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 putting staff on it is a major operation.
UK-based TikTok creator @TastyUK has given us a super helpful shortcut to getting all that smoky, wood-fired barbecue flavor – without the hassle.
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 air fryer to see if they would add more flavor to my barbecued jerk chicken wings and guess what? They did.”
“You see, there’s a little space between the bottom of the air fryer and the basket where you can add the wood chips,” she continued.
TikTok creator @TastyUK has given us a very useful shortcut for 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 do this so much,” while another said: “What? I’m so doing this!!’
Another tip if you’re short on time and want to upgrade your air fryer dishes is to rub an onion on the basket grate (or grates) to infuse the 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 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 grilling in the air fryer, a good tip is to cut an onion in half and rub it on the basket grates.
The TikTok creators’ recipe consists of jerk seasoning, cumin, barbecue sauce and a drizzle of honey.
Barbecue experts also recommend allowing the air fryer to get very hot before placing food in it for a crispier finish.
“It instantly adds a quick burst 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 adding food, if you want to replicate the barbecue cooking process as quickly as possible.
Getir experts said: “Just like you let a barbecue heat up before placing food on the grill, it’s essential to preheat your air fryer in the same way to maximise the crispiness and replicate the high heat of a barbecue.
“Preheat your air fryer for three to five minutes between 350°F and 400°F, which is the best temperature for cooking most barbecue-style foods. This high heat will ensure a crispy exterior and a juicy, tender interior.
