Give the air fryer a break and leave these foods to be cooked the old-fashioned way. You probably already know that the air fryer is great for quickly making fried foods without all the oil. But did you know that there are some foods you should steered clear of cooking in this handy appliance? For anyone who hasn’t tried an air fryer yet, it essentially works by circulating hot air around the food to cook it. This can make for some pretty delicious results when it comes to certain foods. But when it comes to other foods, things can quickly go awry. Here are a few examples of foods you shouldn’t cook in an air fryer:
1. Foods with high water content like soup, stew, or sauces.
2. Juice- or syrup-filled fruits like grapes, cherries, or pancakes.
3. Whole roasts or birds. 4. Dishes that require pre-cooking like casseroles.
5. Anything breaded or battered.
6. Vegetables that cook quickly on their own.
7. Foods that are better baked, grilled, or stir-fried.
1. Foods with high water content like soup, stew, or sauces.
While an air fryer is great for many things, there are some things you should avoid cooking in one. Foods with high water content, like soup, stew, or sauces, are not ideal for air fryers.
This is because the water will cause the food to steam, rather than fry. Additionally, the water will also create a lot of smoke and grease, which can be dangerous.
If you do want to cook these types of foods in an air fryer, be sure to add less water than you would normally use, and cook for a shorter period of time.
2. Juice- or syrup-filled fruits like grapes, cherries, or pancakes.
When it comes to cooking with an air fryer, there are some things that you just shouldn’t do. One of those things is to cook fruit that is filled with juice or syrup.
This includes grapes, cherries, and pancakes. The reason why is because the air fryer will cause the syrup or juice to burst and make a huge mess. It will also cause the fruit to stick to the air fryer and be very difficult to clean. So, if you’re looking to make a healthy breakfast or snack, skip the air fryer and go for something else.
3. Whole roasts or birds.
Whole roasts or birds may seem like they would be a perfect fit for an air fryer, but unfortunately, they are not. The reason for this is that air fryers work by circulating hot air around the food, and whole roasts or birds are simply too big to fit in most air fryers.
Additionally, the skin of these items can often become tough and dry when cooked in an air fryer. If you are dead set on cooking a whole roast or bird in your air fryer, it is best to cut it into smaller pieces first.
4. Dishes that require pre-cooking like casseroles.
When it comes to casseroles, you might be tempted to put them in the air fryer to cook them more quickly. However, casseroles generally require pre-cooking before they can go into the air fryer. This is because they need to be cooked slowly in order to allow the flavors to meld together properly.
If you try to cook a casserole in the air fryer, you will likely end up with a dry, overcooked dish. The air fryer is simply not designed to cook food slowly and gently. So, if you want to make a delicious casserole, it’s best to cook it in the oven or on the stovetop.
5. Anything breaded or battered.
Breaded or battered foods might seem like they’d be a perfect fit for an air fryer, but they can actually be a little bit tricky. The breading or batter can sometimes stick to the basket or cook unevenly, so it’s important to be careful when cooking these types of foods in an air fryer.
If you do decide to cook breaded or battered foods in your air fryer, it’s important to use a cooking spray or oil to help prevent the breading from sticking. You might also want to consider using a preheated air fryer, which can help ensure that the breading or batter cooks evenly.
Some breaded or battered foods that you might want to avoid cooking in an air fryer include chicken nuggets, fish sticks, and mozzarella sticks. If you do decide to cook these types of foods, be sure to keep a close eye on them to prevent them from overcooking or burning.
6. Vegetables that cook quickly on their own.
Vegetables are a healthy and delicious addition to any meal. However, there are some vegetables that cook quickly on their own and don’t need to be cooked in an air fryer. Here are six of those vegetables. Asparagus is a delicate vegetable that can be cooked quickly on its own. It doesn’t need to be cooked in an air fryer, and in fact, it’s better not to. Asparagus is best when it’s cooked quickly and evenly, so an air fryer is not the best cooking method for this vegetable.
Broccoli is another vegetable that doesn’t need to be cooked in an air fryer. It’s best when it’s cooked quickly, so an air fryer will just overcook it. Broccoli is best cooked in a pan on the stove, so that it retains its nutrients and doesn’t get mushy. Carrots are a vegetable that can be cooked in an air fryer, but they don’t need to be. Carrots are best when they’re cooked quickly and evenly, so an air fryer is a good cooking method for this vegetable. However, carrots can also be cooked in a pan on the stove, so it’s up to you which cooking method you prefer. Cauliflower is a vegetable that can be cooked in an air fryer, but it doesn’t need to be.
Cauliflower is best when it’s cooked quickly, so an air fryer will just overcook it. Cauliflower is best cooked in a pan on the stove, so that it retains its nutrients and doesn’t get mushy. Green beans are a vegetable that can be cooked in an air fryer, but they don’t need to be. Green beans are best when they’re cooked quickly and evenly, so an air fryer is a good cooking method for this vegetable. However, green beans can also be cooked in a pan on the stove, so it’s up to you which cooking method you prefer. Peas are a delicate vegetable that can be cooked quickly on their own. They don’t need to be cooked in an air fryer, and in fact, it’s better not to. Peas are best when they’re cooked quickly and evenly, so an air fryer is not the best cooking method for this vegetable.
7. Foods that are better baked, grilled, or stir-fried.
When it comes to cooking, there are some foods that are better baked, grilled, or stir-fried. Here are seven of those foods. Tacos are one of those foods. While you can technically cook tacos in an air fryer, they’re just not going to be as good as when they’re grilled or baked. The same goes for quesadillas and burritos. Pizza is another food that’s better off baked or grilled.
Sure, you can cook pizza in an air fryer, but it’s just not going to be the same. The crust won’t be as crisp and the pizza won’t have that nice smoky flavor that you get from a grill or a wood-fired oven. Seafood is another food that’s best cooked using one of the aforementioned methods. Whether it’s fish, shrimp, or lobster, seafood is best when it’s grilled, baked, or stir-fried. Finally, vegetables are another food that are better cooked using one of these methods. While you can cook vegetables in an air fryer, they’re just going to taste better when they’re grilled or stir-fried.
Overall, it seems that there are certain foods that are better suited for other cooking methods than an air fryer. This is likely because of the way an air fryer works, by circulating hot air around the food. Foods that are dredged in flour or breading, or that have a high water content, can end up becoming too dry or even burnt in an air fryer. Additionally, delicate foods like herbs and leafy greens can also be easily overcooked in an air fryer. Therefore, it’s probably best to stick to cooking more sturdy foods, like meats and vegetables, in an air fryer.
