Currys expert reveals the most common Air Fryer mistakes people make!

Air fryers are the gadget of the moment thanks to their multifunction features which lets you make everything from crispy chips to a full Sunday roast, but in a healthier way and with less oil. Air fryers consume far less energy to operate than ovens as they take less time to cook food, helping you save on both time and your electricity bill.

When it comes to using an air fryer, we’ve all heard a horror story or two about items that people have tried to cook but have been a huge fail!

Tom Daly, Currys’ Head of Kitchen Appliances and an air fryer expert has come up with a list of the most common mistakes people make when using an air fryer:

Forgetting to pre-heat the air fryer – For the very best results, it’s always advised to pre-heat your air fryer to the highest temperature. Just like you would for an oven, this will work for most recipes.
Not using enough oil or fat in recipes – To help with the cooking process, some oil will be required. Air fryers do help to cut back on oil, but a little is always advised.
Using too much oil – You don’t want soggy food, and this is what you’ll get in an air fryer if you use too much oil. Adding too much oil also defeats the purpose of using an air fryer, which for most people, is to cut back on the calories and fat from oil when frying etc.
Cramming food into air fryer – One layer of food is always advised for most items. Hot air needs to be allowed to circulate around the food in order provide even cooking, and this won’t be possible if the air fryer is overloaded with food. Batch cooking is advised here.
Not cleaning your air fryer – Your air fryer might look clean but don’t skip cleaning it as this can cause horrible, sticky deposits that become even harder to remove. The taste and smell of your food can then be tainted by these deposits. Try lining your air fryer basked with parchment paper for easy cleaning after cooking.
Bad ventilation – Open spaces on counter tops are the best place to keep your air fryer. There must be room on all sides for air to move in and out. This will ensure that the air fryer is functioning properly and not overheating.

Tom was also asked to list a few things are that you should not cook in an air fryer!

Anything with a wet batter – Wet batter is a no no in an air fryer. Recipes that use a wet batter can end up being very messy. The reason for this is because the main purpose of an air fryer is to use less oil, and so there will therefore then not be enough hot oil to set the batter, causing it to drip everywhere rather than becoming crunchy.
Anything with too much sauce – Dishes such as stew, chilli con carne or bolognese are family favourites, but Tom advises against using an air fryer to cook them. As the hot air circulates inside the air fryer, this can cause hot liquids to splatter, which can be dangerous and messy. Use a slow cookers for a sauce-based recipes – they’re low maintenance and ideal for keeping electricity bills down.
Popcorn – Popcorn requires very high heat in order for the kernels to pop, and generally, an air fryer will never reach this heat. The kernels may also become lodged within the heating element, which may cause the appliance to short – creating a fire hazard.
Rice – Similarly to pasta, raw grains need to be boiled in water to cook, and these gadgets aren't built for boiling or steaming foods.