Last Updated on May 19, 2023 by River Tree Farms
Whereas cedar plank is just a piece of wood cut from the cedar tree, it has become an essential wood species in your kitchen. It is a versatile piece of wood that you can use in different cooking appliances for a unique flavor experience.
Well, Can you put a cedar plank in an air fryer? What can a cedar plank do in an air fryer?
I’m sure you’ve seen a lot of recipes online that require a cedar plank as a requirement for a particular flavor. This article’s tutorial is on preparing food with a cedar plank inside an air fryer.
Please stay tuned!
What is the use of cedar plank?
Do you know that sweet fragrance of cider wood? The Cedar plank is then valuable for:
1. Great Flavor
When you use cedar plank for cooking, your food will have a delicious smoky flavor.
Cedar plank cooking is typically slow-cooking, and the cedar wood continuously smokes in the cooking process. Your food then absorbs that smoke, let’s say, for example, a fish, resulting in a fragrant smoky flavor in the fish.
2. Juicy food
The food cooked on the cedar plank is usually very juicy inside. The cedar plank needs soaking before cooking, providing an environment where the smoke absorbed in the food is humid inside to prevent it from drying out.
3. Clean food, Clean Air fryer
Cedar plank for cooking in an air fryer leaves your pan so clean, and equally, the food you get out is also clean.
All the oils will remain on the wood plank, not the food or air fryer tray.
Can You Put A Cedar Plank In Air Fryer?
Yes, you can put a cedar plank in an air fryer but always confirm with the manufacturer’s user manual.
The Cedar planks have been in use for ages for the grills, and so you have to keep in mind the following considerations if you want to use them in your air fryer:
1. Size of the cedar plank
Most cedar planks are ready-made, and you need to check the one that will fit the measurements of your air fryer basket. It might be hard, but possible to get the exact size.
Since this is wood and you cannot fold it, you can look for a way to customize it to your air fryer’s size. Make sure there are no splinters on the sides; if there are, use sandpaper to give a smooth finish before putting it in the air fryer.
2. Soaking the cedar plank
Do not soak the cedar plank for an air fryer for a long time like you will for a grill.
In an air fryer, you can soak the cedar for like an hour, unlike the one for grilling, where you do it for up to 4 hours.
There is less time for cedar plank soaking because we do not have direct flames in the air fryer, so it is not prone to burning.
The soaking purpose for the use in the air fryer is to initiate the goo smoking that will give the food that cedar flavor.
3. Good aeration
You want smoky, delicious pork chops or chicken, not a smoke-filled house. The air fryer is primarily an indoor use appliance, so when using cedar plank for cooking, ensure all the windows in your kitchen are open or any other aeration point.
Note: The air fryer will not smoke as much as a grill, but still, there will be some smoking.
Can You Put Cedar Plank Salmon In The Air Fryer?
Yes, for a uniquely flavored Salmon.
Follow these simple steps to cook air fryer salmon:
- Preheat the air fryer up to 4000 F
- Place your soaked cedar plank on the air fryer basket
- Place the salmon
- Air fry for 5 minutes and apply butter on top
- Check the internal temperatures to be 1450F
- Air fry for another 5 minutes
The delicious air fryer salmon is cooked and ready to be served.
At What Temperature Is Cedar Plank Salmon Cooked?
The Cedar plank salmon cooked in an air fryer will cook at 4000F for about 10 minutes.
The internal temperatures, however, will be at least 1450F. Do not forget to preheat your air fryer to the same salmon cooking temperatures before placing the cedar plank for cooking.
Are cedar planks worth it?
Yes, they are worth it! Why and how?
- They produce incredibly flavored food.
- They are natural-No chemicals produced.
- They are versatile- they can cook fish, chicken, tofu, pork chops, and various vegetables.
- They are easy to use- No assembling; you buy and use
- They are relatively cheap
Are Cedar Planks Reusable?
They are only reusable if they are still in excellent condition after use. Otherwise, it will be impossible to use it for the third or fourth time.
However, when using a cedar plank in an air fryer, you will find that it does not have the chars (burnt/black surface), so you can at least use it one more time.
Generally, the cedar plank does not have a design for reuse, but if you decide to, wash it in plain water with a very soft cloth. Do not use dishwashing soap.
Conclusion
Whether you’re air-drying your eggplant or other vegetables, or if you want to air fry that delicious salmon, the cedar plank will work at its best with tasty and flavored results. It is a great option, especially for salmon and sandwiches.
It can perfectly withstand temperatures inside your air fryer, whether very hot or cold.
So can you put a cedar plank in an air fryer? Yes! You will need to place the correct size of cedar plank inside the air fryer basket, set the proper temperatures and time, and you are good to go.