allen.iris•1mo agoMost Upvoted

My sister swore I didn't need to preheat the air fryer for fish sticks, and she was completely right after I tried it her way.

I wasted a good year preheating every time based on an article I read, and now my fish sticks come out just as crispy without the extra 5 minutes of waiting, so has anyone else found recipes that actually work better without preheating?

3 comments

3 Comments

jamie_webb671mo ago

Preheating is a scam." I stopped doing it for chicken wings and they got way crispier somehow.

blair_nguyen1mo ago

Start cold, throw them in frozen. The cold shock makes the skin tighten up and the fat render out faster. I do this with drumsticks all the time and they come out way crispier than if I let them sit in a warm oven. Also pat them bone dry with paper towels before they go in, that extra moisture is what makes them soggy.

karencampbell1mo agoProlific Poster

@jamie_webb67 is so right about chicken wings, the same trick works for fish sticks too. I stopped preheating and they actually stay crispier on the outside. The cold start gives them a better crunch for sure.