Yes, you can use an air fryer without the paddle.
However, it is not advisable to do so as the paddle helps circulate hot air around the food, resulting in evenly-cooked food.
Without the paddle, your food may end up being overcooked or burnt on one side while still undercooked on the other side.
Can You Use The Air Fryer Without The Basket?
No, you cannot use the air fryer without the basket.
The air fryer works by circulating hot air around the food to cook it. If there is no food in the basket, the hot air will not circulate and the machine will not work.
What Is The Paddle For On An Air Fryer?
The paddle on an air fryer is imperative for two main reasons. The first is that it keeps evenly circulates the food as it cooks.
This is especially important with air fryers because, unlike traditional deep fryers, oil is not constantly heating from below.
If food is not circulated, areas that touch the pan will cook faster than those that don’t, leading to uneven cooking.
The second reason the paddle is important has to do with safety.
Because hot oil can splash and cause burns, many air fryers have a padded cover that goes over the top of the cooking area.
This cover has a small hole in it so that hot air can circulate and cook the food, but the hole isn’t big enough for the oil to splash through.