Air fryers are a genius modern invention that have enjoyed a real moment in the culture over the last few years.

Famed for being a healthier alternative to deep frying, that also uses less energy than an oven, these handy gadgets have been used for everything from baking to cooking chips.

But there are a few items you should never ever put into an air fryer, no matter how tempted you are, as they can be a fire risk or cause irreparable damage to the appliance. 

Unlike deep fat fryers, air fryers use convection heat that circulates hot air to cook the food, similar to a fan oven and crisps the exterior of the food thanks to a chemical process known as the Maillard reaction.

However, if you want to experiment with what you can rustle up in this genius gadget there are some things that must be avoided.

1. Foods with hearty sauce

The first thing is anything with a hearty sauce such as spaghetti bolognese or chilli con carne.

This is because the liquid could be blasted by the hot air, splattering the interior of the fryer which can be dangerous and messy.

Instead, these kinds of foods fare better cooked low and slow in a slow cooker, or stovetop. 

2. Wet battered items 

Wet battered items are also a bad idea in an air fryer for similar reasons. As there isn’t any hot oil in the basket, the batter will drip everywhere and this puddle of batter could cause damage to the fryer.

If you want to achieve a similar crunch on air-fried items you can try a dry batter with flour and seasoning, which should crunch up nicely in the fryer. 

3. Popcorn

If you’re having a movie night at home you might think that an air fryer would be perfect to make some popcorn - but you’d be wrong.

Most fryers don’t get hot enough to pop the kernels and the kernels can also become lodged in the element which can make it short out and become a fire hazard.

4. Broccoli

Broccoli also falls flat in an air fryer as the appliance dries it out, making it tough and bitter. For a delicious side, try roasting your broccoli in the oven instead to make it crispy and delicious. 

5. Pasta and rice 

Pasta and rice also won’t cook in an air fryer as they both need to be boiled first.

However, if you’ve made a pasta bake, you can put this in an oven safe container inside the fryer to crisp the top of it or reheat it without using a microwave.