Foods compared
Can You Air Fry It? 45 Questions and Their Verdicts, Tallied
Published by the RecipeAirFryer editorial team · How we source times · Updated
Of 45 "can you air fry it" questions answered on this site, 33 (73%) get a plain yes, 6 depend on how you do it, and 6 are not recommended. The foods to avoid are rice, popcorn, oatmeal and pancakes, and the materials to keep out are paper towel and plastic.
Key findings
- 28 of 37 foods get a yes.
- The "it depends" answers are cheese, pasta, ramen, marshmallows, mac and cheese and water. Most of them work only in a dish, or only when contained.
- 5 of 8 materials and accessories are fine to use: parchment paper, glass dishes, ceramic dishes, silicone and wooden skewers.
- The foods that fail share a cause: they are loose, liquid or need boiling water, and an air fryer moves dry air.
- Yes33
- It depends6
- Not recommended6
Foods: 37 verdicts
| Food | Verdict | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs | Yes | 130°C / 270°F | 9-11 min for hard, in the shell |
| Bacon | Yes | 190°C / 375°F | 8-12 min |
| Steak | Yes | 200°C / 400°F | 8-14 min |
| Pizza | Yes | 180°C / 350°F | 5-8 min fresh, 3-5 min to reheat |
| Frozen Food | Yes | 190°C / 375°F | Varies by food |
| Toast | Yes | 180°C / 350°F | 3-5 min |
| Tortillas | Yes | 180°C / 360°F | 4-6 min |
| Cake | Yes | 150°C / 300°F | 20-30 min |
| Bread | Yes | 160°C / 320°F | 18-25 min |
| Cookies | Yes | 160°C / 320°F | 6-9 min |
| Hard-Boiled Eggs | Yes | 130°C / 270°F | 9-12 min |
| Hot Dogs | Yes | 190°C / 375°F | 5-7 min |
| Tofu | Yes | 200°C / 400°F | 12-15 min |
| Halloumi | Yes | 190°C / 375°F | 8-10 min |
| Canned Biscuits | Yes | 160°C / 320°F | 8-10 min |
| Sweet Potato | Yes | 200°C / 400°F | 25-40 min |
| Mushrooms | Yes | 190°C / 375°F | 10-12 min |
| Avocado | Yes | 190°C / 375°F | 7-9 min |
| Banana | Yes | 190°C / 375°F | 6-8 min |
| Apple | Yes | 160°C / 320°F | 12-18 min |
| Samosas | Yes | 190°C / 375°F | 10-14 min |
| Dumplings | Yes | 190°C / 375°F | 8-12 min |
| Quesadilla | Yes | 180°C / 360°F | 6-8 min |
| Grilled Cheese | Yes | 180°C / 360°F | 6-8 min |
| Naan | Yes | 180°C / 360°F | 2-3 min |
| Croissants | Yes | 160°C / 320°F | 3-8 min |
| Raw Chicken | Yes | 190°C / 375°F | 18-25 min |
| Frozen Chicken | Yes | 180°C / 360°F | 25-35 min |
| Cheese | It depends | 190°C / 375°F | 6-8 min for breaded |
| Pasta | It depends | 190°C / 375°F | 8-10 min |
| Ramen | It depends | 180°C / 360°F | 4-6 min |
| Marshmallows | It depends | 190°C / 375°F | 1-2 min |
| Mac and Cheese | It depends | 180°C / 360°F | 10-15 min |
| Rice | Not recommended | n/a | n/a |
| Popcorn | Not recommended | n/a | n/a |
| Oatmeal | Not recommended | n/a | n/a |
| Pancakes | Not recommended | n/a | n/a |
Materials and accessories: 8 verdicts
| Material | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Parchment Paper | Yes |
| Glass Dishes | Yes |
| Ceramic Dishes | Yes |
| Silicone | Yes |
| Wooden Skewers | Yes |
| Water | It depends |
| Paper Towel | Not recommended |
| Plastic | Not recommended |
The rule behind the food verdicts is simple. An air fryer blows hot dry air. Food that is solid and holds its shape does well. Food that is a liquid, a loose grain or a wet batter either dries out, blows around or drips onto the element.
The rule behind the material verdicts is heat rating and weight. Anything oven-safe is safe. Anything light enough for the fan to lift needs food on top to hold it down.
How these figures were worked out
The tally covers the 45 questions in the "Can you air fry it?" section of the site on 2026-10-08. Each has one of three verdicts: yes, it depends, or not recommended.
The verdicts are editorial judgements about whether a standard basket air fryer gives a good and safe result. They are not test results, and the full reasoning is on each linked page.
You may quote these figures with a link to this page. If you spot an error, tell us through the contact page and we will correct it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you not cook in an air fryer?
Of the foods we cover, rice, popcorn, oatmeal and pancakes are not recommended. They are loose, liquid or need boiling water, which an air fryer cannot provide.
What can you not put in an air fryer?
Paper towel and plastic. Plastic melts, and loose paper can be lifted into the element by the fan.
Can you put parchment paper in an air fryer?
Yes, with food on top to hold it down. Never preheat with an empty sheet in the basket, because the fan can lift it into the heating element.