Air fryers do not work as traditional deep fryers. You can not place wet battered foods in the air fryer. The reason is that the batter will drop off the food and sink to the bottom of the air fryer. Instead, you can use frozen fried and battered foods to create a crispy finish. The purpose of an air fryer is to create crispy food without the need for extra oil. The heat combined with the hot air cuts down on cooking time and crisps the outside of the food while keeping the inside moist and flavorful. While the effect is similar to a deep fryer, their uses differ.