An air fryer is great for busy people who don’t want to spend hours slaving over a hot stove, but there’s one item it should never be used for: popcorn. Consumer experts are now warning that the device doesn’t reach the temperature needed to safely make the classic cinema snack. Popcorn kernels can also become lodged within the fryer’s heating element, which may cause the fryer to short, creating a fire hazard. Their advice: stick with the microwave for popcorn. Experts also warned against cooking wet foods like beer-battered fish in the air fryer. That’s because it needs that contact heat of hot oil to cook. Otherwise, you wind up with a mess and a little bit of crunchy batter. Putting uncooked rice or pasta in an air fryer is also a no-no, because both need to absorb water to cook. As per the name, the air fryer is best for dry dishes and struggles to properly cook anything that needs liquid.
