The Cuisinart® Basket AirFryer (Model: AIR-200C) is a versatile kitchen appliance designed for healthy cooking, offering an alternative to deep-frying with oil. It utilizes a high-velocity fan and an upper heating element to circulate hot air, preparing a variety of foods that are both delicious and healthier than traditionally fried dishes.
Function Description:
The AirFryer features a digital control panel with easy-to-use touch controls for selecting time, temperature, cooking functions, and AirFry presets. The digital display shows the temperature and a countdown timer.
Cooking Functions:
- AirFry: Ideal for achieving crispy results with little to no oil.
- Roast: Perfect for roasting meats and vegetables.
- Bake: Suitable for baked goods, quiches, and casseroles.
- Broil: Great for top-browning casseroles, gratins, and cooking items like burgers and steaks.
- Keep Warm: Automatically activates at the end of a cooking cycle to keep food warm for up to 60 minutes.
AirFry Presets:
The appliance includes convenient presets for popular AirFried favorites:
- French Fries
- Wings
- Vegetables
- Frozen Snacks
- Leftovers
Important Technical Specifications:
- AirFry Basket: Features a 9 x 9-inch (23 x 23 cm) surface area for cooking food.
- Crisper Plate: Ensures even cooking and must always be inserted in the AirFry basket.
- Power: Designed for use in 120-volt outlets.
- Temperature Range: Adjustable for various cooking needs, with an ideal AirFrying temperature around 400°F (200°C).
- Timer: Adjustable up to 60 minutes for cooking functions.
Usage Features:
- Digital Control Panel: Allows for precise control over cooking time and temperature using up and down arrows.
- Light Button: Illuminates the interior for viewing food during the cooking process, turning off automatically after 20 seconds.
- Start/Stop Button: Used to initiate and halt cooking, and to turn off the unit.
- Toss Reminder: An optional feature that provides an audio alert halfway through cooking to remind users to toss or flip food. This feature is automatically activated for AirFry presets but can be deselected.
- Preheat Feature: Available for Bake and Broil functions. The unit displays "Preheat" and sounds an audio alert when preheating is complete, indicating it's time to add food.
- Ready Indicator: Illuminates when the timer reaches 00, holding for 1 minute before automatically entering Keep Warm mode.
- Cool-Touch Handle: For safe removal and insertion of the AirFry basket.
- Viewing Window: Allows users to check cooking progress without opening the basket.
- Cord Wrap: Located on the back of the unit for easy cord storage.
- Versatility: Beyond AirFrying, the appliance can be used for baking, broiling, and roasting. Cooking times may need to be adjusted due to the convection fan's high speed, often requiring a reduction of 5 to 10 minutes from suggested times. For baked goods, it's recommended to use a heat-safe baking pan on the crisper plate and potentially cook at a lower temperature (25°F to 50°F lower) than indicated in recipes not specifically developed for this AirFryer. Broiling is best at the highest setting (450°F [230°C]) for top-browning, and roasting vegetables and meats typically uses 400°F (200°C).
- AirFrying Tips:
- A light spray or drizzle of oil can enhance browning, though not strictly required.
- Avoid overloading the basket; more surface area leads to faster and better results.
- Cut foods into equal-size pieces for more even cooking.
- Various coatings like breadcrumbs, cornflakes, potato chips, and flours can be used.
- Marinades and juices from proteins will drip to the bottom, useful for gravies or sauces.
- Grease from fatty foods will collect at the bottom; allow it to cool before cleaning.
- Use tongs or a silicone spatula to remove food.
- Removing the basket during cooking will pause the process until it's reinserted.
Maintenance Features:
- Cleaning: Always unplug and allow the AirFryer to cool completely before cleaning.
- Exterior: Wipe with a clean, damp cloth and dry thoroughly. Avoid abrasive cleaners.
- Interior Walls: Clean with a damp cloth and a mild liquid soap solution or spray solution on a sponge. Rinse residue with a clean, damp rag. Do not use harsh abrasives, corrosive products, or steel wool pads.
- Dishwasher Safe Parts: The AirFry basket and crisper plate are dishwasher safe.
- Hand Washing: These parts can also be hand-washed in hot, sudsy water with a nylon scouring pad or brush, then thoroughly rinsed.
- Crisper Plate Removal: The crisper plate can be removed from the AirFry basket for easier access to the basket's bottom during cleaning.
- Servicing: Any servicing should be performed by an authorized service representative.
Safety Precautions:
- Read all instructions before use.
- Unplug when not in use and before cleaning.
- Allow to cool before handling or removing parts.
- Do not touch hot surfaces; use handles or knobs.
- Do not immerse the cord, plugs, or main body in water or other liquids.
- Not intended for use by children or persons with reduced capabilities without supervision.
- Do not operate with a damaged cord or plug, or if the appliance malfunctions.
- Do not use outdoors.
- Keep the cord away from edges and hot surfaces.
- Do not place on or near hot gas/electric burners or in a heated oven.
- Use only for its intended purpose.
- Exercise caution with non-metal/glass containers.
- Unplug when not in use; do not store non-recommended accessories inside.
- Avoid placing paper, cardboard, plastic, or similar products inside.
- Do not cover with metal foil to prevent overheating.
- Do not insert oversized foods, metal foil packages, or utensils to avoid fire/shock.
- Do not cover or place near flammable materials during operation.
- Do not clean with metal scouring pads.
- Do not attempt to dislodge food while plugged in.
- Never leave unattended during use.
- Use recommended temperature settings.
- Do not rest cooking utensils or baking dishes on the window or top of the unit.
- Press START/STOP to turn off after use.
- Do not operate in an appliance garage or under a wall cabinet.
- Exercise extreme caution when moving an appliance containing hot oil or liquids.
- If the supply cord is damaged, it must be replaced by the manufacturer or service agent.
- Intended for household use only, not commercial.
- The surface of the product can be hot; handle with care.