Air Fryer Flops: 8 Foods You Should Never Cook in an Air Fryer

Air Fryers cook a lot of foods well and they do it quickly. We are big fans of the little countertop appliance in this house, but some experiences with the air fryer didn't go as well as hoped. There's no other way for me to cook wings, friesthe one from last night pizza or even a whole chicken. And while it can be a miracle machine, there are some foods that aren't worth cooking in the air fryer, no matter how tempting they may be.

Leafy greens, some lean meats, and other foods are no longer welcome in my air fryer basket. The most common problem is the air fryer's cooking speed, which can cause some foods to dry, burn, or crisp too quickly without much oil or density.

Here are eight foods you should never cook in the air fryer.

1. Lean pork chops or tenderloin

A perfectly cooked pork chop is a thing of beauty, but leaner cuts of other white meats can dry out quickly. Bacon, bone-in pork chops, and fattier cuts of pork can handle the air fryer, but lean, boneless pork chops and tenderloin tend to dry out when subjected to high heat. If you're going to use the air fryer to cook pork chops, do it at a lower temperature and use a little fat to keep things from getting too dry.

2. Spinach and leafy greens

Leafy greens are a big no-no when it comes to cooking in the air fryer. The hot convection air will make most leafy green vegetables such as spinach, kale and chard much crispier than anything you would eat. Solid vegetables, including Brussels sprouts, squash, and zucchini, do well in the air fryer, but leafy greens are best when sautéed, simmered, or steamed.

3. Steak

Steak reheats well in the air fryer, but it's not a good place for the first time. The air fryer baskets get hot but not hot enough to allow the outside of your steak to sear properly. I've tried cooking steaks in the air fryer before. Even fatty, indulgent steaks come out less well than when cooked on a hot griddle, cast iron pan Or grill.

4. Unbreaded Chicken Breasts

Chicken wings, thighs, and any bone-in cuts are perfect candidates for the air fryer. Boneless chicken breasts don't contain a lot of fat and dry out easily. Protect them with a little egg batter and breadcrumbs and you'll be fine, but naked chicken breasts cooked in the fryer often come out dry or rubbery.

5. Large pieces of meat

Large cuts of beef, pork, and lamb are generally best when cooked with a low, slow method, such as braising or smoking. Skip the air fryer with its hot blast of convection air when cooking large cuts of meat and opt for the hot air fryer. Dutch ovenslow cooker or pellet smoker.

6. Naked broccoli

If you wrap your broccoli in foil, you can use the air fryer to roast it (quickly). If you leave it uncovered and exposed to hot convection air, you'll end up with sizzling broccoli spears that are anything but delicious.

7. Shells

Shellfish like clams and mussels need liquid to cook without drying out. They're also easily overcooked, which can result in a rubbery, chewy piece that you don't want near your plate. Avoid the air fryer when cooking most shellfish.

8. Most baked goods

While you can certainly do some cooking in the air fryer, be careful as the air fryer's superconvection behaves differently than the convection heat of a normal oven.

Cooking a cake or batch of cookies in the air fryer using the time and temperature called for in a recipe will often result in an overcooked, dry, or burnt dessert. When cooking in an air fryer, use recipes that are specific to an air fryer and don't assume an oven recipe will work.

If you are looking for a great air fryer, here is CNET's Top-Rated Models for 2024. To find out more, here are the best air fry toaster ovens for 2024.