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Can You Steam Things in An Air Fryer? Your Guide to Healthy Cooking

Air fryers are pretty versatile. You may use them to make fries, toast – even roast a whole chicken if you feel like it. That said, now and again, maybe you want to add some steamed food – perhaps some veggies – next to your plate.

Healthy eating every day is essential; air fryers and steamers can help you with that. The question is: can you steam things using an air fryer? Do you need to buy a different unit to steam food? The answer is a mix of “no,” “yes,” and “it depends” – and we will find out more about that later on.

do air fryers steam

Can You Use a Basic Air Fryer to Steam Food?

Technically speaking, you cannot steam food in a basic air fryer. Air fryers work with hot air; for steam to happen, you must add water. The problem is that you cannot add water to a basic air fryer, which may damage the unit. The purpose of the air fryer is to make the food feel crispy and dehydrate it, not to add more moisture to it.

Some users have attempted to steam their food by placing a heat-resistant bowl of water inside the air fryer. However, not only will this prevent you from cooking the amount of food you want, but there is also the danger of water going into the basket. A few drops of water may not damage the air fryer, but if the bowl tips over, you might not be able to save the unit.

Plus, placing water in the air fryer would counter the air fryer’s crisping technology. While it may add some moisture to the food, for the most part, the water will dry out. You will only get a slightly moist piece of fried food.  Therefore, even if you manage to put a water container in the air fryer (which is a risky-enough move), it doesn’t mean it will work.

However, this only applies to basic air fryers. Some of the more modern air fryers have a steaming feature. This means that they have their own water compartments. These steamer air fryer combo units are more water-resistant, as they are made for more functions than just air frying.

How Does an Air Fryer Steamer Work?

To steam food with an air fryer, you must first ensure that you have the correct device. Unless the handbook mentions that your air fryer also has a steamer, do not try to add water into the unit.

An air fryer steamer will have a steamer reservoir where you can add the water. Your unit will heat that water using the heating element, bringing it to a boil and producing steam. The steamer is usually found at the bottom of the air fryer, under the basket, but its positioning will depend on the model.

As the steam is released, it will surround the ingredients in the steamer basket or pan. As the hot air is automatically turned down on this setting, the food will only be cooked by the steam coming from the reservoir.

Unlike air frying modes, where the hot air is guided around the food in a controlled manner, the direction of the steam cannot be easily controlled in steam mode. The steam will go up and surround the food. However, this can be a good thing, as the food is less likely to get burned by using steam. The ingredients’ natural moisture will also be maintained, preventing the food from sticking to the tray.

steamer air fryer

Why Should You Get an Air Fryer Steamer?

There are several reasons why an air fryer steamer is an excellent addition to your kitchen. The most important reason is that you can cook food without requiring any cooking oil. This leads to even healthier food than you would get with just air frying.

Moreover, air fryer steamers are more versatile compared to basic air fryers. For instance, you can cook the food in different ways. There may be moments when you need to prepare some rice or steamed vegetables to go with your air-fried proteins. You can do everything with just one appliance with an air fryer steamer combo.

Food cooked with the air fryer steamer mode does not need much supervision. Since it works with steam rather than hot air, the risk of burning or overcooking your meals is low. Therefore, you won’t have to flip the food or check it regularly.

Steaming also locks the nutrients into the food much more efficiently than air frying. This is beneficial when you cook vegetables and do not want them to lose their nutritional value.

The Bottom Line

Air fryers are made to make food crispy and tender. This requires the heat to be circulated around the food therefore, standard air fryers are not meant to steam food. However, there is the air fryer steamer combo which was designed to combine the benefits of air frying and steaming all in one appliance.

If you are a health-conscious eater, an air fryer steamer is something to consider as it will have all your meals sorted in one appliance. This device is versatile, locks in all the nutrients, and no oil is required to cook delicious healthy food. Make sure you buy a suitable air fryer model that has the steamer function available.

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