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Rice, leafy vegetables, popcorn… We draw up a list of foods that should never be put in your Airfryer to avoid unpleasant surprises.
In just a handful of years, the Airfryer, this high-temperature forced air fryer, has established itself as an everyday essential. Popular for its practicality and cooking requiring very little fat, this household appliance, sold more than a million copies in 2023 in France, has opened a new path in kitchens. Result, recipes multiply under the hashtag #airfryer on TikTok, from roasts to baking. However, not all foods lend themselves to forced air cooking. Details.
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Our 30 quick and easy Airfryer recipes, from main course to dessert
Pasta, rice and legumes
While it is entirely possible to use your Airfryer to heat a dish based on rice or pasta, you cannot count on it to fully cook cereals or legumes, as it cannot accommodate a volume of too much water. However, you can use your device to make previously cooked rice crispy. A trend on TikTok to add crunch to salads or to prepare bites of fried rice, topped with tuna and other toppings.
Le pop-corn
When it comes to popcorn, it’s best to stick to your microwave. Slipped into the robot tank, under the effect of heat distribution, the grains will fly away, never reaching the desired heat to explode. In addition, they risk becoming lodged in the ventilation system and thus damaging the device.
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Leaf products
While the majority of vegetables go well with the Airfryer, there are a few exceptions, such as leafy ones. Too light and volatile, spinach, arugula or even kale will fly away under the blast of forced heat. In addition to not cooking uniformly, leafy vegetables risk sticking to the walls or heating elements of the machine and burning. We therefore favor steam cooking.
A piece of meat that is too large
It is entirely possible to cook a nice piece of meat in an Airfryer. The proof with our recipe for roast chicken with garlic and lemon, or that of roast beef with herbs. At least, on one condition: having space. Indeed, if your piece de resistance is too large, the hot air will not circulate correctly within the device. Result ? Heterogeneous cooking: the meat will be raw in some places, burnt in others.
Grated cheese
It’s again a question of weight. If you decide to top a dish with grated cheese, whether Gruyère or Comté, it risks flying away due to the effect of ventilation before even having time to melt. The cheese then lodges in the bottom of the basket before burning. To no longer get trapped, you can let the cheese melt slightly and thus adhere to the food, before turning on the machine.
