Air fryers have become so widespread that their sales are now being referenced by economists whentrying to understand inflation. They not only offer quicker cooking, lighter outcomes, and a simpler method for preparing meals without excessive oil, but they are also budget-friendly and space-efficient. Thebest air fryersToday, the boundaries between a fryer and a mini oven are becoming blurred, as these devices can now handle roasting, baking, reheating, and much more right from your countertop.
Yet although there are many foods, including a variety ofunexpected dishes you can prepare in an air fryerThey are not magical. If you push them beyond their limits, you may end up with inconsistent (and even undercooked or hazardous) results, unpleasant textures, or smoky, chaotic problems.
As someone who sometimes gets a bit too excited about using my air fryer, I’ve discovered there arecertain actions to avoid when operating an air fryer. I’ve also realized that there are certain things you shouldn’t be preparing in one—regardless of how many “tips” those so-called TikTok influencers share to try to persuade us otherwise.
To protect both your meal and your device, here are five foods that should not be placed in your air fryer.
1. Frozen leftovers
Many air fryers now feature a specific ‘frozen’ setting, making them ideal for cooking fries, chicken nuggets, or breaded treats directly from the freezer, similar to how a conventional oven functions. However, not all frozen items are suitable for the basket. Heavier portions like leftover lasagna, casseroles, or large pies can present challenges.
If the timing and heat levels aren’t precise, the hot air will cause the exterior to brown and become tough quickly, while the center stays cold, resulting in a scorched outer layer and an undercooked, possibly unsafe middle. Even with smaller frozen items, caution is still necessary.
Be alert for excessive ice crystals – they can produce steam and result in soggy food – and prevent overfilling the basket, as overcrowding hinders hot air from circulating properly, leading to uneven defrosting or cooking. If your fryer includes a frozen setting, utilize it for thin, single-layer items, and remember to shake or flip them halfway through for consistent results. For larger or denser foods, rely on your oven instead: it will help avoid disappointment and reduce potential food safety issues.
2. Pasta
Pasta is one of those foods that, similar to rice, doesn’t really work well in the air fryer by itself. It requires water to cook correctly, and putting raw pasta directly into the basket will result in hard, undercooked pieces.
If you cook it in a pan first, it improves slightly, but even then, putting it into the air fryer without any sauce or liquid typically results in dry, crispy edges. It is technically feasible to boil it in water inside the air fryer basket, but it’s rarely fast, often difficult to manage, and always risky to move a basket filled with boiling water around.
That doesn’t mean pasta and an air fryer can’t be combined, but you need to think creatively. Leftover macaroni and cheese in a small dish, topped with croutons, can work. Similarly, a bolognese or another sauce-heavy pasta dish will also do. However, if your goal is to completely avoid boiling water, the air fryer won’t help you out.
3. Whole roast chicken
Once more, an air fryer operates by using hot air to prepare food, and placing a whole chicken inside for roasting significantly reduces the available space for the air to move effectively and cook the food uniformly. This is true even if you have a larger model.
Furthermore, the portion of the chicken nearest to the heat source will probably cook more quickly than the lower part, resulting in a burnt top and a bottom that still requires additional cooking time. Alternatively, it could become soggy! If you’re looking to prepare roast chicken in an air fryer, you may want to consider purchasing an air fryer oven such as theNinja DT201 Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro or the Corsori Air Fryer Toaster Oven.
4. Burger
It’s one thing if you prefer your burgers cooked thoroughly – although, honestly, why? However, if you’re after perfectly prepared medium-rare burgers, which is the ideal way to cook beef to maintain its delicious juiciness and flavor, you might want to avoid using an air fryer for burger patties.
Cooking a burger patty to medium-rare requires less time, which might not be enough for the exterior to develop a nice brown color and some char. However, if you cook it long enough to achieve that browning, the inside will end up overcooked and dry.
5. Popcorn
Popcorn kernels require temperatures ranging from 400 to 460 degrees in order to pop, but many air fryers fail to reach such high heat. However, if you own an air fryer that can achieve 400F, like mine, you could also run the risk of causing a fire.
Popcorn performs its intended function, which is to pop, meaning some pieces might unintentionally become trapped in the heating element at the top, either because a kernel jumped high enough to get stuck or there wasn’t sufficient room to hold all the popped kernels in the basket. This can pose a fire risk, particularly if the piece remains lodged there while preparing another meal.
Certainly, there are many delicious meals you can prepare beautifully using an air fryer, so why not explore our guides tohow to make french fries using an air fryer, French toast cooked in an air fryer and even fudgy brownies made in an air fryer. We can also assist in teaching you the9 key points to be aware of with your new air fryer and 6 typical errors to steer clear of when using an air fryer.
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