Summary of 9 Things You Should Never, Ever Put in Your Air Fryer:
*As an expert in diet, nutrition, metabolic disease, and insulin sensitivity, I know that choosing the right cooking method for your food is crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Air fryers have become increasingly popular thanks to their ability to create crispy, delicious meals without the need for excessive amounts of oil. However, not all foods are suitable for cooking in an air fryer. In this article, we’ll explore nine items that you should never, ever put in your air fryer.
1. Grated cheese
If you’re a fan of grilled cheese sandwiches, you might be tempted to try making one in your air fryer. However, grated cheese is not recommended as it can easily fly around and make a mess all over your appliance. Instead, try burying the cheese under your food or putting it on food that’s already hot.
2. Raw grains
While you can heat up pre-cooked grains like rice in an air fryer, raw grains like rice and pasta should be avoided as they need to be cooked in liquid.
3. Sticky or sugary sauces
While you might be tempted to coat your chicken or steak in BBQ or teriyaki sauce before air frying them, the sugars in these sauces can easily burn and create a difficult-to-clean air fryer basket. Instead, cook your meat in simple spices and add your sauce later.
4. Light, flaky pastries
Due to the powerful fan inside the air fryer, delicate pastries like filo or puff pastries can end up being blown around and deformed. To avoid ruining your pastry, stick to the oven.
5. Delicate seafood
While the air fryer is great for cooking meats like chicken and steak, delicate seafood such as shrimp, scallops, and flaky fish fillets are best cooked using gentle methods like sautéing or grilling.
6. Wet batter
While fried chicken sounds tempting, dipping foods in wet batter is not recommended as it won’t set properly, and you won’t achieve the desired crunch that you get when it’s traditionally fried in oil. Instead, opt for a healthier breadcrumb coating.
7. Leafy greens
While making kale chips in an oven is a great way to satisfy your cravings, leafy greens such as cabbage, kale, and spinach don’t work well in an air fryer due to their light weight and uneven cooking.
8. Popcorn kernels
While an air fryer might seem like it could cook popcorn quickly, it won’t pop kernels as effectively as a microwave or stovetop method. Stick to traditional methods for your movie night snacks.
9. Large cuts of meat
While you can cook smaller cuts of meat like chicken breasts successfully in an air fryer, larger cuts like a whole turkey or roast should be avoided as the appliance won’t generate enough heat to cook them properly.
In summary, air fryers are a great appliance for cooking a variety of foods, but it’s important to keep in mind the limitations of the device and choose the right cooking method for your ingredients. With these nine items to avoid, you’ll be able to use your air fryer to create delicious, crispy meals that are both healthy and mess-free.
