks
- Skip the preheat
- No need for extra oil or greased pans
- Place rack in the middle of the oven
- Dark baking sheets work best for crisper results
- Place food in a single layer
- Add sauces after cooking
Don't have Air Fry on your Café range?
You might be eligible for an upgrade. Select Café ranges can now download an upgrade to access the No-Preheat Air Fry feature.
Blueberry Lavender Hand Pies
Blueberry Lavender Hand Pies pack amazing flavor in a small bite and Café's No Preheat Air Fry helps make these treats quick and delicious.
Asian Meatball Sandwiches
Tons of flavor packed into a small package. Perfect for a quick dinner.
Air Fried Brussels Sprouts with Crispy Pancetta
No need for a deep fryer get delightfully crunchy sprouts in your Café oven using the No Preheat Air Fry Mode.
Spicy Air Fried Shrimp
A craveable restaurant-style seafood appetizer as delicious as it is easy, thanks to the Air Fry mode in your Café oven.
Blueberry Lavender Hand Pies
Blueberry Lavender Hand Pies pack amazing flavor in a small bite and Café's No Preheat Air Fry helps make these treats quick and delicious.
Asian Meatball Sandwiches
Tons of flavor packed into a small package. Perfect for a quick dinner.
Air Fried Brussels Sprouts with Crispy Pancetta
No need for a deep fryer get delightfully crunchy sprouts in your Café oven using the No Preheat Air Fry Mode.
Spicy Air Fried Shrimp
A craveable restaurant-style seafood appetizer as delicious as it is easy, thanks to the Air Fry mode in your Café oven.
Cooking with No-Preheat Air Fry
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- With air fry mode, you won’t need to preheat. Just put your food directly in a cold oven and start cooking. If you're air frying multiple batches, keep a close eye on those cooked after the first batch. They may cook more quickly and can burn.
- If you’re using a recipe meant for a countertop air fryer, you may need to cook your food a little longer or at a slightly higher temperature.
- To cook packaged foods using the air fry mode, use traditional oven cooking instructions for the temperature and cook time. But remember, don't preheat!
- We recommend placing your baking pan on the middle rack (position 4) for most foods. If your food is thicker, though, you can lower it one rack position (position 3)
- While cooking, if you notice your food is browning too quickly, move it to a lower rack position and/or lower the temperature slightly.
- With air fry mode, you won’t need to preheat. Just put your food directly in a cold oven and start cooking. If you're air frying multiple batches, keep a close eye on those cooked after the first batch. They may cook more quickly and can burn.
Recommended Bakeware
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- Dark baking or sheet pans are recommended for in-oven air fry. They absorb more heat and promote better browning and crisping.
- If you do use a baking basket or grid, make sure you put a broil-safe pan on the rack underneath it to catch any drippings.
- No need to grease baking sheets—doing this may actually create a film that is difficult to remove from pans after baking.
- Lining the baking sheet with parchment paper also works well when air frying.
- Dark baking or sheet pans are recommended for in-oven air fry. They absorb more heat and promote better browning and crisping.
Preparing Your Food
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- Place your food in a single layer on your baking sheet. Try not to overlap if possible and don’t crowd the pan.
- Spritzing food with a light coating of oil will help it crisp up. Use a high-heat oil, such as avocado oil or grapeseed oil.
Note: Foods with breading and panko may require a more liberal coating of oil to cook and crisp properly. - When making breaded foods, panko breadcrumbs crisp the best. They are lighter and airier and crisp quickly in the air fry heat.
- If your dish requires a sauce, we recommend applying it AFTER cooking. Sauces may heat too quickly in air fry and will likely burn—especially sugary sauces like BBQ sauce, teriyaki, etc.
- Place your food in a single layer on your baking sheet. Try not to overlap if possible and don’t crowd the pan.
- Probe tip should be inserted into the deepest part of the turkey breast.
- Push the probe as far down into the turkey as possible without touching the bone. The gray handle should touch the skin of the turkey.
- Pay attention to the angle of the probe—the tip should be placed in the thickest part of the turkey which is the slowest heating spot.
- The probe tip should not point outwards, touch the turkey cavity, or poke through to the surface of the turkey.
- When placing your pan in the oven, refer either to the SmartHQ app or the LCD screen for rack placement.