What can you not bake in an air fryer?

Ahh the trusty air fryer. It might be the latest addition to your kitchen appliance lineup, one that you're quite unsure how you ever lived without. For whipping up crispy Brussels sprouts to taking your kids' frozen chicken nuggets to new (almost gourmet) heights, there's nothing this little egg can't handle. Or is there? Turns out, there are a few things that are better left for other preparation methods. Whether you should skip the air fryer due to mess, uneven cooking, or just the plain-old fact that there are better or more efficient ways to cook said item, the air fryer isn't the one-and-done appliance you might have thought it was. (Though, rest assured, it certainly deserves its place in your coveted kitchen cabinet lineup.)

Take a gander of this list of top foods that should never make their way into your air fryer.

Wet Batters

Those beer-battered onion rings, fries, fish cutlets, plus tempura veggies and more are not well suited for a crisp in the air fryer. The batter will drip down into the base of the machine, making a big mess to cleanup afterward, not to mention, it could even set off the alarm on models with alert systems. You're better off either skipping these foods altogether or frying them up in batches the old-fashioned way—you know, in oil.

Cheesy Items

For the same reason that it's best to avoid battered foods, it's also a smart idea to skip cheesy items where melty goodness might be an issue. That doesn't mean that all cheese has to be kept out of the air fryer, just make sure it won't drip while it cooks.

Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts

This sounds amazing in theory. A super crispy, done-in-a-flash whole chicken that's primed for your prettiest platter and a central spot on the dining table? Not so fast. A whole chicken (as well as other large, bone-in proteins) is actually better off roasting in the oven as you're unlikely to get an even cook in the air fryer.

Baked Goods

Some baked goods fare decently in the air fryer, but the category is by no means foolproof. Try our Air Fryer Donuts which call on store-bought biscuit dough for a not-too-wet (or dense) batter. Muffins get tricky, as they can dry out as they cook, as do donuts with a wet batter for the reasons outlined in the wet-batter section above.

Greens

Brussels sprouts in the air fryer? An absolute yes. Spinach, collard, or chard leaves? Better not. Light leaves might get a little flighty during the cooking process, resulting in uneven cooking. Another green to avoid? Broccoli, which tends to dry out during the cooking process.

Too Much of Anything

Even the most recommended of air fryer foods can become a no-no if you overpack your appliance. Air fryer magic is all about air circulation. If you overstuff your basket, air won't be able to circulate as it should, which means your food won't cook appropriately. If you're serving for a crowd, it's better to batch cook to ensure everything cooks evenly and browns properly.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could make homemade fried cheese curds with this thing? Unfortunately, you’re out of luck unless you start with something frozen. Just putting cheese in the machine causes it to melt and stick to the air fryer…which only results in a mess. (If that happens, here’s how to clean your air fryer.)

Just saying the words ‘grilled cheese’ will make most mouths water. Imagine such a sandwich with an air-fried finish and what’s not to love? 

The problem is cheese can quickly melt and burn in the high temperatures of an air fryer, resulting in a stringy mess. Frozen mozzarella sticks are fine, but fresh cheese is unfortunately a no-no.  

2. Raw rice 

Raw rice grains need to be boiled in water to cook, and sadly air fryers aren’t designed to do this. Even if you found a container to hold the water, your air fryer won’t reach a high enough temperature to boil it. You should initially cook the rice on a stove top, and then you can crisp it afterwards in an air fryer. 

Alternatively, you can invest in a rice cooker for making large batches, such as the Zojirushi NS-LGC05XB Micom Rice Cooker ($149.95, Amazon (opens in new tab)). There’s always the best Instant Pots as well if you want something more versatile.  

3. Broccoli 

While some vegetables crisp up brilliantly in an air fryer, such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli won’t have quite the same effect. It contains less moisture, which means it dries out very quickly and can even turn to dust if left for long enough. 

You can add more oil to help it crisp, but the results are generally better using more traditional cooking methods, such as roasting. 

4. Wet batter 

Most of us would assume batter is safe to cook in an air fryer — after all, the majority of air fryer recipes are covered in batter. While this is the case for cooked batter, wet batter is another story. The consistency of wet batter won’t be able to set in an air fryer as it does when fried in oil, so it will end up dripping into a mess — a bit like cheese. It won’t crisp at all and the puddle of batter will burn to the base. That’s why wet batter shouldn’t go in the basket. 

Instead you can substitute with a bread crumb coating: you just need flour, bread crumbs, and eggs to do this.  

5. Roast chicken 

Unless your air fryer is big enough to fit a whole roast chicken and comes with a dedicated cooking program, it shouldn’t be used for this. Unlike the best toaster ovens, air fryers generally have a much smaller capacity and are designed for smaller jobs. 

Even if you can wedge a chicken in there, don’t do it. The air needs to circulate to cook effectively and you will end up with a dry, burnt bird. Better to cut the chicken into pieces and fry them separately.

If you're not sure whether to invest in a traditional air fryer or a toaster oven design, our Homes Editor would buy an air fryer over a toaster oven — here's why.

6. Burgers 

While you can cook burgers in an air fryer, as mentioned above, we felt it was worth flagging that it’s difficult to cook anything less than well-done. Because of the internal temperature of an air fryer, burgers will reach a medium-well color on the inside quite quickly, but the exterior won’t have had time to cook, so it’s not exactly appealing. 

If you like your burgers well-done, this isn’t an issue, but the grill might be the better option for others. The same can be said for steaks. 

7. Popcorn 

Everyone loves a bowl of freshly popped popcorn and considering it’s so quick to make in a microwave, it’s easy to think the same method should apply in an air fryer. 

Unfortunately, air fryers can’t reach the temperature required to pop the kernels (at least 400°F), so you will be left snackless on your movie night. Stick to using the microwave or stovetop instead.   

8. Seasoning  

Because an air fryer circulates the air as it cooks, any dry seasoning which isn’t secure can be blown off. Fine seasoning which you can rub in, such as salt and pepper, should be fine. But, loose seasoning such as chili flakes can catch in the air flow, making it difficult to clean your air fryer afterwards. This is also a waste of seasoning. 

Season your food once it’s out of the air fryer, or alternatively, you can add some oil to your food before seasoning to help it stick. 

9. Fresh greens 

Similar to seasoning, any lightweight leafy greens you put in your air fryer will only get blown around. This means they will cook unevenly and burn easily too, so vegetables such as lettuce and spinach should be avoided. Kale chips are possible, but you would need to coat them in enough oil to give them weight. 

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