The versatility of bamboo skewers

Bamboo skewers, elongated sticks made of a natural material, are commonly used in grilling and cooking, such as skewers and food skewers. In an air fryer, however, it can do a lot more.

Why do you use bamboo skewers in the air fryer?

(1) Food Support Tools

When cooking small foods in an air fryer, such as chicken wings or vegetable chunks, use skewers to hold them together and prevent food from dispersing during flipping or agitation.

(2) Enhances cooking uniformity

Threading the skewer through long foods, such as meat rolls or fish fillets, will ensure that they heat evenly in the fryer and avoid some parts being too charred or undercooked.

(3) Prevent food from sticking

If you are cooking food like dumplings or spring rolls in an air fryer that requires a single layer, use a skewer to secure them to the frying basket to prevent them from sticking together or sticking to the frying basket.

How to properly use a bamboo skewer in the air fryer?

To get the most out of the skewer, make sure to follow these tips:

(1) Choose the right length of skewer

Make sure the skewer length is appropriate for the food you are cooking and the size of the basket in the air fryer, avoid being too long or too short and affecting the cooking effect of the food.

(2) Soak the skewer before use

Especially when the skewer is in direct contact with food, it is recommended to soak the skewer in water for some time to prevent it from burning at high temperatures or becoming brittle.

(3) How long to soak wooden skewers before air frying?

Start by soaking the wooden skewer for at least 30 minutes. This helps to prevent the meat from sticking to the skewer while cooking and it prevents the wood from burning.

(4) Avoid direct contact between the skewer and the heating element

When placing the skewer, ensure that it does not come into direct contact with the heating element of the air fryer, so as not to cause fire or damage the interior of the air fryer.

Environmental advantages of bamboo skewers

As a natural material, bamboo skewers not only perform well in cooking, they are also environmentally friendly. The use of bamboo skewers does not produce plastic waste, and they are sustainable and can be used multiple times.

By mastering the application of bamboo skewers in the air fryer, you can bring more creativity and convenience to home cooking. Whether it is to improve the uniformity of food cooking or prevent food from sticking, bamboo skewers show their unique value in the modern kitchen. Try these tips to make cooking your air fryer even easier and more fun!

How to cook chicken skewer kabobs in the air fryer

Ingredients

12 ounces boneless skinless chicken thighs
¾ teaspoon garlic powder
1 ½ teaspoons BBQ seasoning
⅓ cup BBQ sauce
kosher salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
olive oil spray

GARNISH:

chopped fresh parsley optional
Instructions

Cut boneless chicken thighs into bite-sized chunks.

Thread boneless chicken thighs onto the skewers. Get one piece of chicken then insert it in the skewer. Do this until each skewer is filled with chicken. About 4 chicken pieces per skewer.
Season skewered chicken thighs with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and BBQ seasoning.
Marinate chicken skewers in the dry rub for at least 30 minutes to an hour in the refrigerator.

Gently transfer chicken skewers onto the Air Fryer tray. Lightly spray with olive oil.

Slowly insert the tray into the middle cooking chamber of the 370°F (188°C) pre-heated Air Fryer, near the rotisserie catch. Set at 20 minutes.

After 7 minutes, remove the Air Fryer tray, then smother skewered chicken thighs with BBQ sauce. Turn the skewers and continue to brush the chicken with BBQ sauce. Return the tray to the Air Fryer. Do this again after 5 minutes and the last 5 minutes. Flipping skewers each time need to wait for the “turn food” reminder provided by the Air Fryer.
Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve immediately.

Notes

This Air Fryer recipe was tested with an Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven. Not all Air Fryers cook the same way. It’s best to keep watch during your initial tests after purchasing and the last few minutes of cooking.

TIPS:

If you’re using bamboo skewers, soak them first with cold water before inserting food. This will prevent the bamboo skewers from burning.8-inch BBQ sticks – skewers fit perfectly on the Air Fryer tray of the Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven. Use the thickest parts of the boneless skinless chicken thighs as it will result in a juicy and tender BBQ chicken dish. It is best to marinate chicken skewers for at least 30 minutes to an hour in the refrigerator. After marinating the skewered chicken thighs for 30 minutes to 1 hour, leave at room temperature for at least 10 minutes for even cooking.