Air fryers have become increasingly popular in recent years, but there is one common mistake involving foil that can ruin your meal
Air frying has become a go-to cooking method for many worldwide, offering a healthier spin on favourite dishes and cutting down on energy consumption. But beware, a simple culinary blunder could spell disaster.
Wrapping food in foil is often a handy trick to ensure even cooking and prevent drying out when using an oven or grill. It can also help retain moisture and stop over-browning or even burning.
However, when it comes to air fryers, this foil-wrapping technique, which is a popular method of cooking, might do more harm than good. An air fryer consists of a cooking chamber, a heating element, and a fan.
The heating element produces the heat while the fan disperses it throughout the cooking chamber, ensuring all sides of the food are evenly cooked. But experts at CPD Online College warn against wrapping food in foil in an air fryer.
The foil can obstruct the airflow from the heating element, resulting in improperly cooked food. Ultimately, you could end up with undercooked or unevenly cooked meals, reports the Express.
KitchenAid pointed out that although lining an air fryer with foil may seem like a clever way to minimise cleaning, it’s best avoided. The brand also cautioned against using baking parchment in air fryers due to its potential to hinder airflow.
They advised: “If you are using a range with air fry capabilities, you can use parchment paper or foil to line a baking sheet on the lower rack to catch any spills. Just make sure to leave space between the air fry basket and the parchment paper-lined sheet for best results.”
Philips also issued a caution, noting that if baking paper or foil is used without any food on it, there’s a risk it could be drawn into the heating element and ignite. A study from 2019 highlighted that certain foods, like fish and tomatoes, have the potential to break down the aluminium in foil, leading to its absorption into the meal.
Nonetheless, for those who intend to use foil in air fryers, Saga has outlined several points to bear in mind, these include:
- Don’t use a lot – The air does need to flow through the basket and if you cover all the holes, you’ll not get the benefits of air frying. Ideally, cut the foil to the correct size of the basket.
- Don’t enclose the food totally with tin foil – Instead of creating a deliciously crispy meal, you’ll end up with a soggy mess.
- Weigh down the tin foil with the food – The air in the basket could make the foil move around and it may even get sucked into the heater and burn. For this reason, never put foil in during the pre-heat stage.
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