Got a lovely new air fryer and are learning how to use it? Or have you already found out by trial and error what does not belong in the deep fryer? Get advice!
It’s not a deep fryer like a deep fryer
Do you know which foods do not belong in a hot air fryer? The Czechs still seem to have a problem with that. Although the hot air fryer is a very modern helper in the kitchen, it turns out that not everyone knows what to actually use it for. It’s not complicated at all, but even using this great helper has its pitfalls. What to avoid?
If you have had a hot air fryer in the past, you may be surprised to find that modern products are not exactly the same as those of 10 years ago. Development has progressed, but today it is basically small hot air ovens. Due to the fact that the fryer is very small, the heating is quite intense. Thanks to this, the dish is prepared very quickly.
In the past, hot air fryers also used hot air, but the oil was added by spoonfuls to the container and then stirred by the hot air. Today, the oil is applied directly to the food using a sprayer or whisk. This type of fryer is also miles away from the classic fryers that heated a pan full of oil.
Which foods should not be prepared in a hot air fryer? This post from the Consumer Reports YouTube channel will also answer that.
Source: Youtube
What does not belong in a hot air fryer?
Hot air fryers do not work well with foods that are too moist. An example is onion rings in batter, which cannot be fried in this way. The dough will not stick to the food and will run down into the container. However, it is different with food that is in triple packaging.
These need to be sprayed with oil in a spray on both sides before heat treatment, and then you can also prepare them in a hot air fryer. However, the result is quite dry and not very tasty. On the contrary, the results are surprisingly good for grilled marinated vegetables. It doesn’t matter if the marinade drips slightly into the catch basin. The vegetables are soaked just right and very tasty.
Since the hot air fryer is not used for cooking, but rather for baking or frying, or, say, grilling, it is not suitable for preparing rice or other grains or legumes, which it dries out. Some legumes, such as chickpeas, can be fried in a mixture of spices and oil, but again, flying popcorn does not fit in the deep fryer. It could get stuck in the heating mechanism, which is just above the food.
Sometimes you may also find that it is not recommended to prepare bread in the deep fryer. However, it is a matter of experience and the possibility to test the temperature and different recipes. It is certainly possible to prepare muffins or smaller donuts and cakes. But don’t count on them getting it right on the first try. The deep fryer is more drying, so it is less suitable for doughs with a high content of starch or custard powder.
Whatever you prepare in the deep fryer, beware of too much food volume. If you are preparing vegetables in the deep fryer, for example, which you can mix from time to time, but for foods that you would break by mixing, which can also be pre-cooked potatoes, it is advisable to prepare only a smaller amount in the deep fryer. Then, for example, your roasted potatoes will be beautifully cooked from all sides.
Test the hot air fryer thoroughly
Although the air fryer is a small helper, it is quite powerful. It is therefore necessary to learn how to handle temperature when preparing food. It is therefore significantly easier to prepare meat that is thinner or cut into small pieces in a hot air fryer. Then there is no problem with sufficient heating and you can be sure that the food will be well and sufficiently heat processed.
When it comes to large pieces of meat, such as those with a bone inside, you may encounter more problems than perfect cooking on the first try. If you still want to try it, cook the meat at a very low temperature and for a very long time. In this case, it is also useful to check the temperature inside the meat using a thermometer.
The fryer can perfectly cook a whole chicken and a huge turkey breast, it does not dry them out and cooks them sufficiently. But before you jump on big pieces, it’s better to test the fryer first so you know what to expect. Choose recipes that are intended for preparation in a hot air fryer, or airfryer in English.
Sources: southernliving.com, simplyrecipes.com
