How Certain Sugared Snacks Can Ruin Your Air Fryer

Over the last few years, air fryers have almost evolved from a fringe novelty to a mainstream fad. Liana's Kitchen, for example, reported that the term "air fryer" appeared in 50% more internet searches in December 2021 than December 2020. During that time, however, many have not had the chance to learn the ins and outs of how to use the device.

The relative newness of the countertop air fryer also means that some apparently contradictory rules are thrown about. Eating Well states that sugary items like candy floss, sour candies, and other sugary foods are not made for the air fryer because they will melt. Delish delighted itself on TikTok by putting various candies and candy bars like Sour Patch Kids, Skittles, and Snickers into an air fryer to see how each would melt for no other reason than they could. Evidently, the issue is not that the sugary snacks will ruin the fryer if placed in sparingly. It's just that they aren't the types snack that benefit from being cooked in an air fryer.

That said, there are sugary products that should not be put into an air fryer because at best they will be messy and at worst they will catch fire.

Powdered sugar should not be introduced into the air fryer. When Fork to Spoon makes powdered sugar donuts with an air fryer, the dough enters when the fryer has reached 320 degrees Fahrenheit and the sugar is added after the donuts are removed. While this is an obvious order of steps for powdered sugar donuts, the image should impress when powdered sugar can be added.

The first issue with powdered sugar is that it is light. When talking to Reader's Digest about mistakes he makes with air fryers, Anand Bhatt, author of "Rock Star Recipes," admitted that they sometimes forget that lightweight ingredients will fly around: "So something lightweight like spinach, as it starts to fry, ends up getting up in the heating coil—and then it burns, setting off the smoke alarm." Sugar of all kind then will make a mess within the air fryer.

Powdered sugar is worse than regular sugar, however, because it can catch fire. Fireproof Depot explains that while regular sugar is not flammable, powdered sugar can catch fire at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, which is a temperature an air fryer can easily reach. Powdered sugar combusts because the smaller surface area of the sugar causes the individual grains to react at a lower temperature. So while sugary snacks won't be the worst thing in the world, powdered sugar will ruin your air fryer.