The air fryer has become a versatile kitchen gadget capable of preparing almost any dish. However, there are certain limitations to its capabilities.
According to Sari Spåra, a cookbook author and food and beverage industry expert, while the air fryer can be used to cook a wide variety of foods and baked goods, such as rolls, pizza, cakes, or cookies, not everything is suited for air fryer cooking.
Here are five types of food that might not be the best fit for your air fryer:
Large Food Batches: Due to the relatively small size of the air fryer basket, large batches of food may not cook evenly or efficiently. Spåra suggests cooking certain foods in batches for optimal results.
Long-Simmering Foods: Spåra advises against preparing sauces, soups, or other foods requiring long simmering times in an air fryer. However, she mentions successfully making dishes like rutabaga casserole, which typically need a longer cooking time, with excellent results in the air fryer.
Foods Requiring Frequent Stirring: Foods that need a lot of stirring might be cumbersome to prepare in an air fryer. For instance, dishes like risotto or meat sauce, which require constant stirring, might not be ideal for air fryer cooking.
Delicate Foods: Very delicate foods might get tossed around due to the air fryer's use of airflow for cooking. Thin apple slices, for example, could end up flying around inside the device.
Thick and Dense Foods: While an air fryer can successfully cook a moist sponge cake or brownie, denser dough might not cook as evenly. It's important to consider the density of the food being prepared.
Air fryers can affect the flavor and texture of some foods compared to traditional cooking methods. Because air fryers use hot air for cooking, they produce a different result than deep-frying or baking in an oven.
This can impact the juiciness of meat or the moistness of baked goods, possibly requiring additional moisture or marination to retain their tenderness.
Experimenting with different foods and cooking methods in the air fryer can reveal which dishes best suit your taste and preferences. Not every culinary attempt will go as planned, but by exploring and learning, you can discover the full potential of your air fryer.
