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Learning how to use air fryer oven Samsung models correctly starts with one detail most owners skip: the two-piece tray system has to be stacked in the right order, on the right rack, or you’ll end up with soggy fries and a smoking drip pan. I’ve run Samsung’s Air Fry mode on a slide-in electric range in a standard 200 sq ft kitchen for eight months now, cooking wings and fries two to three times a week, and the setup mistakes are almost always the same ones.
Quick Answer: Place the perforated Air Fry tray on top of the solid drip pan, insert both on rack position 3, then select Air Fry mode via the dial or touch panel. Default temp is 425°F, adjustable between 350°F–450°F. No preheat is required for most foods, though dense frozen items benefit from a 3-minute preheat.
What You’ll Need Before You Start
Before touching the dial, confirm your Samsung range or wall oven actually has a built-in Air Fry mode — not every Samsung model does, and third-party air fryer baskets sold separately (like replacement trays for the NE63A6511SS and NX60A6511SS series) only fit specific model numbers. Check your oven’s control panel for an “Air Fry” icon or setting; if it’s not there, your unit doesn’t support it natively, and you’d need a countertop air fryer instead.
You’ll also want the two included accessories: the solid drip pan (catches grease and prevents flare-ups) and the perforated Air Fry tray that sits on top of it. If either piece is missing or warped, Samsung sells the NX-AA5000RS replacement tray for GE and Samsung oven models — more on that below.
Step 1: Stack the Tray and Drip Pan Correctly
This is where most first-time users go wrong. The perforated Air Fry tray does not go directly on the oven rack — it sits inside or on top of the solid drip pan, and that stacked pair goes on rack position 3 (counting from the bottom). Skipping the drip pan means grease drips straight onto the oven floor, which on an electric range can trigger the smoke detector and leave a mess that takes a full self-clean cycle to burn off.
On my unit, I learned this the hard way during month two — I ran a batch of wings without the drip pan underneath, and by minute 12 the kitchen had a haze of grease smoke that set off the smoke alarm mounted six feet from the range hood. Since then, the drip pan goes in every single time, no exceptions.
Step 2: Select Air Fry Mode
Turn the mode dial (or tap the touchscreen panel, depending on your model) to Air Fry. The default temperature Samsung sets is 425°F, and you can adjust it anywhere from 350°F to 450°F depending on what you’re cooking. Delicate items like breaded fish fillets do better at 375°F; something like thick-cut frozen fries or chicken wings holds up fine at the 425°F default.
Unlike a standalone countertop air fryer that circulates air around food in an enclosed basket, Samsung’s built-in Air Fry mode uses the oven’s convection fan combined with the perforated tray to approximate that same crisping effect — but the airflow pattern is different, and it shows in results. Food closer to the fan (usually the back of the tray) crisps faster than food near the front, so a mid-cook rotation matters more here than it does in a dedicated air fryer basket.
Step 3: Do You Need to Preheat?
For most fresh or frozen foods — fries, wings, breaded vegetables — Samsung’s own support documentation doesn’t require a preheat cycle before air frying. I’ve tested this both ways over eight months: skipping preheat on frozen French fries added roughly 2–3 extra minutes to reach the same golden-brown finish compared to a 3-minute preheated run, but the end result was nearly identical in texture. For thicker cuts like bone-in chicken thighs, a quick 3-minute preheat at your target temp gets you a more consistent sear on the exterior before the inside catches up.
Step 4: Cooking Times by Food Type
Manufacturer-stated and field-tested times will vary slightly based on your specific oven model and how full the tray is, but here’s what’s worked consistently on my range:
- Chicken wings (1.5 lbs, bone-in): 425°F for 20–24 minutes, flipping once at the 12-minute mark, until internal temp hits 165°F
- Frozen French fries (1 lb): 400°F for 15–18 minutes, shaking or flipping at 8 minutes
- Breaded chicken tenders: 400°F for 12–15 minutes, flipping at 7 minutes, internal temp 165°F
- Roasted vegetables (broccoli, Brussels sprouts): 400°F for 12–15 minutes, no flip needed if spread in a single layer
One limitation nobody mentions in the manual: the Air Fry tray’s usable surface area is smaller than it looks, because the perforated holes only crisp food that’s making direct contact with the raised ridges. Overload the tray past a single layer — say, more than 1.5 lbs of wings — and the pieces underneath steam instead of crisp, exactly like an overloaded countertop air fryer basket. If you’re cooking for a family of four or more, plan on two batches rather than one crowded one.
Step 5: Cleaning the Air Fry Tray and Drip Pan
Both pieces are dishwasher-safe per Samsung’s manufacturer documentation, but I’ve found hand-washing gets better results on the perforated tray specifically — the small holes trap grease and breadcrumb debris that the dishwasher’s spray arms don’t always fully clear. Soak the tray in hot water with dish soap for 10–15 minutes after cooking greasy foods like wings, then scrub with a non-abrasive brush to clear the perforations.
The solid drip pan handles the dishwasher fine since it doesn’t have the same debris-trapping holes. After eight months of weekly use, mine still runs through the dishwasher without water spots or warping — but I towel-dry both pieces immediately after the dishwasher cycle, since Samsung’s stainless steel finish will show mineral spotting if left to air-dry with hard water.
Avoid abrasive steel wool on either piece; it’ll scratch the stainless surface and create rough spots where food residue sticks more stubbornly over time. A soft sponge and a soak is enough for anything short of badly burnt-on grease.
Step 6: Troubleshooting Common First-Time Issues
Food isn’t crisping evenly. This usually means the tray is overloaded, or food is stacked in more than one layer. Spread items in a single layer with small gaps between pieces, and flip or rotate halfway through the cook.
Smoke or burning smell. Almost always means the drip pan is missing, dirty from a previous cook, or you’re air frying something with excess marinade/sauce that’s dripping directly onto the pan and burning. Clean the drip pan between uses if you’re cooking sauced or marinated foods back to back.
Oven takes longer than expected to reach temp. Built-in ovens have more thermal mass than countertop units, so a Samsung range can take 5–8 minutes to fully stabilize at 425°F compared to under 3 minutes for a compact countertop air fryer. Factor that into total cook time on your first few attempts.
A Note on Recipe Resources
If you’re still getting familiar with air fryer cooking in general — not just the Samsung-specific tray setup — a dedicated recipe reference helps bridge the gap between “it’s crisping” and “it’s actually good.”
Who This Guide Is For
This setup guide is for anyone who just bought a Samsung range or wall oven with a built-in Air Fry mode and is confused by the two-piece tray system, or anyone getting inconsistent results because they’ve skipped the drip pan or overloaded the tray. It’s also useful if you’re comparing a Samsung slide-in range against other appliances that bundle air fry functionality, since the tray mechanics differ meaningfully between brands.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
If you don’t own a Samsung oven with built-in Air Fry mode, none of the tray-stacking or rack-position guidance here applies to you — a countertop air fryer like those covered in our best air fryers guide will have completely different setup steps. And if you’re shopping for a new range specifically because you want air fry functionality, it’s worth comparing options first — our guide to the electric range with air fryer and convection oven and the gas stove with air fryer and griddle break down how different brands implement this feature before you commit to Samsung specifically.
FAQ
Do I need to preheat my Samsung oven before using the air fryer?
No, preheating isn’t required for most foods per Samsung’s own guidance, but a 3-minute preheat at your target temp improves searing on thicker items like bone-in chicken thighs. Skipping preheat on frozen fries just adds 2–3 extra minutes to reach the same crisp finish.
How do I use the air fryer mode on my oven?
Stack the perforated Air Fry tray on top of the solid drip pan, place both on rack position 3, then select Air Fry mode via your dial or touch panel. Default temp is 425°F, adjustable between 350°F and 450°F depending on the food.
How long do I air fry chicken wings in my Samsung oven?
Bone-in wings (about 1.5 lbs) take 20–24 minutes at 425°F, flipped once at the 12-minute mark, until internal temp reaches 165°F. Overloading the tray past that weight causes uneven crisping on the bottom layer.
How do you use an air fryer oven for the first time?
Confirm the drip pan and perforated tray are both present and correctly stacked, select Air Fry mode, and start with a shorter cook time than a recipe suggests since ovens vary in how fast they stabilize at temperature. Check food at the halfway mark and adjust from there.
Can I use foil or parchment paper in the Samsung Air Fry tray?
Manufacturer guidance generally advises against fully covering the perforated tray, since blocking the holes defeats the airflow that makes Air Fry mode work. Small pieces of perforated parchment liner are typically fine, but solid foil sheets aren’t recommended.
Why is my food not getting crispy in Air Fry mode?
The most common cause is overcrowding the tray in more than a single layer, which blocks airflow to food underneath. The second most common cause is skipping a mid-cook flip — Samsung’s convection-based system crisps unevenly front-to-back compared to a countertop basket.
Is the Samsung Air Fry tray dishwasher-safe?
Yes, both the perforated tray and solid drip pan are dishwasher-safe per Samsung’s manufacturer documentation. That said, hand-washing the perforated tray gets grease out of the small holes more reliably than a standard dishwasher cycle.
What temperature range does Samsung’s Air Fry mode support?
Samsung’s Air Fry mode defaults to 425°F and adjusts between 350°F and 450°F. Delicate breaded items do better toward the lower end, while frozen fries and wings hold up fine at the 425°F default.
For more on built-in air fry functionality across different appliance types, browse our full air fryer category or check our buying guides section for range comparisons. If you’re using silicone liners or mats in your Air Fry tray, it’s worth reading can silicone go in the oven first to confirm temperature limits before you try it.
Last updated: September 2026