Air fryers might be versatile, but there are some foods you should never cook in them – including a breakfast staple
Air fryers have become a kitchen staple in recent years, capable of everything from baking cakes to crisping up roast potatoes. But despite their versatility, they may not be the best choice for every dish.
The appliance has gained popularity for its speed and energy efficiency, allowing home cooks to simply place ingredients in the basket and leave them to cook, rather than waiting for the oven to heat up or standing over a hot frying pan.
However, there are certain foods that should be kept out of the air fryer, including one popular breakfast item. Isabella Forgoine, AO’s small appliance expert, has warned against cooking bacon in an air fryer due to potential risks.
“Bacon is one of the few foods that isn’t easier to cook in an air fryer because without added oil and its high fat content, cooking bacon can be more trouble than it’s worth,” she explained. “As the fat cooks, it drips into the bottom of the air fryer, which can create a greasy residue that is difficult to clean and may affect the appliance’s performance over time.”
Instead, she suggested: “Grilling or traditional pan-frying are more reliable cooking methods that avoid the build-up in the appliance.”
Air fryers work by circulating air around your food to crisp it up without the need for much extra oil or fat, reports the Express. Cooking bacon in an air fryer can be a bit tricky due to the high fat content, which renders out without anywhere to go.
However, if you’re keen on using your air fryer for those sizzling strips, BBC Good Food has some advice.
They recommend not overcrowding the fryer, suggesting no more than three back bacon rashers or six streaky bacon pieces laid out in a single layer. For the perfect cook, they advise: “Cook streaky bacon rashers for six to 10 mins– just-cooked bacon will take six mins, but crispier bacon will take nine to 10 mins,” and for back bacon, it should take between four and eight minutes to reach perfection.
