Overview
- A new consumer warning highlights that baking paper and tin foil can obstruct airflow or get drawn into the heating element, with experts recommending properly sized silicone liners instead.
- Guidance urges at least 10 cm clearance around units and avoiding placement under cabinets to prevent overheating from blocked vents that expel hot air and steam.
- Users are told not to add liquids for cleaning or cooking, with experts cautioning that splashing onto the element can cause short circuits and potential fire or electric shock.
- Additional tips include avoiding plastics that can melt and ignite, using only small amounts of high–smoke point oils, and cleaning baskets to prevent grease buildup that can catch fire.
- This week’s advice reinforces prior lists of 11 items to steer clear of—such as wet batters, stews and casseroles, popcorn kernels, leafy greens, uncooked pasta or rice, hard‑boiled eggs, excessive oil, loose toast, lots of cheese, bone‑in cuts, and paper liners—citing earlier data of a 57% rise in air‑fryer incidents to 146 in the year to March 2024.