From the book · 30 Air Fryer Hacks

Stop small food falling through the air fryer basket

The crisper plate holes are made for chips and chicken, not for peas. Small food drops through, lands in the drawer under the plate, burns and smokes, and you lose half your snack. Some foods, like roasted chickpeas, start too big and fall through halfway as they shrink. The book shows a two-minute fix that keeps small food in while the hot air still gets through, and the one thing never to do.

The fix is in the book

3 more step-by-step sketches
The full method in 2 numbered parts
Exact times, temperatures in °C and °F, and safety notes
A recipe to try it: crunchy roasted peas

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Common questions

Why does small food fall through the air fryer basket?

Crisper plate holes are sized for chips and chicken pieces. Peas, sweetcorn, grated cheese and rice slip through and land in the drawer underneath.

Is food falling through the air fryer a problem?

Yes. Food that falls under the crisper plate burns and smokes, and it's hard to clean out of the drawer.

Why do chickpeas fall through the air fryer basket halfway?

Chickpeas shrink as they dry and crisp, so they can start too big to fit the holes and drop through part-way through cooking.