Can You Use Butter In An Air Fryer? Answered

Last Updated on September 11, 2024 by Shari Mason

The use of an air fryer for daily meal preparation has become a convenient method of cooking. Its ability to evenly distribute hot air guarantees flavorful and tasty food.

Still, not all food can be cooked with just high-speed air; some needs butter for perfect flavor. But can you use butter in an air fryer? Read on. 

Using Butter In An Air Fryer

You can use butter or oil in an air fryer to add flavor to any dish you’re cooking. However, butter can easily burn if the hot air temperature exceeds its smoking point, which is 350°F.

When applying it to the air fryer surface, it is better to use melted butter. If it is cold butter, cut it into pieces to melt easily. You should always keep the temperature at a low point when using butter for frying food to prevent excessive smoke formation.

Although butter is not the best choice for air frying, it is healthier than any vegetable oil because it contains more water and lower linoleic acid. Butter is as good as fruit oils like sesame oil, canola oil, and peanut oil. [1]

Read:

• How To Reheat Prime Rib In The Air Fryer?
• How To Reheat Salmon In Air Fryer?

Will It Burn?

Yes. Butter will burn in an air fryer with a hot air temperature of around 176°C or 350°F. We all know butter can melt easily, even at room temperature. So risking a high smoke point of air fry will cause smoke release while cooking food.

If you use butter for cooking food in your air fryer exceeding its smoke point, it will burn easily and affect the taste of your cooked food.

You don’t want your favorite dish to taste like charred food because of burnt butter. Ensure the temperature is just around 325°F for the butter to melt and not burn. But how do you make salted butter from unsalted butter?

How To Use Butter In An Air Fryer

The best way to put butter oil in the air fryer is by using a brush to glide it around the air fryer basket as lightly as possible to melt quickly.

If you want to cook chicken wings for deep frying, you can mix the spices and herbs in the melted butter and rub them under its skin to melt the butter inside. That way, the flavored butter won’t fall off the chicken.

As for bread or other buttered food to cook in an air fryer, lightly coat the butter around the food to keep it from sticking to the aluminum foil and air fryer basket surface. Ideally, one to two tablespoons of melted butter is enough for this cooking process.

Is It the Best Choice for Air Fryers?

No, butter isn’t the best for air fryers because it burns easily and causes smoke. You must keep an eye on its smoke point if you want to cook with it to avoid burning your food.

Also, you must use a small amount of butter in an air fryer because it contains 80% more water than cooking oil. If you put too much of it in your air fryer, there might be splatters as the basket heat up.

In light of all of those disadvantages, butter oil is at its best at turning your fried foods perfectly brown to charring on low smoke point, plus it adds extra sweetness and salty to your dish.

Read: How To Dehydrate Peppers In An Air Fryer?

Food You Can Cook Using Butter in Air Fryer

Butter Cookies

You can cook butter cookies in an air fryer because it requires just a small amount of butter. The proper temperature level of the air fryer for butter cookies falls at 320°F for 10-12 minutes.

Read: How To Make Salted Butter From Unsalted Butter?

Bread Slices

Toss your buttered bread slices in the air fryer and cook it at 330°F for a couple of minutes. Spread your favorite olive butter made of extra virgin olive oil on your bread to make a healthy food combo and maximize healthy cooking using an air fryer. [2] 

Roast Veggies

Fresh greens like zucchini, squash, bell peppers, asparagus, and other leafy greens can also be cooked in the air fryer with the butter oil slightly brushed around the surface. Roast them inside an aluminum foil at a temperature of 350°F for at least 12 minutes.

Cakes

Your favorite Dutch cake can also be perfectly cooked using butter oil in the air fryer for 325°F with 20 to 30 minutes of cooking time. Make sure that the surface is buttered lightly to achieve non-stick cooking.

Tips When Using Butter In An Air Fryer

• Use butter oil as thin as possible when brushing it around the surface of the air fryer. The thicker the butter, the longer the melting time.
• Melt the butter oil beforehand so it will be easy for you to brush it on the air fryer surface or rub it on the food.
• Keep an eye on the temperature of the air fryer. If the heat exceeds the smoke point, quickly lower the temperature to avoid burning and drying your butter oil.

Read: What Kind Of Butter Does Longhorn Steakhouse Use?

FAQs

When should you not use butter in an air fryer?

Do not use butter in an air fryer when cooking fatty foods because it will make your food unhealthy for too much oil.

Avoid placing the wet batter in the air fryer if using butter because it requires hot oil to prevent it from blowing. Also, do not put whole roasts in a small air fryer because it will cook unevenly.

How do you remove butter grease from an air fryer?

Let it cool down first to remove grease drips from the air fryer’s basket and the bare metal pan. Then wipe the grease using a paper towel or kitchen towel.

Soak the inside with warm water and soap. The soap will penetrate the grease, making it easier to remove and dishwasher safe. After that, you may hand wash the air fryer with warm water.

In Summary

Generally speaking, you can use butter in the air fryer when frying food items that are oven-friendly. You should also take note of the smoke point to prevent excessive smoke and charred surfaces because of burnt butter.

Follow the tips on how much butter you should put in the air fryer before cooking and how to use it to avoid splatter and mess.

Butter is not the best choice for cooking in the air fryer because of its smoke points. But in terms of health benefits, butter made of fruit oils like avocado oil, olive oil, palm oil, grapeseed oil, and coconut oil is the safest.

References: 

1. https://www.livestrong.com/article/497351-can-too-much-extra-virgin-olive-oil-be-bad-for-your-health/ 
2. https://www.cosmopolitan.com/health-fitness/news/a56801/butter-might-not-be-so-bad-for-you/