Cooking food in the air fryer has become a staple for people across the world, creating healthier versions of their favourite meals while saving energy costs.
However, if you aren’t careful, a cooking mistake could lead to disaster.
Wrapping food in foil can be a good way to make sure it’s cooked more evenly and prevent it from drying out in an oven or under a grill.
It can also help lock in moisture and prevent over-browning, or in some cases, burn.
But when it comes to the air fryer, wrapping food in foil may do more harm than good.
An air fryer comes with a cooking chamber, a heating element and a fan.
The heating element generates the heat and the fan circulates the hot air around the cooking chamber, making sure the hot air reaches all sides of the food, cooking it thoroughly and evenly.
According to experts at CPD Online College, food wrapped in foil is not recommended and should be avoided.
This is because the foil can act as a barrier and block the airflow from the heating element, stopping food from cooking properly.
Ultimately, it could lead to undercooked or unevenly cooked food.
KitchenAid noted that while lining an air fryer with foil might help reduce the need to clean up, it should be avoided.
The brand also advised against using baking parchment in air fryers, as it can block the air flow.
They explained: “If you are using a range with air fry capabilities, you can use parchment paper or foil to line a baking sheet on the lower rack to catch any spills. Just make sure to leave space between the air fry basket and the parchment paper-lined sheet for best results.”
Philips also warned that using baking paper or foil without placing food on it could cause the lining to be sucked into the heating element and start to burn.
A 2019 study found that some foods, such as fish and tomatoes can actually dissolve the aluminium in the foil, which then ends up in the food.
However, if you do plan on using foil in air fryers, Saga shared some points to consider, these include:
- Don’t use a lot – The air does need to flow through the basket and if you cover all the holes, you’ll not get the benefits of air frying. Ideally, cut the foil to the correct size of the basket.
- Don’t enclose the food totally with tin foil – Instead of creating a deliciously crispy meal, you’ll end up with a soggy mess.
- Weigh down the tin foil with the food – The air in the basket could make the foil move around and it may even get sucked into the heater and burn. For this reason, never put foil in during the pre-heat stage.