There are some foods you shouldn’t cook in an air fryer (Image: PA)
They are one of the hottest trends in home cooking in recent years, with air fryers becoming more and more popular with time pressed households with one eye on their energy bills.
Often quicker to cook with than a traditional oven, as well as cheaper to run, air fryers also have the added bonus of being able to cook food with less oil too, making them healthier in a lot of cases too – win, win win.
But while air fryers are a useful and versatile addition to most , they aren’t infallible, and in fact food experts have warned that there are some foods that you should never try to cook in an air fryer.
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While some foods, like broccoli, simply don’t cook as well in an air fryer as they do in a saucepan and will come out chewy and bland, others can be downright dangerous.
Aviva is urging people to exercise caution after a new survey revealed nearly one in five UK adults (19%) have encountered potential or actual fire hazards in their homes due to air fryers.
Smoke coming from the air fryer (9%) and overheating (9%) were the most common fire-related issues, followed by scorching (4%). The data also highlighted more serious incidents, including experiencing an explosion in the home due to an air fryer (3%), while another 3% of people have experienced a fire.
It said: “Aviva has also seen a number of significant home insurance claims relating to air fryer fires over the last four years, with claimants sustaining considerable fire and smoke damage to their homes. Some claims incurred tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage, with the average claim for 2024 sitting at £29,555.”
According to Good Food, popcorn is something you shouldn’t ever put in your air fryer because of the risk of fire.
Popcorn kernels don’t cook well in an air fryer because they don’t get hot enough to pop the kernels. But what’s worse, they can become lodged in the fryer’s heater element, creating a fire hazard.
Grace Forell, consumer journalist from Which?, told the : “No, don’t try this one at home. Popcorn won’t cook well in an air fryer as most models won’t reach the required temperature to pop the kernels.
“Popcorn kernels can also become lodged within the air fryer’s heating element, which may cause the appliance to short creating a fire hazard. Stick with the microwave or the hob for popcorn if you’re settling down for a good movie night!”
Wet batter is another food item that shouldn’t go in an air fryer. Wet batter, used on foods like fried chicken, does not get hot enough in an air fryer to set the batter, which causes it to be mushy and drip everywhere rather than turning crispy. The resulting puddle of uncooked batter can also burn the base of the basket, damaging the fryer.
Finally, toast. While this one won’t do any harm to your appliance, it won’t make edible toast, either.
Toast is best avoided, says Good Food’s cookery assistant Helena Busiakiewicz who explained: “If you put bread in an air fryer, it will just move around and not really cook properly. For the best results, I’d always stick to a toaster.”
While it is safe to put oil in an air fryer, this should be done sparingly, and excessive amounts of oil can still be linked to fires, says insurance firm Aviva.
This is because the devices simply aren’t designed to cook large amounts of oil. Aviva said 8% of fires in its research were caused by using too much oil in an air fryer.
Hannah Davidson, senior underwriting manager at Aviva, says:”With the increasing popularity of air fryers, it’s crucial that users are aware of the associated fire risks. Aviva’s survey shows that nearly one five UK residents have encountered fire-related issues with air fryers, from smoking and overheating to explosions and fires. This, alongside our claims insights, underscores the need for constant vigilance.
“At Aviva, we’re committed to helping our customers stay safe. Simple practices such as not leaving air fryers unattended, avoiding excessive amounts of oil when cooking, placing air fryers on non-flammable surfaces, and ensuring proper ventilation during use can significantly reduce fire risks. Keeping a fire blanket and a small fire extinguisher in the kitchen is also good practice.
“In the unfortunate event of an air fryer fire, never throw water on an electrical fire. Instead, use a fire blanket or a fire extinguisher rated for electrical fires, and call the fire brigade if necessary. Having the right home insurance policy can also help protect against significant financial losses, providing extra peace of mind while you prepare your meals.”