Unexpected Foods You Can (and Can’t) Cook Inside an Air Fryer
Since bursting onto the culinary scene in 2010, air fryers have skyrocketed in popularity. These compact countertop appliances promise crispy, fried-like results with little to no oil. But air fryers can do so much more than just make healthier french fries. From juicy chicken to baked pasta and even eggs, air fryers have some surprising capabilities. However, there are also certain foods you should never attempt to cook in an air fryer. Let’s explore the unexpected foods that shine in an air fryer, as well as those that flop.
Foods That Work Well in an Air Fryer
Crispy Chicken That Stays Juicy Inside
Contrary to what some may think, air fryers can produce deliciously crispy chicken that remains tender and juicy on the inside. The key is using the right technique. Start by avoiding overcrowding the basket – you can’t cook a whole chicken, but chicken breasts, wings, or strips work well. Avoid stacking pieces on top of each other.
For best results, lightly coat the chicken with oil or a flavorful rub. Cook at 350°F for about 15 minutes, then flip and cook for another 5-8 minutes. The chicken is done when the juices run clear. Using this method results in perfectly cooked chicken with a satisfying crispy exterior.
Hard Boiled Eggs Without Water
Believe it or not, you can make hard-boiled eggs in an air fryer without any water at all. The air fryer essentially “fries” the eggs to achieve the same result as boiling. To try it, preheat the air fryer to 250°F. Place cold eggs in the basket and cook for about 16 minutes.
After cooking, immediately place the eggs in an ice bath to stop the cooking process. This method produces perfectly cooked hard-boiled eggs with minimal effort. It’s a great way to meal prep protein-packed snacks for the week ahead.
Baked Pasta Dishes
While you can’t boil pasta in an air fryer, you can use it to bake delicious pasta dishes. Most air fryer pasta recipes require partially boiling the noodles first. After par-boiling, combine the pasta with sauce and other ingredients in an air fryer-safe baking dish.
Bake the pasta dish in the air fryer at around 350°F for about 10 minutes, though cooking time may vary depending on the type of pasta used. This method works well for dishes like baked ziti, mac and cheese, and lasagna. The air fryer creates a perfectly crispy top layer.
Perfectly Popped Popcorn
Contrary to popular belief, air fryers can indeed get hot enough to pop popcorn. Popcorn kernels require a temperature of at least 355°F to pop. Most air fryers reach maximum temperatures between 325°F and 400°F, making them suitable for popcorn.
To make air fryer popcorn, heat the fryer to 400°F. Toss popcorn kernels with a small amount of oil and cook for about 5 minutes. The popcorn should pop quickly and evenly. This method produces a light, crispy snack without the need for excess oil or butter.
Crispy, Lean Bacon
Air fryers are excellent for cooking bacon that’s crispy yet lean. As the bacon cooks, excess fat drips through the basket, resulting in crispier, less greasy bacon. To make air fryer bacon, preheat to 400°F. Lay bacon strips in a single layer in the basket, being careful not to overcrowd.
Cook for about 10 minutes, checking periodically to achieve your desired level of crispiness. The air fryer method produces perfectly crisp bacon with less mess and splatter than stovetop cooking. It’s a great option for those looking to cut down on excess grease and fat.
Homemade Cookies
Air fryers can bake cookies faster and more efficiently than a standard oven. Most air fryers only need about 3 minutes to preheat, compared to 10-15 minutes for an oven. To bake cookies, use a small round baking pan or bundt pan that fits inside the air fryer basket.
Prepare cookie dough as usual and place it in the pan. Bake at the temperature specified in your recipe, typically around 350°F. Check the cookies frequently, as they may bake faster than in a conventional oven. This method produces perfectly golden, crisp-edged cookies in minutes.
Quick and Easy Bread
Baking bread in an air fryer can be faster and more energy-efficient than using an oven. You’ll need a baking pan that fits inside your air fryer basket. Prepare bread dough as usual and allow it to rise. Then, place it in the pan and bake it in the air fryer.
Most bread recipes work well at around 375°F. Bake until the internal temperature reaches 200°F. Cooking times vary based on the type and size of bread, but it’s generally quicker than oven baking. This method produces crusty, golden loaves with a tender interior.
Crispy Frozen Foods
Air fryers excel at crisping up frozen foods without leaving them soggy. The circulating hot air helps achieve a crispy exterior while heating the inside thoroughly. Cooking times and temperatures vary depending on the specific food, but in general, frozen foods cook well in air fryers.
For best results, lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil to prevent sticking. Shake the basket periodically during cooking to ensure even crisping. This method works great for frozen fries, chicken nuggets, fish sticks, and more.
Perfectly Al Dente Zucchini Noodles
Air fryers can cook zucchini noodles (zoodles) to the perfect al dente texture without becoming soggy. Because zucchini has a high water content, it tends to get mushy when cooked in a pot. The air fryer’s circulating hot air helps evaporate excess moisture, resulting in perfectly tender-crisp zoodles.
To make air fryer zoodles, preheat to 400°F and lightly oil the basket. Toss zucchini noodles with your preferred sauce and seasonings. Cook for 5-7 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. This quick method produces ideal zoodles for low-carb pasta dishes.
Crispy Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts cook exceptionally well in an air fryer, becoming crispy on the outside while tender inside. The high heat and circulating air help caramelize the outer leaves, creating delicious crispy bits. Air frying requires minimal oil, making it a healthier cooking method.
To make air fryer brussels sprouts, preheat to 375°F. Toss halved brussels sprouts with a small amount of oil, vinegar, and seasonings. Cook for about 15 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through. The result is perfectly crispy, flavorful brussels sprouts.
Foods to Avoid in an Air Fryer
Wet Batter
While air fryers can crisp up many foods, they don’t work well with wet batters. In a traditional deep fryer, the oil helps set the batter onto the food. An air fryer lacks this capability, so the wet batter will simply drip off and make a mess. The batter may even burn before the food inside cooks properly.
Instead of wet batter, try using a light coating of oil and dry seasonings or a breadcrumb coating. This will help achieve a crispy exterior without the mess of wet batter. Save the beer batter and tempura for traditional frying methods.
Cheese
Avoid putting cheese directly in an air fryer, especially as a topping or filling. The high heat and circulating air will cause the cheese to melt and drip, creating a messy situation. Melted cheese can also burn quickly in an air fryer.
This applies to foods with exposed cheese like cheeseburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, and quesadillas. If you want to add cheese to air-fried foods, it’s best to do so after cooking or at the last minute or two of cooking time.
Leafy Greens
Lightweight leafy greens like spinach or lettuce don’t fare well in air fryers. The powerful air circulation can cause these delicate greens to fly around inside the fryer. This not only creates a mess but can also lead to uneven cooking or burning.
If you want to cook greens in an air fryer, stick to heartier options like kale. Even then, you’ll need to weigh the leaves down with a bit of oil. For most leafy greens, traditional cooking methods like sautéing or steaming are better options.
Rice and Pasta
Air fryers can’t boil water, which means they can’t cook foods that require hydration, like dried rice or pasta. These foods need to absorb water to cook properly, which isn’t possible in an air fryer’s dry heat environment.
While you can’t cook dried rice or pasta from scratch in an air fryer, you can use it to crisp up already-cooked rice or pasta dishes. Things like fried rice or pasta bakes work well when prepared properly for air frying.
Whole Roasts
While air fryers work great for smaller cuts of meat, they’re not suitable for cooking large roasts or whole chickens. The issue is uneven cooking – the part of the roast closest to the heating element will cook much faster than the rest. This can lead to a roast that’s burnt on one side and undercooked on the other.
For best results, stick to cooking smaller, more uniformly-sized pieces of meat in the air fryer. Save whole roasts and chickens for the oven or slow cooker, where they can cook more evenly.
Raw Vegetables with Low-Fat Content
While some vegetables cook beautifully in an air fryer, others tend to dry out too quickly. Vegetables with low-fat content and high water content, like fresh green beans or bell peppers, often become desiccated before they can cook through.
Broccoli is another vegetable that tends to dry out in the air fryer, resulting in a dusty, unpleasant texture. For these types of vegetables, steaming or roasting in the oven often produces better results.
Salmon and Other Delicate Fish
While you can cook fish in an air fryer, delicate varieties like salmon require careful attention. These types of fish cook very quickly and can easily become overcooked and dry in an air fryer. The high heat and powerful air circulation can also cause the fish to fall apart.
If you do want to try cooking salmon in an air fryer, it’s crucial to keep a close eye on it and check it frequently. For most people, traditional cooking methods like baking or pan-searing are easier and produce more reliable results for delicate fish.
Toast
Despite being able to bake bread, air fryers aren’t great for making toast. The powerful air circulation can cause lightweight bread slices to blow around, resulting in uneven toasting. You’re likely to end up with bread that’s burnt in some spots and undercooked in others.
For evenly toasted bread, stick to a traditional toaster or toaster oven. These appliances are designed specifically for the task and will produce more consistent results.
Cake Batter
While you can bake some desserts in an air fryer, cake batter is not one of them. The liquid batter will be blown around by the air circulation, creating a mess and preventing the cake from forming properly. You’re likely to end up with a splattered, unevenly cooked result.
For baking cakes, it’s best to stick with a conventional oven. If you want to make desserts in your air fryer, try options like cookies or fruit crisps that have a more solid consistency.
Charlie Golsley
