What Not to Put in an Air Fryer

The air fryer is incredibly versatile — but there are foods and materials that don't belong in it. Some will make a mess, some will damage the appliance, and a few are genuine safety hazards. Here's what to avoid and why.

Foods to Avoid

1. Wet Batters

Liquid batters (like tempura or beer batter) drip through the basket before they can set, creating a mess on the heating element and drawer below. The batter never crisps properly either — it just drips and burns.

Alternative: Use a dry breadcrumb coating (panko works excellently) instead of a wet batter. It adheres to the food and crisps beautifully.

2. Large Amounts of Cheese

Cheese melts quickly and drips through the basket, burning on the heating element and creating smoke. Small amounts of cheese on top of food (like a cheese-topped burger) are fine, but don't put a pile of loose cheese in the basket.

Alternative: Add cheese in the last 1–2 minutes of cooking so it melts without dripping, or use a parchment paper liner to catch drips.

3. Leafy Greens

Spinach, kale, and other light leafy greens get blown around by the fan and can fly into the heating element, causing burning and smoke. They also dry out and burn rather than cooking evenly.

Alternative: Weigh them down with other ingredients, or cook heartier greens like kale chips at a lower temperature with a liner.

4. Raw Grains and Pasta

Uncooked rice, pasta, and grains need water to cook — the dry heat of an air fryer can't hydrate them. They'll come out hard and inedible.

Alternative: Cook grains and pasta conventionally, then reheat in the air fryer if desired.

5. Very Fatty Meats in Large Quantities

Extremely fatty cuts like bacon in large quantities or very fatty sausages render a lot of grease that can pool in the drawer and smoke heavily. Small amounts are fine.

Alternative: Use a liner to catch grease, cook in smaller batches, and empty the drawer between batches if grease accumulates.

6. Whole Roasts or Large Birds (in standard basket models)

A standard 5–6 QT basket air fryer can't fit a whole chicken or large roast. Forcing oversized items in prevents proper air circulation and results in uneven cooking.

Alternative: Use an oven-style air fryer like the CHEFMAN 12 QT Air Fryer with Rotisserie for whole chickens and larger cuts.

7. Toast and Bread (without supervision)

Bread can fly around in the basket due to the fan and land on the heating element, causing a fire. Light items need to be weighted down.

Alternative: Use a rack from the Air Fryer Accessories Set to hold bread in place, or use a toaster for toast.

Materials to Never Put in an Air Fryer

Paper Towels

Paper towels can fly into the heating element and catch fire. Never use them to line the basket.

Plastic Containers or Wrap

Plastic melts at air fryer temperatures. Never use plastic containers, plastic wrap, or plastic utensils inside the air fryer.

Styrofoam

Melts and releases toxic fumes. Never put styrofoam in an air fryer.

Wax Paper

Not heat-resistant — it will melt and smoke. Use parchment paper instead.

Regular Aluminum Foil (loosely placed)

Foil can fly around and block the fan or touch the heating element. If you use foil, weigh it down with food and never cover the entire basket bottom (it blocks airflow). Parchment liners are a safer alternative.

Glass or Ceramic (unless rated for air fryer use)

Standard glass and ceramic can crack from the rapid temperature changes in an air fryer. Only use oven-safe glass or ceramic rated for convection use.

Quick Reference: Safe vs Unsafe

Knowing what not to put in your air fryer is just as important as knowing what to cook. Stick to these guidelines and you'll avoid messes, smoke, and safety hazards — and get better results every time.