When it comes to cooking in an air fryer, there are certain foods that are best avoided. While this versatile appliance can cook a wide range of dishes, there are some items that may not turn out as expected or may even pose a safety risk. Here are eight things that you probably shouldn’t cook in an air fryer:
1. Battered foods: It’s best to avoid placing wet batter in the air fryer. The high-speed air circulation can cause the batter to get blown around and create a mess. Instead, opt for foods that have a dry coating or use a pre-packaged bread crumb coating.
2. Fresh greens: Leafy greens like spinach or kale may not cook evenly in the air fryer due to the high-speed air circulation. They can end up becoming overly crispy in some spots and undercooked in others. It’s better to stick to sautéing or steaming these types of vegetables.
3. Whole roasts: Air fryers are not designed for cooking large cuts of meat like whole roasts. The hot air circulation may not penetrate the meat evenly, resulting in uneven cooking. It’s best to stick to smaller cuts of meat or consider using a traditional oven or grill for larger roasts.
4. Cheese: While it may be tempting to try making crispy cheese in an air fryer, it can quickly become a messy disaster. Cheese melts and spreads when heated, and in an air fryer, it can drip down and cause a mess or even damage the heating elements. It’s best to reserve cheese-related dishes for other cooking methods.
5. Raw grains: Air fryers are not suitable for cooking raw grains like rice or quinoa. These foods require a specific amount of water and time to cook properly, which cannot be achieved in an air fryer. Stick to boiling or steaming grains for the best results.
6. Hamburgers: While air fryers can produce delicious and crispy burgers, they may not be the best choice for cooking thick and juicy burgers. The high heat and circulating air can cause the burgers to dry out quickly. It’s better to use a grill or stovetop for cooking hamburgers.
7. Toast: While an air fryer can be used to reheat or warm up bread, it’s not the best choice for making toast. The hot air circulation may not evenly brown the bread, resulting in unevenly toasted slices. It’s better to use a toaster or toaster oven for making toast.
8. Popcorn: Although some air fryers come with a popcorn function, it’s generally not recommended to cook popcorn in an air fryer. The high heat and circulating air can cause the popcorn to fly around and potentially damage the appliance. Stick to traditional stovetop or microwave methods for popping popcorn.
While air fryers are versatile appliances, there are certain foods that are best avoided when using them. Battered foods, fresh greens, whole roasts, cheese, raw grains, hamburgers, toast, and popcorn are some examples of foods that may not turn out as expected or may pose safety risks when cooked in an air fryer. It’s always important to read the manufacturer’s instructions and guidelines before attempting to cook any specific food in an air fryer.