The air fryer has change into my go-to cooking methodology for dozens of foods, a lot of which I never thought I’d make within the speedy countertop cooker. Even with all its versatility, there are nonetheless some meals the air fryer simply would not deal with nicely.
Whereas the air fryer blasts rooster thighs, potato wedges, salmon filets and even burgers to crispy-outside, juice-inside perfection, the air fryer’s type of tremendous sizzling fast-moving air is simply too intense for different meals. Sure recipes that require precision cooking, low and gradual temps or a correct seer usually are not match to be cooked by the mighty air fryer.
Earlier than you begin throwing fancy cuts of steak and baggage of spinach within the air fryer, head my recommendation: The air fryer is nice for cooking quite a lot of issues however not the whole lot.
Listed below are six meals I will by no means prepare dinner within the air fryer.
Spinach and leafy greens
Crisped spinach and kale do not make notably good eats.
Leafy greens are an enormous no with regards to air-fryer cooking. The recent convection air will crisp most leafy greens akin to spinach, kale and chard far past something you’d wish to eat.
Steak
Steak cooked in an air fryer could find yourself powerful and rubbery.
Steak reheats nicely within the air fryer, however it’s not place for it the primary time. Air fryer baskets get sizzling however not sizzling sufficient to present the skin of your steak a correct seer. I’ve tried cooking steaks within the air fryer earlier than. Even fatty, forgiving steaks do not come out as nicely in comparison with after they’re cooking on a sizzling plancha, cast-iron skillet or grill.
Unbreaded rooster breasts
Hen breast with out breading is not the perfect candidate for the air fryer.
Hen wings, thighs and any bone-in items are excellent candidates for the air fryer. Boneless rooster breasts, nonetheless, do not have a lot fats and dry out simply. Shield them with just a little egg batter and breadcrumbs and you may doubtless be OK, however unbreaded rooster breasts usually come out just a little rubbery.
Giant cuts of meat
Pot roast and different giant items of meat sometimes require low and gradual strategies of cooking.
Giant cuts of beef, pork and lamb sometimes do higher with a low and gradual methodology of cooking akin to braising or smoking. Keep away from the air fryer with its sizzling blast of convection air when cooking giant cuts of meat and go for the Dutch oven, gradual cooker or pellet grill.
Uncovered broccoli
The air fryer will singe broccoli until it is lined in foil.
Should you wrap your broccoli in foil, you should use the air fryer to roast it. However go away it uncovered and uncovered to the recent convection air and you may find yourself with some sizzled broccoli ends which are something however scrumptious.
Shellfish
Clams and mussels are higher left for the pot than an air fryer basket.
Shellfish akin to clams and mussels want liquid to prepare dinner with out drying out. They’re additionally simply overcooked, which might result in a chewy rubbery morsel that you do not need anyplace close to your plate. Keep away from the air fryer when cooking most shellfish.
