Not Everything Belongs in Your Air Fryer
You might see your air fryer as something miraculous, able to (healthily!) crisp up just about anything when you want it, but you'd be wrong. Despite their impressive capabilities, they aren't designed to cook absolutely everything. Womp-womp. In fact, if you're planning to cook kernels in there or make some fish and chips, you'll be sorely, sorely disappointed. Here's what you can't—and can—put in your trusty air fryer.
1. Wet Batter
Like we said, if you're hoping to fix up some beer-battered fish in your air fryer, you'll only be disappointed. We get it—you want to avoid the vat of hot oil, but you really can't do anything else but deep-fry wet batter. Trust us, try it in your air fryer and you'll only end up with a sticky mess.
2. Fresh Spinach
Your air fryer might be excellent for preparing many vegetables, but delicate leafy greens? Not so much. Not only will the powerful air circulation blow individual leaves around, but you'll also end up with very, very dry (or even burnt) leaves. Stick to sautéing your veggies in a skillet.
3. Popcorn Kernels
Your movie night is bound to be ruined if you try making popcorn in your air fryer. Listen to us—you don't want to be attempting this. If any loose kernels get trapped near the heating element, you're going to spend the rest of the evening outside while firefighters spray down your kitchen.
4. Uncooked Rice
We promise rice isn't that hard to cook. You really don't need to put uncooked grains in your air fryer and hope for the best. Even if you do this, your rice will only come out hard, dry, and unevenly cooked, and that's if they're not already scattered by the circulating air.
5. Cheese
Sure, your air fryer can melt cheese, but placing loose pieces of mozzarella or cheddar in there will not be a fun sight to see. Case in point: as they soften, they may drip through the holes of the basket and burn onto the appliance's interior. Always make sure cheese is securely breaded or wrapped inside another food before throwing it in the air fryer!
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6. Soup
While your air fryer can certainly handle an impressive variety of meals, soup is not one of them. You probably don't need us to explain why this is. If you're too lazy or short on time to make a comforting stew the traditional way, the appliance you're looking for is a pressure cooker, not an air fryer.
7. Large Roasts
Please don't try to stuff a turkey inside your air fryer—you'll ruin Thanksgiving. It's not even just their large size you should be worried about, which can obstruct airflow, but you'll end up with undercooked or raw meat. If you really want to cook it in your air fryer, make smaller cuts.
8. Bacon
Bacon is technically possible to cook in an air fryer, but stuff your basket full and it might become a fire hazard. After all, as the strips heat up, the grease will puddle beneath the basket, creating excessive smoke or splatter near the heating element. You're much better off cooking them in a skillet.
9. Plain Toast
You'd think an appliance designed to make food crispy would be perfect for preparing toast, but that sadly isn't the case. Depending on how thin or thick your slice, you might potentially cause a fire, or you'll end up with pretty uneven browning. The intense heat can also remove a lot of moisture, leaving your bread super, super dry.
10. Cake Donuts
Making cake donuts at home? Well, you should remember what we said about placing wet batter in an air fryer. In short: you're going to be disappointed. Without hot oil to cook your donuts up, the finished result may become denser and way drier than you'd prefer, too.
Of course, your air fryer isn't meant to sit unused! And while you should avoid the 10 we've covered, there are plenty of things you can fix up in the basket. Let's take a look at some of them:
1. French Fries
Looking to crisp your leftover fries back up or make a new batch? Well, an air fryer is your best friend for this task. The best part is you'll need way less oil than traditional deep frying! Just remember to shake the basket occasionally so your fries cook evenly.
2. Chicken Wings
Yes, we said no to large roasts, but that doesn't mean all meat is banned from your air fryer. In fact, if you love chicken wings with crispy skin, this is an excellent way to prepare them. If you're cooking them from scratch, however, you'll want to make sure the thickest part reaches 165°F before serving!
3. Brussels Sprouts
Spinach might not be a good candidate, but Brussels sprouts will come out delicious using an air fryer. Simply toss them with a little olive oil and seasoning beforehand, and you'll get that satisfying crunch. For an extra kick of flavor, try finishing them with grated Parmesan or a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
4. Salmon Fillets
Sure, while wet-battered fish is a no-no, that doesn't mean you can't still fix up fish using your air fryer! It's also the way to go if you're pretty newbie at cooking up fish, too, as you'll only need a little bit of oil and seasoning to create a flavorful meal. Just double-check that the thickest part reaches the recommended 145°F, or do a toothpick test.
5. Frozen Chicken Nuggets
Need a quick meal? Frozen chicken nuggets are also an excellent option for your air fryer. Unlike microwaving, which can leave their breading soft or soggy, air frying helps maintain that oh-so-crispy coating that everyone loves—provided, of course, they're thoroughly cooked before munching!
6. Broccoli
Don't limit yourself to just Brussels sprouts! Lots of other veggies, like broccoli, will get that delicious texture when tossed in an air fryer. Simply season with olive oil, garlic powder, and a little salt beforehand, and keep an eye on smaller florets as they can brown faster than larger ones.
7. Shrimp
Shrimp are already quick to cook, but using an air fryer only makes your job easier. Whether you're spicing them up with Cajun spices or garlic butter, they'll quickly develop that juicy exterior without needing a skillet full of oil. You don't want them to get rubbery, though, so check on them periodically!
8. Potato Wedges
Want something with a more satisfying bite than French fries? Make homemade potato wedges! Since the cooking part is easy, you can focus on the seasoning and experiment with paprika, rosemary, garlic, or whatever you're feeling at the moment. One piece of advice: cut the potatoes into similar sizes, as this helps ensure every wedge cooks at the same pace.
9. Crispy Chickpeas
Looking for a crunchy, healthy snack? Roasted chickpeas are worth trying. Before you cook them, though, make sure to thoroughly drain them before tossing them with oil and salting them up. They're particularly delicious with smoked paprika, cumin, or a little chili powder for a tiny kick.
10. Mozzarella Sticks
Blocks of cheese might not be able to go straight into your air fryer, but anything breaded, like mozzarella sticks, is another thing. Keep a close watch during the final minutes, and you'll have a crispy, ooey-gooey snack that's ready to enjoy in no time!
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