Some Food Should Not Be Placed in an Air Fryer！

As the kitchen's latest "magic device," the air fryer , capable of frying, grilling, and baking in one go, has become the new favorite gadget for creating delicious meals. An air fryer is essentially an oven with a fan. Above the air fryer's basket, there's a ring of heating elements, and above that, a fan. These two work together to produce high temperatures and hot air, which reaches the surface of the food through convection and cooks it by heat conduction.

The air fryer uses air to replace the hot oil typically used in frying pans, while the hot air also blows away the moisture on the surface of the food, achieving an effect similar to deep-frying. While ensuring taste, it significantly reduces oil consumption, making it an essential kitchen gadget for those looking to lose weight. However, the high-speed circulating hot air also poses a hidden danger. When lightweight, low ignition point materials like baking paper or oil-absorbing paper are not completely covered by food, they might be swept up by the hot air. If they come into contact with the heating elements above, they could ignite, potentially causing a short circuit or fire.

What Types of Food Are Not Recommended for Heating in an Air Fryer?

Type 1: Sealed Foods with Shells

Sealed foods with shells, such as eggs with shells, chestnuts, canned goods, etc., may burst and cause burns due to increased internal pressure during heating. Before using the air fryer, it's advised to remove the shells or open the seals to reduce the risk of internal pressure build-up. If you need to heat similar foods, consider using other cooking methods.

Type 2: Overly Moist Foods

Foods like freshly marinated meats or vegetables that have just been washed, if not dried with kitchen paper before being placed in the air fryer, might affect the food's texture, making its exterior not crispy enough. Before cooking, the surface moisture of the food should be thoroughly dried or allowed to air dry to achieve better cooking results.

Type 3: Large Pieces of Food

Large pieces of food, such as a whole chicken or a large cut of beef, may appear well-cooked on the outside but remain raw inside. This is because the heating principle of the air fryer makes it difficult for heat to evenly penetrate large pieces of food. For such foods, it's recommended to cut them into smaller pieces to ensure even heating, or pre-treat them using other cooking methods.

Type 4: Lightweight Foods

Foods that can easily be blown around by hot air, such as leafy vegetables, are likely to be scattered, leading to uneven cooking and possibly causing food debris to block the fan or heating elements. Use some weights or special air fryer accessories to secure these lightweight foods, or simply choose not to cook them in an air fryer.

Type 5: Soft and Sticky Foods

Certain foods, like cheese, can become very fluid and sticky when heated, possibly dripping onto heating elements and causing difficult-to-clean messes or even damaging the device. For these foods, consider placing them in high-temperature resistant containers before heating or wrapping them in bread or other foods to prevent dripping and flowing.

Type 6: High-Sugar Foods

High-sugar foods can easily caramelize and even produce bitter and unhealthy substances at high temperatures. The high-temperature environment of the air fryer especially accelerates this process. Control the heating time and temperature during cooking, or choose to apply sugar and sugary sauces near the end of cooking to avoid prolonged high-temperature heating.

Type 7: Foods That Produce Smoke from Fats

Low smoke point fats, such as butter and some vegetable oils, quickly produce a large amount of smoke at high temperatures, affecting indoor air quality and possibly triggering smoke detectors. Choose high smoke point fats, like sunflower seed oil or canola oil, for cooking, or try to minimize the use of fats.

Type 8: Dry Powder Foods

Directly heating dry powders, such as flour or cornstarch, in an air fryer not only results in poor cooking outcomes but also might cause the powder to scatter everywhere, sticking to the interior of the machine and making it difficult to clean. In recipes that require dry powders, they should be mixed with other ingredients or made into a paste first to avoid directly placing the dry powder into the air fryer for heating.

Can Microwave-Safe Utensils Also Be Used in an Air Fryer?

Air fryers can accommodate heat-resistant glass and stainless steel utensils but not regular glass and plastic containers. Although some microwave-safe utensils are also labeled as heat-resistant, not all microwave-safe materials are suitable for use in air fryers. For instance, some microwave-safe plastic containers might deform or melt when used in an air fryer. When heating in an air fryer, the best choice is to use utensils clearly marked as heat-resistant and suitable for oven use to ensure safety and food quality.

When placing utensils, choose heat-resistant glass or stainless steel materials, as regular glass and plastic containers may explode due to their low melting points. Regular glass and most plastic utensils are not heat-resistant, and the operating temperatures of air fryers far exceed their melting points, which can cause the utensils to melt or even break. This not only damages the air fryer but could also lead to a fire. When using an air fryer, opt for glass utensils marked with a heat-resistant label or food-grade stainless steel containers. Ensure all utensils used for heating can withstand temperatures of at least 200°C (392°F).

Precautions to Avoid Safety Hazards with Air Fryers

Do not place on an induction cooker or open flame.
Never place the air fryer basket (small drawer) on an induction cooker, open flame, or even in a microwave. This could not only damage the air fryer but also lead to a fire.
Use a safe and guaranteed outlet.
As air fryers are high-power electrical appliances, choose a safe outlet with a matching rated power. Use a dedicated outlet to avoid sharing with other high-power appliances.
Pay attention to the placement of the air fryer.
When in use, place it on a stable platform and ensure the top air inlet and the back air outlet are not covered during operation. It's also not recommended to cover them with your hands, as it's easy to get burned by the hot air.
Do not exceed the rated capacity of food.
When in use, it's not recommended to fill the air fryer basket (small drawer) too full, and certainly not beyond the height of the basket. If food touches the top heating device, it could damage parts of the air fryer and may lead to a fire or even an explosion.For air fryer baskets for ovens, it is recommended to use the newly launched Stainless Steel Air Fryer Oven Rolling Grill Basket by HYSapientia. With a capacity of 1.7 liters, there's no need to worry about not having enough space for food. Its rolling design ensures that food is heated more evenly.
Electronic air fryer accessories cannot be washed directly with water.
After washing the air fryer basket (small drawer) with water, dry it promptly to ensure it's dry during use; other parts of the air fryer cannot be washed with water but can be wiped with a cloth; electronic components must be kept dry to prevent short circuits and electric shock.