Households across the UK are being issued an urgent warning about three common foods that should never be cooked in an air fryer, following insurance claims for damage that are averaging tens of thousands of pounds and reaching as high as £80,000.
The Three Forbidden Foods
Consumer experts and insurers have identified three specific items that pose a significant risk when used in the popular kitchen appliance: popcorn, bread, and excessive oil.
Grace Forell, a consumer journalist from the renowned organisation Which?, explicitly told the BBC: "No, don't try this one at home." She explained that popcorn is particularly dangerous because most air fryer models cannot reach the high temperature needed to pop the kernels effectively. More alarmingly, the unpopped kernels can become lodged in the appliance's heating element, potentially causing it to short circuit and create a serious fire hazard.
When it comes to bread, the advice is to stick to a traditional toaster. Helena Busiakiewicz, a cookery assistant from Good Food, clarified that bread simply moves around in an air fryer and does not cook properly, making the appliance an inefficient and unsuitable choice for toasting.
The Staggering Cost of Air Fryer Mishaps
The warning is backed by stark financial data from insurance providers. Aviva has revealed that the average cost of claims related to air fryer damage is now in the tens of thousands of pounds, with some severe cases costing up to £80,000 to rectify.
Research from the insurer shows that a significant 8% of kitchen fires they have analysed were directly caused by the use of too much oil in air fryers. Hannah Davidson, a senior underwriting manager at Aviva, emphasised the scale of the problem, stating: "Our survey shows that nearly one in five UK residents have encountered fire-related issues with air fryers." These issues range from smoking and overheating to full-blown explosions and fires.
Essential Safety Tips to Prevent Disaster
In light of these findings, experts are urging constant vigilance and have issued a list of critical safety practices for air fryer users.
Aviva's Hannah Davidson provided the following essential advice to significantly reduce fire risks:
- Never leave an air fryer unattended while it is in use.
- Avoid using excessive amounts of oil when cooking.
- Always place the air fryer on a stable, non-flammable surface.
- Ensure there is proper ventilation around the appliance during operation.
She also strongly recommended keeping a fire blanket and a small fire extinguisher rated for electrical fires in the kitchen. Crucially, she warned that if an air fryer fire does occur, you should never throw water on it, as this is an electrical fire. The correct procedure is to use the fire blanket or extinguisher and call the fire brigade immediately if the situation cannot be controlled.
