Should My Air Fryer Steam?

Should your air fryer steam? Well, it may steam in some cases. Keep going through the article to find out what causes steams in the air fryer.

An air fryer is an amazing appliance that allows you to cook very easily. This little device has become the talk of the town because of the benefits compared to the other traditional cooking mediums out there. With the help of the air fryer, you can easily prepare the food healthy, quickly, within the shortest time. Like any other appliance, the air fryer can sometimes be problematic.

One of such issues is the steam. Your air fryer can sometimes produce steam while cooking some specific varieties of food. In the below part of the article, we will let you know when your air fryer will steam. We will also help you to understand whether it is the steam or something else. Keep going through the article to find out.

Should My Air Fryer Steam?

If you see white steam coming out of the air fryer, you shouldn’t be worried about this. That is because it is very normal for the air fryer to produce steam while cooking some specific varieties of food. Especially, while cooking foods that include rice, the air fryer may produce smoke. It is very normal for the air fryer to produce smoke. You don’t need to be worried about this and it is completely normal.

However, you need to be aware of whether it is steam or smoke. If the air fryer produces the steam, then you need to be careful about this. Smoke can be produced while cooking but sometimes it means something serious. So, check the air fryer closely to find out whether it is producing steam or smoke. The smoke can be produced because of several things. While some of the reasons are normal some others can be impactful.

What Causes Smoke in the Air Fryer

The smoke may occur in the air fryer for a variety of reasons. Below, we will briefly discuss some of the main reasons behind the smoke coming out of the air fryer.

Oil and Grease

One of the main reasons behind the smoke issue is oil and grease. Your air fryer usually cooks the food at a high temperature. Most of the units of the air fryer are capable of producing around 400 F of the cooking temperature. When you use oil with low smoke points while cooking at a high temperature in an air fryer, it will start producing smoke. The oil starts burning in such a high heat and it produces smoke.

Sometimes the grease that falls from the food in the pan below the air fryer can also produce smoke. Especially, while cooking high-fat food, the fall can melt and fall in the below pan. This can cause the white smoke to come out of the air fryer as the fat starts burning in the high heat. So, you don’t need to worry much if you see smoke while cooking food with high fat.

Leftover Food Particles

The leftover food particles can sometimes also cause heating issues. If you leave the food particles in the air fryer, that can cause the smoking issue. Make sure to clean the air fryer basket properly after cooking something messy like something with the breadcrumb. The breadcrumbs can be removed from the food and they can stick in the heating element. In such a case, you will require cleaning the heating element.

Use a cloth to wipe inside the heating element or coil on the air fryer to get rid of the food or grease that is stuck in it. Also, give a thorough clean to the air fryer pan that holds the grease falling from the food. Sometimes while cooking the food with breadcrumbs, they can blow around the basket and cause smoke.

Overcrowding Basket

Another reason behind the smoke can be overcrowding the air fryer basket. Because of the mechanism of the air fryer, you must cook the food following the guidance that arrives with the basket. One of the things that you must need to be careful about is putting the food in a single layer. If you cook the food in multiple layers, it may also cause a burning issue.

Another thing you need to be aware of is while cooking the food that is light like toasting the bread, or leafy veggies, you need to weigh it down somehow. That is because the food may blow around with the hot and powerful air circulation which can cause smoke and other related issues. You need to weigh down the food or spray it properly to prevent this issue.

FAQs

Is it okay if my air fryer is steaming?

Yes, it is completely normal for your air fryer to steam. If your air fryer is steaming, you shouldn’t be worried about that. That is because it is a part of normal cooking. Especially, while cooking some specific variation of the food, you can notice the steam coming out of the air fryer. Make sure that you are thinking of smoke as the steam. The smoke is more prevalent than the steam in the air fryer.

Can you steam food in the air fryer?

No, you can’t steam food in the air fryer. The air fryer uses rapid air circulation technology to cook the food. It is a process that heats the food from a different angle and cooks it quickly without any grease. When it comes to steaming and adding water to the air fryer, the cooking process will not work. It can even damage the air fryer. Never add water or try to steam inside your air fryer.

Conclusion

Your air fryer is a magical device that can do a lot of things. But just like any other electric appliance out there, there are some issues with it one of which is the smoke. Make sure that you are not taking the smoke as the steam. Do the evaluation and take necessary action to solve the issue if you see the smoke coming out of the air fryer.