Air fryers are the new(-ish) wonder of the kitchen appliance world. That’s saying a lot, since they’re kind of vying for that lofty spot with slow cookers and multicookers, both of which have their time in the spotlight.
It is a well deserved honor. Air fryers provide people with a healthier alternative to frying in oil. They tend to consume less energy than conventional ovens. They cook food faster, saving users time and energy. It is as versatile as it can be cooked. And they offer a much more affordable alternative to food delivery if you don’t have time to actually cook. In addition, it is also quite affordable, even with The best air fryers Regularly get price reductions during big sale events.
Simply put, it’s just the ticket for most households, especially during this period of inflation. fact, PRNewswire reports (Opens in a new tab) that “the air fryer market in the United States is projected to expect strong growth” between now and 2028.
But, of course, as with everything else, air fryers also have their limitations. As an occasional excessive user of an air fryer, I’ve learned that there Some things you should not do when using an air fryer. I’ve also learned that there are things you shouldn’t cook in one — no matter how many “hacks” these so-called TikTok influencers post to convince us otherwise.
Here are seven foods that should never be cooked in an air fryer, lest you risk an unclean mess or worse.
1. Mix wet, dry seasoning
Wet batters—such as beer batter or tempura batter—need a hot oil bath to set quickly. This is what makes those chips and tempura vegetables so crispy on the outside. Since an air fryer works by circulating hot air, it does not have the ability to cook your favorite crispy foods the way they are supposed to be cooked. Instead, you’ll end up with a chewy or soggy, uneven mess too because there are chances that some of this mixture may drip during the cooking process.
Don’t air fry foods with a layer of dry seasoning either. That circulating air will infuse those spices right away, especially if you’re using bulky ones like cornflakes. If you must, be sure to rub this seasoning well or coat your food with a little oil to help it stick.
2. Raw rice
Raw rice needs water to cook just as a wet mixture needs hot oil. Unfortunately, air fryers are not designed for this type of cooking. I’ve seen some people do tutorials doing this in an air fryer, and it sounds like a pain. One recipe makes you find a suitable pan such as a cake pan, boil water first, put the rice and boiling water into the pan, cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil, and then set the timer for 30 minutes! 30 minutes!
Honestly, it’s best to cook raw rice the way you’re supposed to do it, which is put it in a pot of water, bring it to a boil, stir it, lower the heat, and simmer for about 15 minutes until all that water is absorbed. It is very easy and less difficult. If you are not comfortable with that, invest in a rice cooker.
3. Whole roast chicken
Again, an air fryer uses hot air to cook things, and putting a whole chicken in to roast means there’s a lot less space for that air to circulate and cook things more evenly. This is even if you have one of the larger models.
More than that, it’s also likely that the part of the chicken that’s closest to the heat source will end up cooking faster than the bottom, which means you’ll end up with a burnt top and a bottom that still needs more time to cook. . Or worse, soggy! If you want the ability to cook roast chicken in an air fryer, you may want to invest in an air fryer oven such as the Cuisinart TOA-60.
4. Burger
Well, that’s one thing if you like your burgers well done – though, why else?! However, if you want your medium-rare burger cooked to perfection the way the beef should be cooked and consumed so that it remains beautifully tender and flavorful, you may want to skip the air-fryer burger patties.
Keeping a burger patty medium rare means you’ll have to cook it for less time, which means there may not be enough time for it to brown and have a bit of that char. If you cook them long enough for them to brown on the outside, they will be well done and dry on the inside.
5. Popcorn
Popcorn kernels need between 400 and 460 degrees to pop, and most air fryers don’t go that high, unfortunately. But, if you have one that gets to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, like mine did, you might as well risk a fire.
Popcorn does what it’s supposed to do, pop, which means some of it can accidentally settle inside the heating element on top, whether that’s because a piece jumped high enough to get stuck there or there just wasn’t enough room to accommodate all the popped kernels. in the basket. This is a potential fire hazard, especially if that piece is still stuck there while you’re cooking another dish.
Of course there are so many delicious meals you can cook beautifully in an air fryer, why not check out our guides to making air fryer fries, air fryer french toast and even air fryer fudge donuts. We can also help teach you 9 things you need to know about your new air fryer and 6 common air fryer mistakes to avoid.