Air fryers cook dinner meals by sending out bursts of sizzling convection warmth. It is a cooking type that makes for juicy, crispy meals. You possibly can whip up tasty meals from meats like hen thighs and even a filet of salmon. However should you try and cook dinner lean meats or fragile veggies in your air fryer, you may be left with pulverized, flavorless slop due to the fixed assault by excessive temperatures on meals that may’t face up to them.
There are a great deal of meals that the air fryer nails each time together with wings, frozen snacks and even the occasional canine or burger, however that does not imply it would not have weak spots. So which meals must you by no means cook dinner within the air fryer? This is a listing of seven issues I will by no means make within the air fryer once more.
1. Boneless pork chops
Boneless pork chops dry out too simply for an air fryer.
A superbly cooked pork chop is a factor of magnificence however these lean cuts of meat 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 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, achieve this at a decrease temperature and use some fats to maintain issues moist.
2. Spinach and leafy greens
Crisped spinach and kale is not going to prove nicely in an air fryer.
Leafy greens are an enormous no with regards to air-fryer cooking. The new convection air will crisp most leafy greens comparable to spinach, kale and chard far past something you’d need to eat.
3. Steak
Steak cooked in an air fryer could find yourself robust and rubbery.
Steak reheats nicely within the air fryer, however it’s not a great place for it the primary time. Air fryer baskets get sizzling however not sizzling 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 nicely in comparison with once they’re cooking on a sizzling plancha, cast-iron skillet or grill.
4. Unbreaded hen breasts
Unbreaded hen breasts usually are not the perfect candidates.
Rooster wings, thighs and any bone-in items are good candidates for the air fryer. Boneless hen breasts do not have a lot fats and can dry out simply. Shield them with a bit of egg batter and breadcrumbs and you will be okay, however naked hen breasts cooked within the air fryer typically emerge dry or rubbery.
5. Massive cuts of meat
Pot roast usually wants low and gradual strategies of cooking.
Massive cuts of beef, pork and lamb usually do greatest when cooked with a low and gradual technique comparable to braising or smoking. Keep away from the air fryer with its sizzling blast of convection air when cooking massive cuts of meat and go for the Dutch oven, gradual cooker or pellet smoker.
6. Uncovered broccoli
The air fryer will singe broccoli until you cowl it in foil.
In case you wrap your broccoli in foil, you need to use the air fryer to roast it (shortly). In case you depart it uncovered and uncovered to the recent convection air and you may find yourself with sizzled broccoli ends which might be something however scrumptious.
7. Shellfish
Clams and mussels are higher for a pot as a substitute of an air fryer.
Shellfish comparable to clams and mussels want liquid to cook dinner with out drying out. They’re additionally simply overcooked, which might result in a chewy rubbery morsel that you don’t need anyplace close to your plate. Keep away from the air fryer when cooking most shellfish.
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