Technological advances have clearly made their way into kitchens. Nowadays, more and more people have replaced their ovens with air fryers, which have become highly popular appliances.
They have taken the place of slow cookers and work by circulating hot air at very high speed.
Air fryers are a healthier alternative to deep frying, delivering similar results with little or no oil.
However, culinary experts say that certain foods should not be cooked in an air fryer.
While broccoli doesn’t turn out great in this appliance because of its bland taste compared to traditional cooking methods, other foods raise bigger concerns.
For example, popcorn is a definite no-go in an air fryer due to its potential to ignite, Mirror reports. This is because the kernels may get stuck in the air fryer’s heating elements, creating a serious fire risk.
Another problem is wet batter. The crispy coating on fried chicken is something most chicken lovers enjoy, but an air fryer won’t get hot enough for it to set properly, resulting in a messy and soggy dish.
Money-saving expert Martin Lewis says that relying on air fryers to cook everything may not always be the best idea because of the time and energy it takes for certain foods.
“Air fryers are good for small things that cook quickly,” he said during an appearance on This Morning. “If you’re gonna have to use your air fryer 15 different times for different items, generally, on energy usage, you’d be better off to use an oven. So it’s an interesting thought.”
He continued: “If you’re gonna have to use your air fryer fifteen different times for different items, generally on energy usage you’d be better off to use an oven.
“If you’re doing a jacket potato for 10 minutes it’s going to be far cheaper [in the microwave] than doing a single jacket potato in an oven and keeping it on for an hour and a half.
Steven Kipling at Which? supports this view. “The savings soon drop off if you have to cook in batches. And if you’ve got lots to cook you might well, as air fryers don’t have as much space as a typical oven or hob. So if you’re cooking a large amount of food, the oven or hob may still be the most economical choice.”
Despite this, people who rely heavily on air fryers dislike the idea of not using the appliance every day, even multiple times.
“I’m not listening to him on this. I’m air-frying everything. I’ll even air fry a cup of tea,” one person commented.
What are your thoughts on this? Are you among those who rely on your air fryer a lot?
