My air fryer almost caught fire at a family potluck last Sunday

So I brought my air fryer to my cousin's house for a potluck last Sunday because I wanted to make crispy buffalo cauliflower bites. I threw them in there with some oil spray and set it for 375 degrees like always. But about 10 minutes in, smoke started pouring out and everyone in the kitchen was staring at me. Turns out I forgot to shake the basket halfway through and the oil pooled up under the parchment paper I lined it with. The paper started smoking and nearly ignited. I had to unplug the thing and wave a dish towel around like a fool. Has anyone else had a close call with parchment paper in their air fryer or am I just a messy cook?

2 comments

2 Comments

campbell.david10d ago

My buddy actually told me about this happening to him a few weeks ago. He read somewhere that the parchment paper can shift in the air fryer fan and block the airflow, which makes stuff heat up unevenly and pool oil like that. He said he switched to just using a light spray on the basket directly and it never happened again. Might be worth trying that instead next time you bring it somewhere.

grant82610d ago

Yeah I used to think parchment paper was fine in air fryers but after reading this I'm rethinking that. Sounds like a real pain to deal with smoke at a family thing.