Foods you should never put in an air fryer

The air fryer is a kitchen appliance that works for everything from crisping up veggies to baking muffins, all with less oil and mess than traditional cooking methods, like pan-frying. 

But while it’s versatile and user-friendly, not every food is a good match for the air fryer. In fact, some foods can lead to disappointing results and make a mess in your appliance. 

Putting the wrong foods in an air fryer can result in uneven cooking, burnt meals, damaged equipment, or even a messy cleanup.

Knowing what to avoid can help you get the best results while extending the life of your appliance.

Wet batter coated foods

Foods coated in a liquid batter, such as beer-battered fish or onion rings, should not go directly into an air fryer.

Unlike deep frying, where the hot oil instantly sets the batter, an air fryer blows hot air around the food. The batter is likely to drip off before it cooks, creating a mess and leaving you with unevenly coated food.

Instead, use breaded coatings or freeze-battered foods before air frying.

Leafy greens

Light vegetables like spinach, kale and lettuce can easily be blown around by the powerful fan inside the air fryer. This can cause uneven cooking or even allow the leaves to touch the heating element, leading to burning.

Roast leafy greens in the oven or cook them in a pan if you’re preparing larger portions.

Cheese

Unless cheese is enclosed in a coating or pastry, it will melt quickly and drip through the basket, creating a sticky mess that’s difficult to clean.

Foods like mozzarella sticks work because the cheese is protected by breadcrumbs.

Large bone-in roasts

Large cuts of meat, such as whole chickens or thick roasts, may not cook evenly in smaller air fryers. The outside can brown before the inside reaches a safe temperature.

Pro tip: always cut meat into smaller portions or use a conventional oven for larger joints.

Popcorn

Most air fryers do not get hot enough in the right way to pop kernels consistently. Loose kernels can also become trapped near the heating element, posing a potential fire risk.

Stick to microwave popcorn or a stovetop popper instead.

Rice and pasta

Raw rice and dry pasta require boiling water to cook properly. Since air fryers use dry heat, they cannot prepare these foods from scratch.

You can, however, use an air fryer to reheat cooked rice or pasta dishes.

Delicate fish fillets

Thin fish fillets can dry out quickly or fall apart when exposed to the circulating hot air, especially if they are not lightly coated with oil or breadcrumbs.

For delicate seafood, baking, steaming or pan-frying may produce better results.

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