Air fryers have changed the game when it comes to getting hot, crispy food on your plate in a short space of time, but there are some items the magical machine isn’t best suited for.
A series of experts opened up on the foods to avoid putting in your air fryer for an article on Martha Stewart’s website, and some of them might surprise you.
Air fryers are a favorite in many kitchens (Getty Stock Photo)
Light foods
I’m not talking about the metaphorical ‘something light’ when you’re trying to eat healthily here, but rather foods that are physically light in weight – think a single slice of toast with cheese, or a tortilla you’re looking to crisp up.
Air fryers work by circulating hot air to cook your food, and if you’ve come across any videos featuring transparent air fryers recently, you’ll know how this can impact a light piece of food.
If your food is too light, it could completely fall apart in the air fryer and potentially even cause issues to the device.
Holly Nilsson, a cookbook author, explained: “Foods that are very light, such as single tortillas and kale chips, can fly around and get caught in the elements.”
Cakes
As tempting as it might be to try and get the perfect sponge with the help of an air fryer, recipe critic and cookbook author Alyssa Rivers has warned against the idea.
Rivers warned that cakes cooked in an air fryer tend to dry out quickly, adding: “The fast-moving air often makes them rise unevenly, so you end up with lopsided treats.”
Definitely not what you want if you’re considering yourself to be the next winner of The Great British Baking Show.
Popcorn
A spontaneous movie night calls for popcorn, and what better way to get it than chucking some kernels in the air fryer? Well, apparently a popcorn maker or the stovetop – basically just the traditional ways.
Air fryers aren’t the best for popcorn, as Nilsson pointed out they typically won’t get hot enough to pop the kernels. On the off chance yours does, there’s a strong possibility the corn will pop right into the heating element, creating a safety hazard.
Popcorn is best made on the stove top (Getty Stock Photo)
Raw Grains
Following on from the popcorn problem, we also have grains like rice, pasta and barley.
All of these items are intended to be boiled in water to soften them, so sticking them in an air fryer won’t have any positive results.
Rivers explained: “Air fryers can’t cook rice or pasta because they’re not meant to boil water, which grains need to absorb and soften.”
Whole Roasts
This might be one of the most surprising warnings, as many people have praised the air fryer for its ability to cook meals suitable for the whole family.
Unfortunately, however, Rivers has warned that most air fryers aren’t big enough to properly cook large pieces of meat, and instead would result in an uneven cook.
Rivers has warned that some parts of the meat could be undercooked – an outcome that could result in food poisoning if you ate it without noticing.
Whole roasts are not intended for the air fryer (Getty Stock Photo)
Food with wet batter
A lot of videos online show air fryer fans making their own fried chicken by creating the batter and popping it into the device, but Rivers had warned that battered foods like tempura could actually end up making a bit of a mess in the cooker.
“Instead of turning golden and crispy, wet batters drip down through the basket, leaving you with a soggy, uneven mess,” the author explained.
Tough Cuts of Meat
The air fryer is great for cooking food quickly, but that’s not necessarily a pro when we’re talking about meats like stewing beef or ribs.
Nilsson pointed out that these kinds of cuts ‘benefit from low and slow cooking to break down the tough tissue and make them tender’.
Nilsson advised instead braising or slow-cooking these kinds of meats, though she noted: “Ribs can be finished in the air fryer with a brush of BBQ sauce for a little sticky char.”
So there you have it. Happy cooking!
