Revealed: The 7 foods you should NEVER cook in an air fryer, according to experts

It is the must-have kitchen gadget of the moment, loved by celebrities like Sir Mo Farah, Drew Barrymore and Oprah Winfrey.

Airfryers use hot air instead of hot oil to cook food and offer a quick and healthy alternative to deep fryers.

While the appliance can be used to cook a number of foods, including French fries, pizza and falafels, there are several other products that are not suitable.

Which? has revealed a list of seven popular foods that you should never cook in an air fryer.

“You can cook almost anything in an air fryer, but some foods are much more messy than necessary or can even pose a safety risk.” explained.

1. Popcorn

If you’re planning a movie night, you might be tempted to pop some popcorn kernels in the air fryer.

However, which ones? recommends using the microwave instead, otherwise you may have to wait a while.

“Cooking popcorn in your air fryer may not even work because most air fryers don’t reach a temperature high enough to pop the kernels,” it explained.

“The good old microwave will do much better.”

2. Pasta and pasta sauce

Unsurprisingly, you can’t use an air fryer to cook raw pasta because you have to put it in boiling water.

And while cooking pasta sauces in an air fryer is technically possible, it’s likely to get very messy.

“You can use an airfryer to reheat pasta and sauce that has already been cooked, but the microwave is a more efficient way to do this,” Which? advises.

3. Toast

Just like pasta sauce, it is not impossible to prepare toast in the airfryer.

However, you’ll probably be disappointed with the results compared to toast made in the toaster or under the broiler.

“The airfryer can dry out the bread and crumbs can get stuck in the bottom of the basket because the toast will blow around during cooking.” Which? explained.

“You also have to turn it halfway. It’s just not worth it.’

4. Rice

Cooking rice from scratch requires water, so the airfryer isn’t suitable for that.

“An airfryer is not a standard cooking and steaming appliance – you’re better off sticking with a slow cooker or a pan on the stovetop,” Which? said.

5. Fresh vegetables

If you’re a fan of kale chips, you might be tempted to toss some fresh veggies into your air fryer.

However, you will not get crispy chips from this.

Lettuce, kale, and spinach leaves are so light they’re likely to get blown through the air fryer, creating a mess rather than a delicious snack.

6. Cheese (unless it’s halloumi)

Although frozen cheese products such as breaded cheese snacks or mozzarella sticks can be perfectly prepared in the airfryer, it is best not to use fresh cheese.

Most fresh cheese has a low melting temperature, which means it can burn quickly.

The only exception to this rule is halloumi, which can be safely prepared in the airfryer thanks to its higher melting point.

7. Whole chicken

Unless you have a huge air fryer, don’t put a whole chicken in it.

Airfryers need enough space for the hot air to circulate, and a whole chicken would take up too much space for that.

This means that a whole chicken is likely to burn on the outside and remain raw on the inside.

“Cooking whole roasts, such as roast chicken, can be problematic, so add your bird before frying.” Which? said.

So, what can you cook in an air fryer?

Aside from the seven items mentioned, you can cook almost anything in an airfryer.

Which? added: ‘Besides chicken and fries, other popular choices include potatoes, roasted vegetables, falafel, fish, pizza and even baked goods such as cookies and cakes.

“Airfryers can also be useful for quickly cooking and refreshing frozen foods and snacks such as fish fingers, chicken nuggets, spring rolls and pies.”