Why You Should Think Twice Before Cooking Popcorn In The Air Fryer

Cooking popcorn in an air fryer might seem like a convenient alternative to traditional methods, but there are several reasons to think twice before doing so. Air fryers are designed to circulate hot air around food, making them ideal for items like fries or chicken wings. However, this design poses challenges for popcorn. The lightweight kernels can be easily blown around, which might prevent them from popping evenly. Additionally, popcorn needs rapid and consistent heat to pop properly, and air fryers may not provide the necessary environment for this. The result can be unevenly popped corn with many unpopped kernels left at the bottom. Furthermore, the small size of most air fryer baskets limits the amount of popcorn you can make at one time. This can be inconvenient if you're preparing snacks for more than one person. Also, there is a potential safety concern, as some air fryer models may not be equipped to handle the rapid expansion and potential jamming of popcorn kernels, which could lead to overheating or even damage the appliance. For these reasons, sticking to traditional stovetop or microwave methods may be more effective and safer for making popcorn.