Air-Fried Poppadoms: A Healthy, Quick Treat?

Poppadoms are a beloved Indian side dish, often served with curry. While frying and microwaving are the most common ways to cook them, some people are curious about using an air fryer. In this case, the results are mixed. Some people report that their poppadoms burned, while others claim that they turned out edible but not very satisfying.

Using water or oil

When making poppadoms in an air fryer, you can use water or oil. The normal way to cook uncooked poppadoms is to sprinkle them with water and microwave them. If you're cooking them in the oven, you should drizzle them lightly with oil. For air fryers, both methods can be tried.

Using Water

Lightly sprinkle some water on the poppadom. The water is just to give the air fryer something to dry out. Set the air fryer to 200ºC for 5 minutes. Check on the poppadom every 10-15 seconds. After about 60 seconds, the poppadom should be ready.

Using Oil

Lightly coat the poppadom with oil to achieve a crisp finish. Set the air fryer to 200ºC for 5 minutes. Check in on the poppadom every 10-15 seconds. After about 60 seconds, the poppadom should be ready.

Results

The poppadoms cooked with a sprinkling of water came out burnt. The hot air circulating in the air fryer during the cooking process simply evaporated all of the water. Drizzling a little oil over the poppadoms produced slightly better results, although they curled up a lot. The use of oil did achieve a more even crisp, resulting in an edible poppadom.

Air fryer temperature and time

Air fryers are marketed as a healthier and more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional ovens. They use up to 80% less oil than deep frying and can cook a variety of foods, including vegetables and meat.

When cooking poppadoms in an air fryer, the temperature and time settings are crucial to achieving the desired results. Most sources recommend setting the air fryer temperature to 200 degrees Celsius. However, it is important to note that the time may vary depending on the make and model of your air fryer. For example, one source recommends cooking poppadoms in an air fryer for 35 seconds, while another suggests 7-8 minutes. Therefore, it is always a good idea to refer to the instructions of your specific air fryer model.

It is worth noting that some experimentation may be required to find the optimal time and temperature settings for your air fryer. One source mentions that they did not follow a recipe and that their time and temperature settings were a "very wild guess". As a result, their poppadoms had a harsh and lumpy texture, highlighting the importance of finding the right settings through trial and error.

To avoid burning your poppadoms, it is recommended to check on them regularly, especially if your air fryer does not have a viewing window. One source suggests checking every 10-15 seconds to ensure they do not burn. Additionally, it is important to note that the size of your poppadoms may affect the cooking time. If your poppadoms are too big for your air fryer, consider cutting them into halves or quarters before placing them in the basket.

In summary, the ideal temperature for cooking poppadoms in an air fryer is 200 degrees Celsius, and the cooking time can range from 35 seconds to 7-8 minutes, depending on your air fryer model. Be sure to refer to the instructions provided with your air fryer and adjust the time and temperature settings as needed to achieve the best results.

Checking in on the poppadom

When cooking poppadoms in an air fryer, it is important to check in on them regularly. This is because they are lightweight and can get blown around, sometimes getting caught in the fan at the top of the air fryer. It is recommended to check on them every 10-15 seconds. If your air fryer has a viewing window, this will be easy to do without letting out any heat.

If your air fryer does not have a viewing window, you will need to open the drawer to check on the poppadoms. This will cause some heat to escape, so try to minimise the number of times you do this. It is also important to note that some air fryers come with a small rack that fits inside the basket, which can be used to keep the poppadoms from flying up and burning.

When cooking poppadoms in an air fryer, it is best to cook them one at a time. This is because they need to be checked on regularly and removed from the air fryer as soon as they are done, which is more difficult to do when cooking multiple poppadoms at once.

The cooking time for poppadoms in an air fryer will vary depending on the desired level of doneness and the specific air fryer being used. However, on average, it takes about 60 seconds for a poppadom to cook in an air fryer.

It is important to keep an eye on the poppadoms while they are cooking to ensure they do not burn. The light and airy nature of poppadoms makes them particularly susceptible to burning in an air fryer.

Overall, checking in on the poppadoms regularly is crucial to ensuring they cook properly and do not burn. By following the above tips, you can successfully cook poppadoms in an air fryer.

Removing and repeating the process

After about 60 seconds, carefully remove the poppadom from the air fryer basket. It is important to take caution if the air fryer is still running. Repeat this process for as many poppadoms as you wish to make.

If you are cooking multiple poppadoms, it is important to only cook one at a time. This is because the hot air circulating in the air fryer can cause the poppadoms to blow around and touch the heating element, resulting in burning. To prevent this, some air fryers come with a small rack that fits into the basket to keep the poppadoms in place.

Additionally, if you are cooking multiple batches, it is recommended to open and close the drawer at regular intervals to prevent overheating and smoke.

Results

Air fryers are a great way to make a variety of foods, and many people are experimenting with cooking different foods in them. Poppadoms are a classic Indian starter and a much-loved snack, often served with curry. They are usually fried, microwaved, or cooked in an oven. But can you cook them in an air fryer?

Well, the short answer is yes, you can. However, the results are mixed, and the process is not without its challenges. One person's attempt at cooking poppadoms in an air fryer resulted in burnt poppadoms. This was due to the hot air in the air fryer evaporating the water that had been sprinkled on the poppadoms. Another attempt, using poppadoms drizzled with oil, achieved a more even crisp, resulting in an edible, if not entirely satisfying, poppadom.

Cooking poppadoms in an air fryer can be tricky as they are lightweight and can get blown around, even getting caught in the fan. They also tend to curl up, making them useless for scooping up dips. Additionally, the process can be time-consuming as only one poppadom can be cooked at a time, and the drawer needs to be opened and closed at regular intervals.

So, while it is possible to cook poppadoms in an air fryer, the results may not be as desirable as those achieved through frying, microwaving, or cooking in an oven.

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