Part of the joy of barbecue season is the distinctive smell of food sizzling over an open flame. But taking out the barbecue, cleaning it, preparing it and storing it is a major operation.
UK-based TikTok creator @TastyUK has given us a very useful shortcut to getting all that smoky, wood-fired barbecue flavor – without the downside.
Sharing her hack on TikTok, the food influencer uses an air fryer to create a smoky jerk chicken wing — adding applewood chips to the space between the bottom of the air fryer and the basket.
She explains, “I added flavored wood chips to the bottom of my fryer to see if they would add more flavor to my BBQ jerk wings and guess what? It did.”
“You see, there’s a little space between the bottom of the fryer and the basket where you can add the wood chips,” she continued.
TikTok creator @TastyUK has given us a very useful shortcut to getting authentic wood-fired barbecue flavor.

The designer adds apple wood chips in the space between the bottom of the fryer and the basket to enhance the taste of her jerk wings.
This TikTok creator used Extreme BBQ apple wood chips, available on Amazon for £6.75.
There are many other flavors to choose from including hickory, cherry and cognac wood chips.
The designer then revealed her foolproof jerk chicken wing recipe, telling viewers: “Not only do these wings taste amazing, they’re also very tender and juicy and the marinade is so simple – it’s just a seasoning jerk, cumin, barbecue sauce and a drizzle of honey.
Followers shared their approval of the air fryer hack, with one writing: “OMG we are so doing this,” while another said: “What? I am so making these!! »
Another tip if you’re short on time and want to jazz up your air fryer dishes is to rub an onion on the rack (or racks) of the basket to infuse meats and vegetables during the cooking process.
This also mimics the flavors of barbecue, with a hint of fried onions.
Food experts at online grocery store Getir recommended this tip as a way to maximize the flavor of barbecue-style dishes like grilled meats, kebabs and corn on the cob.
A spokesperson for the brand told The Express: “Before you start air frying, a great tip is to cut an onion in half and rub it on the grates of the basket.

The recipe from the TikTok creators consists of jerk seasoning, cumin, barbecue sauce and a drizzle of honey.

Barbecue experts also recommend letting the fryer get very hot before putting food in for a crispier finish.
“This instantly adds a quick hit of seasoning and flavor to your food.
“Plus, the natural acidity and enzymes in onions prevent food from sticking to the basket, making cleanup much easier. »
Food experts also suggest letting the air fryer heat up completely before placing food in it, if you want to replicate the barbecue cooking process as quickly as possible.
Getir’s experts said: “Just as you allow a barbecue to heat up before placing food on the grill, it is essential to preheat your air fryer, in the same way, to maximize the crisping effect and replicate the high heat of a barbecue.
“Preheat your air fryer for three to five minutes to between 175°C and 200°C, which is the ideal temperature for cooking most barbecue-style foods. This high heat will ensure a crispy exterior and a juicy, tender interior. »