I asked experts what you shouldn't cook in the air fryer - they all warned against 9 foods

Air fryers are now a common appliance in kitchens up and down the country, but they can't cook everything.

Don't make the mistake of using your air fryer to cook these items

Air fryers have become a staple in kitchens up and down the country, with them being praised for their fast and crispy cooking. They have revolutionised the cooking experience, as they can prepare food much quicker than the oven.

You also have the advantage of being able to throw in your ingredients and let it get to work rather than standing over a hob. While air fryers are known for crisping up chips and chicken, they do fall short when it comes to cooking some other foods. Experts have even warned using your air fryer for certain foods could spell disaster.

There are items that should not be placed in the air fryer, either because it won't cook or because it is danergous. Air fryers get up to some very high temperatures, so should be used wisely.

I decided to turn to some expert advice on what shouldn't be cooked in the air fryer, and some items might come as a surprise. The experts all settled on the same nine foods to avoid.

Leafy greens

Joanne Gallagher, Co-founder and Recipe Developer at Inspired Taste, warned: "Anything very light or loose, like leafy greens, can get blown around by the fan and burn or stick to the heating element."

Her advice was supported by Lynne Just, manager of Hamilton Beach test kitchen, who added: "Leafy greens like spinach as often they are so lightweight that they end up flying around the inside of the air fryer and aren’t evenly cooked."

Saucy dishes

If you want to cook a saucy meal like stews or casseroles, the air fryer won't work. Chef George Ryle of Swaledale Butchers urged: "Pot roasts, braises, tough cuts that need hours to break down, forget it. Air fryers are built for quick, high heat, not the low and slow moisture you need for those dishes."

Shawna Clark of Healthy Foodie Girl explained: "I don’t recommend cooking foods with a lot of sauce or liquid, like stews or braises, since air fryers aren’t designed to handle excess moisture."

Joanne agreed: "Anything very wet, loose, or lightweight can cause trouble in an air fryer. They can splatter or smoke, and even hit the heating element."

Delicate fish

Air fryers are best used for crisping, roasting or reheating so cooking delicate fish is not recommened by the experts and would ruin your dinner. George Ryle put it simply: "Delicate stuff like thin fish fillets will overcook in seconds."

Cheese

Melted cheese is heavenly, but the danger it can cause to the air fryer is a nightmare. The experts warn to not put loose cheese in the appliance.

Katie Vine at Dinners Done Quick warned: "It flies up into the heating element, melts, and creates a smoky, sticky mess. You either need to bread it (think mozzarella sticks), top it with something else, or be able to press it into something to help it stick so it doesn't take flight."

Be careful what you cook in the air fryer (Image: Getty)

Wet batter

The air fryer isn't a replacement for a deep fryer, so wet better should stay well away. Katie Vine explained: "The batter will just slide off, leaving bare food and a giant mess everywhere.

"Even if you can get it to stay on by pooling the batter on a liner, the texture still comes out wrong and it's kind of rubbery. Just all around better to avoid." Chef George Rye even branded wet batters a "disatser" for the air fryer.

Dry herbs

Seasoning our food can really give it some flavour, yet you need to be careful if you are planning to sprinkle herbs into your air fryer basket. Andrew Wright, founder of Cookology, warned dry herbs can be "blown into the heating element by the fan, creating a burning risk." Joanne Gallagher recommends to mix them into an oil first or add them after cooking.

Slices of bread

If you think the air fryer will produce a nice crispy toast, you might want to think again. The experts say you shouldn't put slices of plain bread in the appliance as it can fly up into the heating element, just like the dry herbs. This creates a fire risk as the heating element can reach very high temperatures.

Rice and pasta

While many people with an air fryer will already know, Ryan Allen from Slow Cooker Meals, stressed dry pasta and rice shouldn't be cooked in them. He added: "We bring up raw rice or pasta for the sake of clarity. An air fryer can’t hydrate food. Without liquid they dry out and never cook."