Air fryers are the new(-ish) wonder in the world of kitchen appliances. That’s saying a lot considering it’s competing for this lofty spot with slow cookers and multicookers, both of which have had their time in the spotlight.
It’s a well-deserved honour. Air fryers offer people a healthier alternative to frying in oil. They usually use less energy than traditional ovens. They cook food faster, saving users time and energy. They are very versatile when it comes to what they can cook. And they offer a much cheaper alternative to having your food delivered if you don’t have much time to cook. In addition, they are affordable in themselves, even with best fryers regularly obtaining price reductions during big sales.
Simply put, they are just the ticket for most households, especially in times of inflation. In fact, PRNewswire reports (opens in a new tab) that “the fryer market in the United States is projected to have strong growth” between now and 2028.
But of course, like everything else, air fryers also have their limitations. As a sometimes overzealous fryer user, I found out that they are some things not to do while using the air fryer. I’ve also learned that there are things you shouldn’t even cook in one – no matter how many “hacks” these so-called TikTok influencers post to convince us otherwise.
Here are five foods that should not be cooked in a deep fryer lest you end up with an impossible-to-clean mess or worse.
1. Wet dough, dry spices
Wet batter – such as beer batter or tempura batter – requires a hot oil bath to solidify quickly. That’s what makes these tempura corn dogs and veggies crunchy on the outside. Since the air fryer works by circulating hot air, there is no way to cook your favorite crispy foods the way they should be cooked. Instead, you’ll end up with a chewy or soggy mess, which is also lumpy, as chances are some of that batter dripped during the cooking process.
Also, do not fry food with a layer of dry seasoning. This circulating air will blow off that seasoning instantly, especially if you’re using large ones like cornflakes. If you must, be sure to rub the seasoning well or smear the food with a little oil to help them stick.
2. Raw rice
Just as wet dough needs hot oil to set, raw rice needs water to cook. And unfortunately air fryers are not designed for this type of cooking. I’ve seen some people do tutorials of doing it in a fryer and it sounds like a pain. One recipe is to find a suitable container, such as a springform pan, boil water first, put the rice and boiling water in the pan, cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil, then set the timer for 30 minutes! Thirty minutes!
Honestly, it’s better to cook raw rice the way you’re supposed to, which is to put it in a saucepan of water, bring it to a boil, stir it, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes until all the water is absorbed. It’s that simple and a lot less hassle. If you’re not comfortable with that, invest in a rice cooker.
3. Roasted whole chicken
Again, an air fryer uses hot air to cook things, and putting a whole chicken in there to cook means there is much less room for air to circulate properly and cook evenly. That’s even if you have one of the larger models.
Moreover, the part of the chicken that is closest to the heat source will likely end up cooking faster than the bottom, which means you’ll end up with a burnt top and bottom that still need a little more time to cook. Or worse, soggy! If you want the ability to cook roasted chicken in a deep fryer, you can invest in a deep fryer such as Ninja DT201 Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro (opens in a new tab) or Corsori Air Fryer Toaster Oven (opens in a new tab).
4. Burgers
Ok, it’s one thing if you like well-done burgers – though, why?! However, if you want perfectly cooked medium-rare burgers, which is how beef should be cooked and eaten to still be beautifully juicy and flavorful, you can skip cooking the burgers in the air fryer.
Keeping the burger medium-rare means you’ll need to cook it for less time, meaning there may not be enough time for it to brown and char on the outside. If you cook it long enough for the outside to brown, the inside will be well done and dry.
5. Popcorn
Popcorn kernels need between 400 and 460 degrees to pop, and most air fryers unfortunately don’t reach that high temperature. But if you happen to have one that hits 400F like mine, you might as well risk starting a fire.
The popcorn does what it’s supposed to do which is to burst which means some of it may accidentally get stuck in the heating element at the top whether it’s because the piece jumped high enough to get stuck there or there wasn’t enough space to accommodate all the cracked beans in the basket. This is a potential fire hazard, especially if that piece is still stuck inside when another dish is cooking.
Of course, there are plenty of tasty meals that can be beautifully cooked in a deep fryer, so why not check out our guides to making deep fryer fries, deep fryer French toast and even deep fryer shortbread cookies. We can also help you learn 9 things you need to know about your new deep fryer and 6 common mistakes to avoid.