Air fryer expert reveals 4 foods you should never cook in it

It is quite common to try cooking these items in an air fryer but it can cause more mess than it is worth. <i>(Image: Getty)</i>
It is quite common to try cooking these items in an air fryer but it can cause more mess than it is worth. (Image: Getty)
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Air fryers have become hugely popular over the last few years, and almost every kitchen now has one.

They are quick and easy to use and can often save you some money rather than running your oven for hours.

People have become obsessed with viral recipes that can be done using an air fryer, from baking cakes to cooking entire roast dinners.

However, a cooking expert has revealed four foods you should avoid putting in your air fryer.

Four foods you should not put in your air fryer

Martin Senders, Phillips’ in-house air fryer chef, shared the foods you need to avoid trying to cook in your air fryer.

He said: “Air fryers are incredibly versatile, but they're not suitable for absolutely everything.

"Foods that are very lightweight, produce a lot of grease, or melt quickly can cause problems inside the basket because they can disrupt the hot-air circulation, leading to uneven cooking, excess smoke or a messy clean-up."

Bacon

Martin said you should not put bacon in your air fryer, as it releases a lot of fat while it cooks that can splatter around the basket and even cause smoke.

Cooking bacon in an air fryer can cause more mess and smoke than cooking it in a frying pan or oven.

Sliced cheese

Sliced cheese can also create smoke if it drips through the gaps and burns on the base of your air fryer.

You should avoid putting cheese directly into an air fryer and instead, try melting it in a burger or toastie.

Popcorn

While cooking popcorn in an air fryer, many kernels will not pop or will end up burning.

Martin said: “Loose kernels can also be blown around the appliance and become lodged near the heating element, making it a food that's best avoided.”

Poppadoms

Poppadoms are very light, and the fan in the air fryer can cause them to be thrown around the basket.

Martin added: “They often curl up, cook unevenly or burn in patches before they've had a chance to crisp properly.

“For the best results, stick to the cooking method recommended on the packaging."

Have you ever tried cooking any of these foods in your air fryer? Let us know in the comments.

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