Although air fryers make dinner preparation much easier, not everyone is aware that some foods are “taboo” for them or that improper use of them might be unhealthy.
Avoid putting the following foods in the air fryer:
Fresh vegetables
When heated air circulates at high temperatures, leafy greens like spinach could not cook through evenly. Choose heavier green veggies, like broccoli or zucchini, when selecting vegetables for the air fryer.
If kale has enough weight and is covered with oil, it can also be cooked in an air fryer. Additionally, since frozen greens hold more moisture, you can use them.
Whole pieces fried
The first issue with frying full pieces is obviously if the air fryer can accommodate the quantity of food. However, frying whole chunks of meat is only appropriate for conventional frying techniques, even if the piece of meat fits in the fryer. The reason is that meat cannot be cooked evenly in an air fryer.
The best way to cook food in an air fryer is to chop it into smaller pieces since air requires room to circulate. The air fryer heats from top to bottom, so if you’re frying chicken, make sure the skin is on top and the breast side is down.
Soft foods
You shouldn’t put soft foods in the air fryer unless they are frozen or already fried. It is obvious that placing soft foods in an air fryer will result in a disorganized interior and that the food will not crisp up as you would hope. Soft meals can be dipped in flour, egg, or breadcrumbs to make them crispier.
Cheese
You should only “fry” frozen mozzarella sticks; grilled cheese and other cheeses shouldn’t be cooked in an air fryer because of the high pressure from the hot air stream, which can easily cause grilled cheese to burn. For these kinds of foods, traditional cooking techniques work well.
Raw grains
Rice and pasta are examples of grains that can get crispy after being cooked in an air fryer, but they must first be boiled. If you try to cook a dish that needs water in an air fryer, it won’t turn out well because the air fryer cooks food by drying it out. Your air fryer won’t get hot enough to boil the water and cook your grains correctly, even if it offers a space for adding water.
