7 Foods You Shouldn't Cook in Air fryer

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Air fryer as a kitchen appliance has taken the cooking world by storm. Sure, it feels like a compact oven, but let me tell you, it is such a handy appliance. You will use it everyday and will discover new and exciting recipes to cook with it daily. But, it cannot cook everything. Find out what you must not cook in air fryer.

Foods With Runny Batters

Spinach pakoda on a plate — Image Credit: Rachna cooks

Anything that has a dripping batter must be deep fried or cooked in a skillet. Otherwise, it will create a nasty mess by dripping down from the holes of air fryer basket mesh.

Yes, you can cook pakoras that usually have a runny batter in air fryer, but only after modifying the batter to not be runny.

Get the recipe: Air fryer Onion Pakora

Uncooked Grains

Gochujang fried rice close up — Image Credit: Rachna cooks

Uncooked grains like rice, millet, quinoa, etc. do not cook well in the air fryer. If they are cooked, then you can use them to make recipes like rice croquettes or cooked grain recipes. Try the fried rice recipe shared on stovetop.

Get the recipe: Korean Fried Rice

Hot Liquids

Delicious bowl of vegan broccoli cheddar soup — Image Credit: Rachna cooks

You cannot make soups or stews in the air fryer. It cannot cook with liquids like a rice cooker or a regular stove top. Hence, leave this cooking to your other appliances like pressure cookers or instant pots.

Try this soup in a regular pan.

Get the recipe: Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Light Foods

Air fried popcorn in a bowl — Image Credit: Rachna cooks

Very light weight foods like chips, papads, crisps, popcorn are hard to cook in air fryer. They will fly up to the heating element and get burnt.

There are hacks by which you can air fry papad, popcorn or chips but that ensures adding a wire mesh on top or places them below the air fryer basket for safety.

Get the recipe: How to Make Popcorn

Cheesy Foods

Bread pizza on a plate — Image Credit: Rachna cooks

I have made cheesy pizzas using naan or bread in air fryer. But the cheese will need to be weighed down by toppings or place a mesh on top. Otherwise, cheese can turn into a mess if not weighed down.

Get the recipe: Air fryer Bread Pizza

Pumpkin Pasta

If you are trying to cook pasta in air fryer, it won't work, as the air fryer does not do a good job with cooking in liquids. It may cook unevely and get mushy. But cooked pasta can be air fried to make pasta chips or even baked pasta recipes can be made in air fryer.

Get the recipe: Pumpkin Pasta

Leafy Greens

Air fried peppers closeup — Image Credit: Rachna cooks

While veggies like zucchini, carrots, cauliflower etc. turn out fabulous in the air fryer, leafy green become shrivelled and dry. Yes, you can make lovely chips or crisps in air fryer, but otherwise things like spinach will not cook right in the air fryer.

Try these veggies instead.

Get the recipe: Air fryer Peppers