There’s one thing nearly magical about air fryers. We’re large followers of the small countertop home equipment on this home, particularly after they cook dinner meals shortly and completely. There’s no different method I’d want to cook dinner wings, French fries, final evening’s pizza or perhaps a entire hen.
Not all of our experiments with the air fryer have gone in addition to hoped — there are some meals not price cooking within the air fryer, tempting as it’s. Whether the mess outweighs the comfort of the convection oven or the actual meals is susceptible to drying out, it’s best to make certain to cook dinner sure eats elsewhere.
Leafy greens, sure lean meats and different meals are now not welcome in my air fryer basket. The most recurring challenge is how briskly the air fryer cooks which might trigger some meals with out a lot oil or density to dry out, burn or crisp too shortly.
Here are eight meals it’s best to by no means cook dinner within the air fryer.
1. Lean pork chops or tenderloin
Boneless pork chops dry out too simply for an air fryer.
A wonderfully cooked pork chop is a factor of magnificence however leaner cuts of the opposite chicken can dry out in a rush. Bacon, bone-in pork chops and fattier cuts of swine can deal with the air fryer however lean, boneless pork chops and tenderloin are inclined to dry out when subjected to the blast of excessive warmth. If you are going to use the air fryer to cook dinner pork chops, accomplish that at a decrease temperature and use some fats to maintain issues from getting too dry.
2. Spinach and leafy greens
Crisped spinach and kale is not going to end up properly in an air fryer.
Leafy greens are an enormous no in relation to air-fryer cooking. The scorching convection air will crisp most leafy greens reminiscent of spinach, kale and chard far past something you’d wish to eat. Solid veggies together with Brussels sprouts, squash and zucchini fare properly within the air fryer, however leafy greens are greatest when sautéed, stewed or steamed.
3. Steak
Steak cooked in an air fryer could find yourself powerful and rubbery.
Steak reheats properly within the air fryer, but it surely’s not place for it the primary time. Air fryer baskets get scorching however not scorching sufficient to provide the skin of your steak a correct sear. I’ve tried cooking steaks within the air fryer earlier than. Even fatty, forgiving steaks do not come out as properly in comparison with after they’re cooking on a scorching plancha, cast-iron skillet or grill.
4. Unbreaded hen breasts
Unbreaded hen breasts usually are not one of the best candidates.
Chicken wings, thighs and any bone-in items are excellent candidates for the air fryer. Boneless hen breasts haven’t got a lot fats and can dry out simply. Protect them with a bit egg batter and breadcrumbs and you will be okay, however naked hen breasts cooked within the air fryer usually emerge dry or rubbery.
5. Large cuts of meat
Pot roast sometimes wants low and sluggish strategies of cooking.
Large cuts of beef, pork and lamb sometimes do greatest when cooked with a low and sluggish technique reminiscent of braising or smoking. Avoid the air fryer with its scorching blast of convection air when cooking massive cuts of meat and go for the Dutch oven, sluggish cooker or pellet smoker.
6. Naked broccoli
The air fryer will singe broccoli until you cowl it in foil.
If you wrap your broccoli in foil, you need to use the air fryer to roast it (shortly). If you permit it uncovered and uncovered to the recent convection air and you will find yourself with sizzled broccoli ends which can be something however scrumptious.
7. Shellfish
Clams and mussels are higher for a pot as a substitute of an air fryer.
Shellfish reminiscent of clams and mussels want liquid to cook dinner with out drying out. They are additionally simply overcooked, which might result in a chewy rubbery morsel that you don’t need anyplace close to your plate. Avoid the air fryer when cooking most shellfish.
8. Most baked items
Cake and cookie recipes do not sometimes translate properly from the oven to an air fryer.
You can actually do some baking within the air fryer however use warning because the air fryer’s tremendous convection behaves in another way than a traditional oven’s convection warmth.
Baking a cake or batch of cookies within the air fryer utilizing the time and temperature referred to as for in a recipe will usually lead to an overcooked, dry or burnt dessert. When baking in an air fryer, use recipes which can be particular to an air fryer and do not assume an oven recipe will translate.
If you are in search of a fantastic air fryer, listed below are CNET’s top-rated fashions for 2025. For extra, these are the greatest air-frying toaster ovens for 2025.
