5 Things You Shouldn’t Cook in an Air Fryer
1. Fresh Burgers
Why Avoid It: Air fryers will not give burgers the classic, tasty exterior char that you get from using an outdoor grill or a heavy cast-iron pan on the stovetop.
2. Oversized Whole Poultry (Big Birds)
Why Avoid It: Stuffing a chicken or turkey that is too large into the basket restricts the essential space needed for hot air to flow freely. Without proper circulation, the food cooks unevenly, risking a burned exterior while the interior remains dangerously undercooked.
3. Wet Battered Foods
Why Avoid It: Freshly dipped wet batter (like homemade onion rings or beer-battered fish) will not set fast enough. Instead, the powerful internal convection fan will blow the wet batter right off the food, creating a mess.
Exception: This rule does not apply to pre-frozen breaded foods (like store-bought chicken nuggets), which are perfectly fine to air fry.
4. Extra Cheesy Foods (Like Grilled Cheese)
Why Avoid It: High heat causes loose cheese to ooze out rapidly, falling through the grates and pooling at the bottom of the drawer. This creates a highly stubborn, baked-on gooey mess that makes cleanup incredibly difficult.
5. Rice and Raw Grains
Why Avoid It: Grains require sustained boiling water to absorb moisture and cook properly. Even if you use a specialized solid pan insert, an air fryer is not engineered to boil water efficiently or cook grains evenly. Preparing them on a traditional stove is much faster and produces a far better texture.
For a complete beginner guide, read:Air Fryer Guide for Beginners
