Many Make This Mistake: 10 Foods You Should Never Put in the Air Fryer

The air fryer is beloved for its quick and healthy cooking method. But not all foods are suited for this style of preparation.

1. Unbreaded Cheese

Cheese without a coating melts quickly and can ooze out into the air fryer, making cleanup difficult and potentially causing smoke.

2. Raw Rice or Pasta

These foods need to be boiled in water to cook properly. The air fryer can’t replicate the function of a pot of boiling water.

3. High-Water-Content Vegetables

Veggies like cucumber, lettuce, and watermelon turn mushy and lose their texture — they don’t handle the air fryer’s dry heat well.

4. Whole Roasts or Large Cuts of Meat

Big cuts don’t cook evenly in an air fryer, often resulting in raw centers — a hygiene and safety risk.

5. Wet Batter

Foods with wet batter, like pancakes or beignets, will run and fail to crisp. They’re better suited for deep frying or baking.

6. Lightweight Greens Like Spinach

Light greens can get sucked up into the heating element, burn, and create smoke and unpleasant smells.

7. Popcorn

Most air fryers don’t get hot enough to pop corn kernels, and the kernels can even damage the machine.

8. Raw Eggs in the Shell

Trying to hard-boil eggs in the air fryer can lead to messy explosions and a major cleanup job.

9. Oily Fish

Fatty fish like mackerel and salmon may splatter oil and create smoke. Opt for the oven or stovetop instead.

10. Sauces and Liquids

The air fryer isn’t designed for cooking with large amounts of liquid. Sauces can drip through the basket, causing smoke and mess.