Irish households warned: Avoid using air fryers for these specific foods to prevent kitchen disasters
Air fryers have become a staple in many Irish households thanks to their affordability and quick cooking
Irish households with an air fryer in their kitchen have been issued a warning.
They've been advised to exercise caution when using these popular devices and to avoid cooking certain dishes and foods in them.
"Air fryers have become a staple in many households thanks to their affordability and quick cooking," said Matt Ayres, an appliance expert at RDO Kitchens & Appliances.
"While an air fryer is great for cooking a wide variety of food, there are some items you really shouldn't be cooking in an air fryer."
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"These appliances are simply not designed for wet batters," explained Matt. "Unlike deep frying, the air fryer won’t set the wet batter quickly, leading to a soggy, dripping mess at the bottom of the basket instead of a crispy coating.
"This will also be incredibly messy to clean, so instead, use a dry coating like breadcrumbs on your air-fried items for a perfect crunch." He explained: "Although there are various recipes online instructing how to make popcorn in your air fryer, this may come with more hassle than it is worth."
Matt says a lot can depend on which make and model of air fryer in use in the household.
"Depending on your air fryer model, it might not reach the high temperatures needed to pop popcorn effectively. This often leads to uneven popping and potential burning. Rather stick to more traditional methods such as a stovetop popper or the microwave.
"Lightweight leafy greens such as spinach can get blown around by the air fryer’s fan, causing them to burn quickly without cooking evenly," said Matt. "Instead, opt for dense vegetables like carrots or potatoes which will respond to the air fryer much better, resulting in an evenly cooked side dish.
"Bread, seeds and rice and pasta are also issues. Toasting bread in the air fryer may seem like a good idea at first," said Matt. "However, breadcrumbs on and around the fan and heating elements can be tricky to clean up.
"It is extremely difficult to remove those crumbs from the heating elements, so it’ll likely lead to a persistent burning smell every time the air fryer is used." He went on: "First, cook rice and pasta on the stovetop or in a rice cooker to ensure that it is thoroughly cooked through. However, if you’re looking to create a crispy top on a baked pasta dish, simply place the casserole dish into the air fryer for a few minutes to grill the top."
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