From the book · 30 Air Fryer Hacks

Why your air fryer smokes when you cook fatty food

Lamb chops, kofta, burgers and chicken wings drip fat as they cook. In the air fryer that fat lands on very hot metal under the crisper plate, burns, and fills your kitchen with smoke and a lingering smell. Opening a window doesn't fix the cause. The fix costs nothing and takes ten seconds before you start cooking, and the book shows exactly how to do it and when it's worth it.

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: lamb chops

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Common questions

Why does my air fryer smoke when I cook fatty food?

Fat dripping from lamb chops, burgers, wings or kofta lands on very hot metal under the crisper plate. It passes its smoke point and burns, which makes the smoke and the lingering smell.

Is air fryer smoke dangerous?

Smoke from burnt fat irritates eyes and lungs and sets off alarms, and it means fat is burning where you can't see it. It's a sign to fix the cause, not something to put up with.

Does a lower temperature stop the air fryer smoking?

Cooking at around 180 °C (360 °F) instead of 200 °C (400 °F) smokes less, but the food takes longer and browns less. The book shows a free fix that works at normal temperatures.