can you boil water in an air fryer

If you are one of the many people who love their air fryer, you have probably wondered, “can you boil water in an air fryer?

It might sound like a crazy thought, especially since air fryers create delectable meals like seasoned fry chicken or zesty sweet potato fries.

Of course, you may have bought the air fryer with your hard-earned cash or gotten it as a holiday gift. 

You want to get the most out of your air fryer, but can you boil water in an air fryer as a way to cook your food?

An air fryer creates a thousand possibilities apart from just making foods crispy and juicy.

But it’s important to use your air fryer correctly so you can use it for years to come.

Using liquid in any air fryer is dependent on the model and the manufacturer’s requirements. If you are intrigued about boiling water in an air fryer, read on to learn the dos and don’ts of your air fryer.

Can You Boil Water in an Air Fryer?

boil water in air fryer

In short, you cannot boil water in an air fryer. Although you can heat water in an air fryer, they are intended to crisp food, not boil water.

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The main reason you can’t boil water in an air fryer is that it cannot reach the temperatures needed to boil water.

Since it can’t reach 212 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s impossible to boil water in an air fryer.

If you try to cook foods that require large quantities of water, such as rice, the temperatures will not be enough to cook it properly. 

You would want to use another cooking method for these kinds of foods.

How Much Water Can You Add to an Air Fryer?

how much water to add

Air fryers can only handle small amounts of water. Two to three tablespoons are enough.

Adding more liquid than the recommended amount can cause a spill or evaporation in your air fryer.

Water should be added to a drawer or pan in the air fryer; be careful to not overfill.

Should You Put Water in an Air Fryer?

You can add water to an air fryer in small quantities, both in the baking and roasting settings.

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The small amount of water helps food retain moisture and avoid burning or getting too crisp.

Tip: It is best to add two tablespoons of water at a time. Avoid adding excess liquid because it could result in damaging the air fryer.

How to Add Water to an Air Fryer

how to add water

As mentioned before, you can add a few tablespoons of liquid to your air fryer at a time.

Any more than this may cause spills and splashes all over the kitchen which can cause burns and affect the air fryer itself.

You should also ensure that no water touches the electronic parts of your air fryer as this could cause it to short circuit.

When to Add Water to an Air Fryer

Even though you may not be able to boil water in an air fryer, there may be some instances when adding water could be helpful.

In such cases, the water would improve the function of the air fryer works instead of hindering it.

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To Reduce Smoke Production

reduce a smoke production

Foods with fat or grease, such as bacon or sausage, can cause smoke from your air fryer.

It is noteworthy that when you cook these kinds of foods in your air fryer, the grease will drip to the bottom of the air fryer, which results in stains and burning.

When this grease burns, smoking will result, and the smell will spread from the air fryer to the room.

To avoid burning grease, adding small amounts of liquid to the bottom of the air fryer stops or prevents any burning or smoking.

To Maintain Cooking Pressure

Have you ever used an air fryer and parts of your food came out very crispy while other parts were not as well-cooked?

This can happen when the temperature within the air fryer is not even.

To fix this type of issue, you can add a small quantity of water to the bottom of the air fryer. 

This small amount of water can help maintain the optimal cooking temperature by creating moisture so that your food cooks perfectly.

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cooking pressure

It will also make sure your food is cooked thoroughly inside and nice and crispy on the outside – just as an air fryer should do!

Adding water to the food may cause it to become quite soggy and tasteless. The less water used in the air fryer, the better.

If you want your food to come out crispy and flavourful, limiting the amount of water to 1 tablespoon should be fine.

To Clean the Air Fryer

Another great reason to use water in your air fryer is for cleaning purposes.

Food remnants, like crumbs, are an inevitable part of the cooking process, and if leftover, they can result in burning.

When not eliminated, these foods can build up and cause problems when using the air fryer.  
clean air fryer

To correct this, you can use small amounts of water, vinegar, baking soda, and a small washing brush to clean the air fryer and eliminate odors or ugly messes.

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You won’t have to worry about damaging your air fryer, as most come with compartments that prevent water droplets from touching the heating coil.

However, never overfill your air fryer’s drawer with water or cleaning agents, as this can result in a short circuit.

What about Adding Water to Create Steam?

It is possible to steam food in an air fryer, but this will all depend on the make and model of the air fryer.

It is also not recommended to steam food in an air fryer, even though it is possible in some cases.

While other appliances are designed to steam food, repeated steaming can damage your air fryer.

adding water to airfryer

Air fryers work like a convection oven. A fan within the air fryer circulates hot air around the fryer, which cooks and crisps the food evenly.

The food cooks quickly because the hot air is confined to a small space.

When oil is added to the food, this results in the food becoming extra crispy, even though oil is not a required substance when cooking food in an air fryer.

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On the other hand, a steamer uses water at its base. The boiling water creates steam to cook the food.

If you want to steam your food, a steamer accomplishes the job better than using an air fryer.

Air fryers were designed to make food crispy rather than using steam to cook food.

Does Water Evaporate in an Air Fryer?

This will depend on the amount of water in the air fryer, but yes, water does evaporate in an air fryer.

Although it is not recommended to place large amounts of water in an air fryer, a small amount can be added when needed.

water evaporate

A small amount of liquid would quickly evaporate from the air fryer once the air is circulating efficiently. 

Large amounts of water, on the other hand, would take longer to evaporate and could cause damage to the appliance.

Final Thoughts

You’ve gone this far, and you now know the answer to “Can you boil water in an air fryer?”

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Air fryers are electrical appliances, and the dangers of misusing them should not be underrated.

While you should not boil water in an air fryer, there are other ways to incorporate water and other liquids into your air fryer.

Avoid smoking in your air fryer, which can cause food odors and stained kitchen walls by adding water to the bottom of the air fryer.

This will prevent burning from the grease that spills when cooking greasy foods. Of course, you can also use water to create moisture in an air fryer so that foods are cooked evenly.

And lastly, using water along with other cleaning agents like baking soda, vinegar, and even dish soap, can remove strong food odors and eliminate stains and grease.