How to use an air fryer for the first time: a 10-minute setup

To use an air fryer for the first time: wash the basket and crisper plate, wipe the inside, set it 5 inches from the wall, and run it empty for 10 minutes to burn off the factory smell. Then preheat 3–5 minutes, cook in a single layer, shake halfway, and check meat with a thermometer. The rest of this guide covers what the basket is made of, what should never go in, which three accessories are worth buying on day one, and how to clean it so the coating lasts. Every step cites the maker's manual or a published source.

Step 1: Unbox, wash, and run it empty

Cosori's manual for the Cosori TurboBlaze 6-Qt Air Fryer lists the first-use routine in order: remove all packaging and stickers; wash the basket and crisper plate "using either a dishwasher or a non-abrasive sponge"; wipe the inside and outside with a slightly moist cloth and dry it; then clip the crisper plate back in (Cosori TurboBlaze manual).

Then comes the test run. With the basket empty, Cosori's instructions are to tap AIR FRY, which defaults to 385°F and 10 minutes, and let it finish. The manual says the run will "clean it of possible residues" and that "any air fryer may have a plastic smell from the manufacturing process. This is normal." Some white smoke or steam on the first use is also normal. If the smell persists after the test run, Cosori says to call support. Cosori's Premium II Plus manual gives the same routine (Cosori Premium II Plus manual).

Step 2: Give it room

Air fryers vent hot, damp air out the back. Cosori's setup note: "Leave 5 inches / 13 cm of space behind and above the air fryer," keep it away from surfaces "that can be damaged by steam (such as walls or cupboards)," and leave enough space in front to pull the basket out. The manual also says not to put anything on top of the unit, because it disrupts airflow, and to keep it away from curtains and other flammable material.

Step 3: Preheat, then convert your oven recipes

Cosori recommends preheating "unless your air fryer is already hot," and is blunt about why: "Food will not cook thoroughly without preheating." Its chart gives 4 minutes for 345–450°F, 3 minutes for 240–340°F, and 2 minutes below that.

For recipes written for a conventional oven, Instacart's conversion guide gives the standard rule: lower the temperature by 25–50°F and cut the time by 20–25%, then "start checking a few minutes before your adjusted cooking time" (Instacart). A 400°F, 20-minute oven dish becomes roughly 375°F for 15–16 minutes with a check at 12.

Three habits from Consumer Reports finish the job: pat dry anything unbreaded you want crisp, coat homemade fries lightly with oil, and do not fill the basket more than three-quarters full, because crowding "could give you uneven and soggy results" (Consumer Reports). Shake or turn with tongs halfway. The full list of what goes wrong when people skip these steps is in 12 air fryer mistakes that ruin food.

What your basket is made of

Consumer Reports describes the options: "An air fryer's basket may be coated with a nonstick surface made of PTFE (Teflon), it could have a ceramic-like coating, or it might be made of glass" (Consumer Reports buying guide). Among the machines reviewed here, the Cosori TurboBlaze has what Cosori calls a ceramic coating; any "PFAS-free" wording on the listing is the maker's claim, not an independent test. It is $89.99 with 4.8 stars and 22,159 ratings on Amazon as of October 2026. The Ninja Air Fryer Pro 5-Qt ($139.99, 4.7 stars, 17,585 ratings) and the Chefman 4-Qt Compact ($79.99, 4.6 stars, 3,927 ratings) use conventional nonstick baskets. The Ninja Crispi Pro Glass Air Fryer ($249.90, 4.6 stars, 1,373 ratings) cooks in a glass vessel; buyers note the glass is heavier and can break. What PTFE, sol-gel ceramic, stainless and glass each mean for heat, scratches and lifespan is laid out in air fryer basket materials explained, and the machines are ranked by that material in the best non-toxic air fryers of 2026. The same logic for pans is in our pillar on the best non-toxic pans.

What not to put in it

The maker's list first. Cosori's safety section says not to place "paper, cardboard, non-heat-resistant plastic, or similar materials" in the air fryer; never to put parchment in "without food on top," because the fan can lift it into the heating coils; to put cakes, hand pies and anything with batter or filling in a heat-safe container; and never to fill the basket with oil or liquid, because "an air fryer is not a deep fryer." Foil is allowed in the drawer, but not over the crisper plate, since that blocks the air.

Food writers add the practical failures. Eat This, Not That lists wet batter ("it's messy and the batter won't set"), leafy greens that burn because they blow around, grated cheese that gets "sucked from your food," and popcorn, which needs more heat than the machine delivers (Eat This, Not That). Tasting Table adds rice and pasta, which need water the machine cannot hold, and very saucy dishes (Tasting Table).

Three accessories worth buying on day one

A thermometer. The CDC: "The only way to tell if food is safely cooked is to use a food thermometer," and all poultry should reach 165°F (CDC). The Alpha Grillers Instant Read Thermometer ($14.97, 4.8 stars, 92,609 ratings on Amazon as of October 2026) is the common pick; the ThermoMonster 0.5-second thermometer ($14.99, 4.8 stars, 8,323 ratings) is the alternative, with speed figures that are the maker's claims. Where to probe and what "1-second" means is in meat thermometer basics for air fryer chicken. If you have a health condition that makes foodborne illness more serious for you, ask your doctor about extra precautions.

A refillable oil sprayer, not a can. Cosori's manual says "oil sprays are excellent for applying small amounts of oil evenly." Aerosol sprays may contain lecithin, which "can actually build up over time onto your cookware," plus propane or butane propellants, according to Tasting Table. The TrendPlain 16 oz Glass Olive Oil Sprayer ($9.99, 4.6 stars, 48,159 ratings on Amazon as of October 2026) is the popular one; leakage, with around 1,100 mentions, is its main complaint. The comparison is in oil sprayer vs cooking spray in an air fryer.

Liners, used correctly. Parchment liners make cleanup easier and are allowed by Cosori, with the one rule above: food on top, always, and never during preheat. Reynolds rates its roll parchment to 425°F and its air fryer liners to 400°F, so check the number on your box against your cooking temperature (Reynolds). The Baker's Signature Unbleached Parchment Liners ($9.98, 4.6 stars, 28,484 ratings as of October 2026) are the most-bought pre-cut option, and some buyers report fires, usually from a liner touching the element or going in before the food. A cut-to-size sheet of Reynolds Kitchens Unbleached Parchment ($3.59, 4.8 stars, 23,694 ratings) also works, though it is not made for baskets. Whether parchment or silicone is the better choice is in are air fryer liners actually safe.

Cleaning after the first cook

Cosori: "Always clean the air fryer basket and crisper plate after every use." Both are dishwasher-safe on the TurboBlaze, or wash them in hot soapy water with a non-abrasive sponge. For baked-on grease, Cosori's method is a paste of 2 tablespoons baking soda and 1 tablespoon water, spread on, left 15 minutes, then washed off. Make sure the heating coil is dry before the next run.

Consumer Reports' rule for the coating: "Do not use metal utensils, steel wool, or any other abrasives, because they can scratch or chip the nonstick coating." It also suggests a wooden skewer for food stuck in the holes, a 30–60 minute soak in soapy water for lingering smells, and a regular check of the heating element for grease, because a dirty fryer can "give off excessive smoke or even burn your meal" (Consumer Reports). Step by step in how to clean an air fryer basket. Pans get the same treatment in how to care for non-toxic cookware.

Safety, smoke, and the health question

Two kinds of smoke. Cosori says white smoke from heating fat or a first run is normal, but "dark smoke means that food is burning or there is a circuit problem": unplug the machine, wait for the smoke to clear, then pull the basket.

On the bigger question, whether cooking this way is bad for you, the real issues are the coating on the basket and the browning compounds that any high-heat cooking produces. The evidence, both sides, is weighed in is the air fryer bad for you. Nothing on this page is medical advice; if you have a health condition, ask your doctor.

Bottom line

Wash it, run it empty for 10 minutes, give it 5 inches of clearance, preheat, and cook in one layer with a shake halfway. Buy a thermometer before anything else, use a refillable sprayer instead of a can, and never put a liner in without food on it. Know what the basket is coated with, because that decides how long the machine lasts and what you are cooking on. Do those things and the first week goes smoothly; the mistakes people make after that are a separate list.

Sources

• Cosori TurboBlaze 6.0-Quart Air Fryer manual (PDF) — accessed 2026-10-09
• Cosori Premium II Plus 6.5-Quart Air Fryer manual (PDF) — accessed 2026-10-09
• Instacart: Oven-to-Air-Fryer Conversion — accessed 2026-10-09
• Consumer Reports: How to Get the Most From Your Air Fryer — accessed 2026-10-09
• Consumer Reports: Air Fryer Buying Guide — accessed 2026-10-09
• Consumer Reports: How to Clean an Air Fryer — accessed 2026-10-09
• Eat This, Not That: 9 Foods You Should Never Cook in an Air Fryer — accessed 2026-10-09
• Tasting Table: Foods You Should Never Cook In The Air Fryer — accessed 2026-10-09
• CDC: Four Steps to Food Safety — accessed 2026-10-09
• Tasting Table: Why You Shouldn't Use Cooking Spray In Your Air Fryer — accessed 2026-10-09
• Reynolds: Aluminum Foil and Cooking Papers Guide — accessed 2026-10-09