Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Air fryers have become the new kitchen must-have, knocking the once-favoured slow cookers off their perch as folks with time constraints but a craving for tastiness turn to these gadgets. They're smashing it not just by cooking up food faster than your regular oven and keeping the bills down, but by giving health-savvy foodies the chance to make meals with less grease. Still, for all their versatility, air fryers aren't perfect and culinary experts are flagging up a bit of advice to fans – steer clear of chucking certain foods into your trendy cooker. Some greens like broccoli just won't do well in the air fryer, turning out rough and bland when pitted against the old ways of cooking. But it's the downright dangerous kitchen capers that are the big worry. BBC Good Food has flagged popcorn as a definite air fryer faux pas due to its potential to ignite, reports the Mirror. The issue with popcorn in an air fryer isn't just subpar popping; it's that the kernels might get stuck in the machine's heating element, posing a serious fire threat. Which? expert Grace Forell dropped a word of warning during a chat with BBC chinwag: "No, don't try this one at home. Popcorn won't cook well in an air fryer as most models won't reach the required temperature to pop the kernels. "Popcorn kernels can also become lodged within the air fryer's heating element, which may cause the appliance to be short, creating a fire hazard. Stick with the microwave or the hob for popcorn if you're settling down for a good movie night!". Another ingredient to avoid in your air fryer is wet batter. While crispy fried chicken coating may be tempting, it won't reach the necessary temperatures to set properly in an air fryer, resulting in a soggy mess that will flop instead of crisp up. Additionally, you'll be left with a burnt-on batter residue at the bottom of your basket, which could potentially damage your machine. Making toast in an air fryer is also not recommended - it won't deliver the golden crunch you're looking for. According to Good Food's culinary expert Helena Busiakiewicz, "If you put bread in an air fryer, it will just move around and not really cook properly. For the best results, I'd always stick to a toaster." While a small amount of oil won't harm your air fryer, using excessive amounts could be disastrous, warns insurance company Aviva. Air fryers are not designed to handle large quantities of oil, and Aviva's statistics show that 8 per cent of kitchen fires were caused by using too much oil in air fryers. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.