Air fryers have had quite the hype in the market since it was released back in September 2010. From then till now there have been many versions of air fryers on the market.
These versions are making progress in time and you probably have been left confused about which one to opt for. However, if you’re past that stage you must be thinking about whether there are things that cant be air fried.
Yes, some things are told to be avoided placing in the air fryer so it doesn’t damage the air fryer. But there are some of the weirdest things I have seen people cooking on the internet in an air fryer. OMG!
This blog is all about whether it’s safe to cook or what are those weird trends that you can try for yourself, so dive right into them:
What Is An Air Fryer?
The air fryer is essentially an upgraded countertop convection oven that does not fry food. The small appliance patented by Philips Electronics Company claims to imitate the outcomes of deep-frying using only hot air and little or no oil.
This device has extended in favor in recent years, with nearly 40% of U.S. homes owning one by July 2020, according to this market research establishment. Air-frying can be employed to cook everything from defrosted chicken wings and homemade french fries to toasted vegetables and fresh-baked cookies.
What Can You Make in an Air Fryer?
While many of the best air-fryer recipes are for deep-fried foods, you can also use this appliance to roast vegetables, cook meat, and bake cookies.
- Frozen foods
- Homemade finger food
- Chicken, fish, and meat
- Roasted vegetables
Is There Anything You Can’t Put In The Air Fryer?
Yes, there are plenty of things that are not air fry friendly and should be avoided placing in an air fryer:
- Broccoli can dry out
- Large/Full Chicken roasts might not cook well
- Wet battered food will cause the batter to run out
- Cheese can Create mess and stick to places unreachable
- Medium rare burgers will not cook up to the mark
- Fresh greens will cook unevenly
- Seasoned meat or fish, since the seasoning might fall off
Can You Put Aluminum Foil In An Air Fryer?
Yes, aluminum foil is safe to be placed in an air fryer.
Your aluminum foil and the meal it’s with will not be ruined by the air fryer’s cooking process, which consists of rushing hot air.
Due to the hot air, the foil must be secured to the food or the air fryer basket. Otherwise, the foil may become loose and fly around the device as your food cooks.
The users must mold and shape the foil to the basket of the air fryer or cooked food. Make sure to secure the foil to the basket or the food rather than the bottom of the air fryer, as this will disrupt the airflow and the cooking of your food.
On an additional note, parchment paper is also considered safe for an air fryer, however, wax paper has been deemed not safe for air fryers since it’s attracted to heat and can melt.
Weirdest Things You Can Air Fry
Bite Size Churros
Churros in bite-size pieces are deliciously poppable! Make your favorite homemade churro batter and pipe 3-inch lengths onto baking sheets. Freeze for 20 minutes, or until firm.
In the air fryer, cook the frozen dough for 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown and fragrant. Roll mini churros in cinnamon sugar after brushing with butter. Serve with salted caramel sauce for a truly decadent treat.
Crispy Apple Chips
Homemade apple chips are a nutritious snack, but they can take up to an hour to bake in a standard oven. Air-frying drastically reduces cooking time while producing a crunchy, satisfying treat.
Slice your favorite apple variety into quarter-inch rounds. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees F. Before serving, sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon over the chips.
Gooey Grilled Cheese
Cheese, cheese, and more cheese are the best things in life! Air-fried grilled cheese sandwiches have a soft inside and a crispy golden outside. Sandwich your favorite cheese between two thick slices of sandwich bread and smear with a small amount of room temperature butter.
Bake at 370°F for 4 minutes, then flip and bake for another 3 minutes.
Instant Garlic Bread
Five minutes and you’ll have crispy garlic bread! When air-frying, quartered slim baguettes produce excellent results. Lightly butter each piece of bread and sprinkle with minced (or powdered) garlic.
Fry two pieces for 5-6 minutes at 350 degrees F.
Air Fried Pickles
Do you want something salty? Fried pickles are the perfect snack! In an air fryer, thick-cut store-bought pickle chips work best.
Pat pickles dry before dipping them in beaten egg and rolling them in panko breadcrumbs. Fry for 8-10 minutes at 400 degrees F, flipping halfway through for even browning.
Crab Rangoon
Skip the deep fryer for a healthier version of everyone’s favorite take-out appetizer. Cook for 5 minutes at 360°F using your favorite recipe. For a quick fix, serve with ready-made duck sauce.
Donuts
In just 5 minutes, ordinary canned biscuits are transformed into golden, puffy donuts. Remove the centers of the biscuits with a 1-inch round cookie cutter, and don’t forget to save the donut holes!
Fry the donuts in batches of four for 5 minutes at 350 degrees F. Fry all of the donut holes at the same time for 3 minutes. Brush hot donuts lightly with butter and roll in cinnamon sugar.
Corn
Sweet flavor abounds in this fried corn on the cob! A standard fryer can hold four medium ears of corn, cut in half. Brush them lightly with olive oil and cook for 10-12 minutes at 370 degrees F.
Finish with flake sea salt and a squeeze of lemon or lime juice.
Are There Any Fun Things That You Can Air-Fry?
Oh yes. There are many fun things that you can try to air fry as your comfort food, let’s take a look at them:
Cauliflower bites
These cauliflower nuggets are a serious treat, coated in a fragrant spice mix, buttermilk, flour, and hot sauce before being air fried until golden brown and crunchy. Serve with white bread and pickles or on their own.
Fish Cakes
You can make these fish cakes with pretty much any seafood you have on hand, including shellfish like shrimp or clams. They also keep well in the freezer for four months, allowing you to prepare them ahead of time and reheat them when you’re unsure what to make.
Sweet Potato Chips
These veggie chips are a healthier alternative to French fries and only require five ingredients: sweet potato, olive oil, salt, pepper, and thyme.
Sweet Chili Chicken Wings
After tasting these crunchy homemade chicken wings tossed in a Thai-inspired sauce made with soy sauce, sweet chili, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil, you may never order restaurant chicken wings again.
Cauliflower Gnocchi
This recipe calls for frozen cauliflower gnocchi, but you can cook any gnocchi in the air fryer, fresh or frozen, cauliflower, ricotta, or potato, to achieve a perfectly crispy texture. Toss with your favorite sauce and serve.
Fish Fillets
To make this version of fish and chips, use any semi-firm, flaky white fish, such as hake, cod, or halibut. These fish fillets could also be served in tacos, on top of a salad, or in a burrito bowl.
Can You Air Fry An Egg?
Yes, you can air-fry an egg. But there’s a twist to it, you can only hard boil an egg.
Here’s how you can do it: Place cold eggs in the air fryer basket. Cook the fresh eggs in the air fryer at 270 degrees Fahrenheit for 17 minutes. Remove the cooked eggs from the air fryer basket and place them in a bowl of ice water to cool quickly. Remove the eggs from the ice water bath after 10 minutes.
Can You Air Fry Bacon?
Oh Yes! Bacon can easily be air fried if you are craving something crispy.
It is safe to cook bacon in an air fryer, however, you should be able to keep a tab on the temperature and the time for which the bacon is being cooked.
In my opinion, the best bacon temperature should be 350 degrees F, this will not only cook your bacon evenly but prevent it from burning too.
Looking for more tips? Here is a video on things that you didn’t know you can air fry:
Pros And Cons
If you’re looking to buy an air fryer then you might want to take a look at the pros and cons of an Air Fryer first:
| PROS | CONS |
| Easy to clean, Easy to use | Quite Expensive |
| No noise | Small Basket space |
| Less space consumption | Short Power Cable |
| Healthier Meals | Burns and dry out food due to different temperature settings |
| Safe to use | Can produce harmful chemicals if now kept clean |
Can You Boil Pasta In An Air Fryer?
Not really! All you will get will be hot liquid if you fill up the air fryer with water. The air fryer doesn’t tend to boil water.
However, it can air fry the boiled pasta or if you have frozen pasta it can help the pasta get sorted this is how it’s done: Air fryers are unrivaled when it comes to crisping up frozen foods.
Simply preheat your air fryer to 350°F, spray the frozen ravioli with oil, and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until warmed.
These directions also apply to pre-made toasted ravioli, such as Louisa Toasted Ravioli, which is available in most supermarkets.
Summary
Air fryers are known for over a decade now and have been improving ever since.
There are pretty weird things that can be cooked in an air fryer such as churros, apple chips, and air-fried pickles.
However, there may be certain things that you’ll have to refrain from putting in the air fryer such as broccoli, battered food, and greens.
Good thing is that the air fryer is safe for the use of aluminum foil.
With this, I wish you to try out these weird recipes and let me know.