What Not to Cook in an Air Fryer: Avoid These Foods for Best Results

Using an air fryer can save time and make cooking easier. But honestly, not everything turns out great in there.

You should avoid cooking foods with wet batters, raw grains, leafy greens, and very saucy dishes in your air fryer because they won’t cook properly or may create a mess. Knowing what not to toss in will help you get the best results and keep your air fryer humming along.

Certain foods like rice, pasta, and hard-boiled eggs just don’t belong in an air fryer. They need different cooking methods.

Leafy greens such as spinach and kale don’t crisp up well and can burn in a flash. Wet batters and cheesy items tend to drip or cook unevenly, which turns your air fryer into a headache.

Foods to Avoid in an Air Fryer

Some foods just don’t work in an air fryer because of their texture or moisture. These items can make a mess, cook weirdly, or just taste off.

Wet Batters and Liquid Coatings

Skip foods with wet batters or liquid coatings like tempura or pancake batter. The hot air dries out the coating super fast, so it drips off and creates a sticky mess.

The batter won’t set or crisp up the way deep frying does. If you want a crunchy coating, go for dry breading like panko or seasoned flour.

That sticks better and crisps up nicely. Wet batters usually end up pooling at the bottom, which can actually damage your air fryer and cause smoke.

Certain Cheeses and High-Fat Dairy

High-fat cheeses like fresh mozzarella or soft cheeses just melt and ooze everywhere. They make the fryer dirty in no time.

Hard cheeses—shredded or used in coatings—are usually fine. Dishes with heavy cream or cheese sauces don’t do well either.

Sauces can burn or spill, and that ruins the whole thing. It’s better to use the air fryer for solid foods, then add melted cheese or sauce after.

Leafy Greens and Light Vegetables

Leafy greens like spinach, kale, or lettuce don’t cook well in an air fryer. They’re just too light and thin, and the hot air blows them all over.

This means uneven cooking and sometimes burning. Other light veggies like broccoli or asparagus can dry out fast or get tough.

You can air fry thicker vegetables, but skip the really fragile or watery ones—they just won’t crisp up right.

Delicate Fish and Thin Fillets

Thin fish fillets or very lean fish dry out quickly in the air fryer. The strong airflow can break them apart or overcook them before the inside’s even done.

For delicate fish, try steaming or baking at a low temp instead. If you’re set on air frying, go for thicker pieces with the skin on to help keep moisture in and prevent them from falling apart.

Common Misconceptions About Air Fryer Cooking

Using an air fryer can be tricky if you don’t know what actually works. Some foods just have too much moisture or need a whole different cooking process.

Reheating Saucy or Soupy Dishes

Air fryers aren’t built to reheat foods with lots of sauce or liquid. If you try to warm up soups, stews, or pasta with thick sauce, the hot air dries them out or splatters everywhere.

You’ll probably get uneven heating, with some parts crispy and others still cold or rubbery. It’s just easier to use a microwave or stovetop for these.

Air fryers work by circulating hot, dry air, so they’re not really meant for wet dishes or liquids source.

Cooking Grains Like Rice and Pasta

Rice and pasta need to soak up water while cooking, but air fryers don’t provide that. Without steam or enough liquid, these grains just won’t cook right.

If you try uncooked rice or pasta in an air fryer, you’ll end up with hard, dry, or burnt food. You can reheat cooked pasta or rice in an air fryer, but make sure it’s dry or lightly oiled first.

For actually cooking them from scratch, use a pot or rice cooker instead source.

Baking Items That Require Moisture

Cakes, muffins, and bread really need moisture to turn out right. In an air fryer, though, the strong air flow just sucks that moisture out way too fast.

This tends to mess up the texture and flavor. You might get away with cookies or dry pastries, but if something needs to rise or stay soft, just stick with a regular oven.

The air fryer can leave these baked goods with a weirdly tough outside or cook them unevenly. It’s just not worth the risk for those treats that need a gentle touch. source