My brother told me to stop using oil in the air fryer for everything
We were making fries last week and I went to spray them like I always do. He said 'you know that's just making a mess and you don't need it for half the stuff you cook.' I argued that everything needs a little oil to get crispy... but then I tried some chicken thighs without any. They came out perfect, with way less smoke and cleanup. Has anyone else cut out oil for certain recipes?
Wait, your brother was right? That's wild. I had the same thing happen with frozen fries, I always sprayed them but they actually get crispier without it. The oil just drips down and smokes.
Elizabeth's point about the moisture thing is spot on... I tried making brussel sprouts with zero oil last week and they got way crispier than usual, almost like little chips. The oil was just making them soggy and smoky the whole time.