Why You Should Never Cook Rice and Pasta in an Air Fryer

Air fryers have transformed the way we cook, making it easier to whip up crispy favorites with far less oil. But as versatile as they are, air fryers aren't the best choice for everything—especially when it comes to staples like rice and pasta. Let’s dive into why these beloved ingredients don’t fare well in an air fryer and explore the best ways to cook them to perfection.

Rice Inside of an Air Fryer? A Recipe for Disaster

Attempting to cook rice in an air fryer can lead to disappointing results. The air fryer's hot air circulation is ideal for crisping and browning, but rice requires consistent, gentle moisture to cook properly—a condition the air fryer can't provide.

1. Lack of Moisture

Rice needs a lot of moisture to cook properly, something that an air fryer, which works by circulating hot air, cannot provide. Cooking rice in an air fryer would likely result in unevenly cooked grains, with some parts undercooked or downright hard, while others might become overly dry and crispy.

2. Inconsistent Cooking

Even if you manage to add enough water to the rice inside an air fryer, the circulating air makes it difficult to maintain a consistent temperature and moisture level around each grain. Traditional methods allow for the absorption of water at a pace that ensures each grain cooks thoroughly and evenly.

Pasta Isn't Air Fryer-Friendly Either

Cooking pasta in an air fryer is a challenging endeavor that often leads to unsatisfactory outcomes. Unlike traditional cooking methods that rely on boiling water to evenly soften pasta, air fryers lack the necessary environment for proper hydration and cooking.

1. No Boiling Action

Pasta needs to be immersed in boiling water to hydrate and soften properly. An air fryer lacks the ability to boil water, which is crucial for cooking pasta. Trying to cook pasta in an air fryer would leave you with hard, unappetizing noodles.

2. Stickiness and Clumping

Without the space and water to move around freely as it cooks, pasta cooked in an air fryer would likely stick together or clump, resulting in a mass of unevenly cooked pasta that is unpleasant to eat.

Can You Warm Rice and Pasta Leftovers in an Air Fryer?

Warming up rice and pasta leftovers in an air fryer can be a great alternative to using a microwave or oven, offering quick reheating and restoring some of the original texture. When reheating rice, ensure it’s spread out evenly in the air fryer basket to avoid clumps and to allow the hot air to circulate effectively, reviving the rice to a pleasantly crispy finish. For pasta, a light drizzle of oil can help prevent it from drying out, ensuring that it remains moist while regaining a bit of its initial bite. Set the air fryer to a moderate temperature and heat for just a few minutes. This method is particularly effective for achieving a delightful texture that’s often lost when reheating in a microwave.