Air fryers are a kitchen staple, as they can cook a variety of meals in a healthier way – but there are some foods you should avoid using them for
Air fryers have surged in popularity as kitchen gadgets that offer a healthier spin on indulging in your favourite foods. Yet, chefs beware – not all grub is fit for the cult-cooking device, with safety boffins firing off cautions against chucking certain kitchen staples into its basket.
The experts at CPD Online College dished out advice to sidestep using air fryers for certain foods; specifically, they highlighted pasta as a no-go, traditionally needing a good old boil instead of a blast in the trendy appliance. According to the experts, cooking pasta is a bad idea because it requires soaking in liquid to transform from its hard state.
Tossing it into the air fryer with sauces is also a thumbs-down, which can create a dangerous spatter due to the fierce hot air whipping around. Not to mention, these unwelcome fluids can leave you with a hefty scrubbing job post-cooking, reports the Express.
The folks at CPD Online College advised: “It is not recommended to cook pasta in an air fryer due to the liquids and sauces used during the cooking process, as when the hot air circulates it can cause a splatter which can be dangerous, and it can also be messy.”
On the flip side, BBC Good Food countered that pasta dishes calling just for baking, think cheesy pasta bakes, are actually air fryer-friendly. Good Food’s Ailsa Burt mentioned: “Pasta bakes that just need the baking part should be fine. But I wouldn’t use an air fryer to cook pasta dishes with lots of sauce.”
Go To Know said: “You could also try making pasta chips in your air fryer. Cook any shape of pasta you like on the stove as usual, then toss in olive oil and your favourite spices before popping it in your air fryer to crisp up, leaving you with a delicious crunchy snack.”
Similarly, rice can be given a new lease of life in the air fryer, but remember, raw rice grains need boiling first. The culinary whizzes at BBC Good Food have cautioned that while adding a few drops of water into the air fryer basket is “fine”, it’s not something to do regularly.
They warn that because air fryers aren’t designed for boiling, too much water could harm the heating element and ultimately break the appliance. However, if you’re looking to reheat or add crunch to your rice, the air fryer is your go-to gadget.
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