The Style Of Air Fryer You Shouldn't Use For Baking

It's no secret that air fryers aren't just for french fries. Despite its name, an air fryer is basically a pint-sized, energy-efficient convection oven. The appliance can cook almost anything you'd typically bake in an oven, from stress-free cheesecake to crisp blind-baked pie crusts. However, before you bust out the flour and measuring cups, you'll want to check what kind of air fryer you own, because one particular style shouldn't be used for baking: a rotary air fryer.

Also known as a paddle-type or self-stirring air fryer, the rotary air fryer constantly moves food throughout the cooking process, usually via a rotating paddle or drum. This produces evenly cooked food, with no basket shaking necessary, which is fabulous if you're making crispy air fryer potato wedges or crunchy Brussels sprouts. Unfortunately, it also means a rotary air fryer will likely turn your gooey air fryer cookies (and really any fragile foods) into a pile of crumbs. The rotating movement tears apart delicate doughs and half-baked batters before they've had time to turn into delicious baked goods.

Rotary air fryers are clearly not ideal for baking, but they do have some benefits. The self-stirring feature is super convenient for heartier foods that require a lot of shaking during cooking, such as stir-fries, air fryer broccoli, and golden tater tots. They're ideal for producing a crunch in everything from french fries to leftover pizza, and allow you to set the timer and walk away without having to remember to shake the basket (which, many would argue, is the hardest part of air fryer cooking).

On the other hand, rotary air fryers are typically a bit more expensive, and as mentioned above, the rotation makes them less versatile compared to other models. It's worth noting that many rotary air fryers have removable paddle attachments so you can prepare more delicate foods such as baked goods, but some owners still find them cumbersome and problematic without the paddle. One Reddit user wrote, "I hate it. The paddle breaks fries, it moves breaded things around and the coating falls off ... I just take it off and use it without, but then food doesn't cook evenly still." If all of this has you in the market for a more well-rounded appliance, the best air fryer, according to Consumer Reports, is a compact, budget-friendly model from the brand Dash.