Home LivingAppliancesKitchenAir FryersCan you make popcorn in an air fryer? You can but it’s not the best ideaSo long as you can put up with the small risk of your house burning to the ground this TikTok trend is a winnerWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Home LivingAppliancesKitchenAir FryersCan you make popcorn in an air fryer? You can but it’s not the best ideaSo long as you can put up with the small risk of your house burning to the ground this TikTok trend is a winnerWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
So long as you can put up with the small risk of your house burning to the ground this TikTok trend is a winner
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Getty)
(Image credit: Getty)
Can you make popcorn in the air fryer? It turns out the answer is yes, and the results are tasty but T3 does not recommend you do so, since there is a slight fire risk. We like popcorn very much, but perhaps not enough to spin the dice on a kitchen small appliance fire. This air fried popcorn ‘craze’ started on TikTok, natch. Since TikTok has lied to me before, I wanted to give this hack a try in my own kitchen before giving it my seal of approval. I’ve tried many a TikTok trend in my air fryer, fromair fried hard ‘boiled’ eggsto baking brownies, but I think this is the one that’s scared me the most so far.
Sure, if you’ve got a microwave at your disposal you may not need to opt for this method, but if you’re like me and you simply don’t have the space for a microwave in your kitchen, you may have previously missed out on fulfilling your occasional urges for popcorn. But f this hack really works, it means you can simply whip out something from ourbest air fryers list, and return to the days of setting the timer and leaving your snack to heat up while you choose theNetflixmovie you want to watch.
As a top comment on the TikTok video points out, making popcorn in an air fryer has the potential to be a bit of a fire hazard. But with an extinguisher on-hand – and the hope that my landlord does not come across this article – I decided to put this hack to the test. I don’t recommend you do the same.
How to make popcorn in an air fryer
The only problem is that the heating element in an air fryer sits directly above the basket, so adding popcorn loose to the cooking chamber means it can jump up and potentially burn if it hits the heating element. I went with the video’s advice and added half a cup of kernels to the basket, but if you’re working with a smaller air fryer capacity, I’d suggest you add less. To be honest, I suggest you just buy a bag of ready-made popcorn, and save yourself the stress.
Testing this TikTok hack
Popcorn mission accomplished?(Image credit: Millie Fender)
Popcorn mission accomplished?
Popcorn mission accomplished?
(Image credit: Millie Fender)
I broke out myPhilips Essential XLair fryer for this task. It’s one of the best air fryers for those who want a larger cooking capacity. My regular Instant air fryer only has a 2-quart capacity, and I was worried that the popcorn would overfill the basket once it started popping.
Because air fryers have a slatted insert that allows air to circulate around your food, I was worried that the kernels may slip through the grid of the air fryer and become trapped at the bottom of the basket. I was pleasantly surprised that this actually didn’t happen, but if your air fryer has larger gaps in the insert, it’s something I’d be wary of.
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The finished result was actually really tasty, and the popcorn was pretty much indistinguishable from the microwave popcorn I’ve made in the past. If anything, I feel like there were fewer un-popped kernels from the air fryer.
Should you make popcorn in the air fryer?
Voila!(Image credit: Millie Fender)
Voila!
Voila!
(Image credit: Millie Fender)
Okay, this TikTok hackdoeswork. I didn’t set fire to my kitchen, I didn’t have any mishaps, and I got a full bowl of popcorn at the end of the test.
Today’s best deals on T3’s favourite air fryersPhilips Airfryer XXL$112.47ViewSee all pricesInstant Vortex Air Fryer$139.95ViewSee all pricesBreville The Combi Wave 3 in 1$499.95ViewSee all pricesNinja Air Fryer AF100UK$89.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best deals on T3’s favourite air fryersPhilips Airfryer XXL$112.47ViewSee all pricesInstant Vortex Air Fryer$139.95ViewSee all pricesBreville The Combi Wave 3 in 1$499.95ViewSee all pricesNinja Air Fryer AF100UK$89.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best deals on T3’s favourite air fryersPhilips Airfryer XXL$112.47ViewSee all pricesInstant Vortex Air Fryer$139.95ViewSee all pricesBreville The Combi Wave 3 in 1$499.95ViewSee all pricesNinja Air Fryer AF100UK$89.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best deals on T3’s favourite air fryers
Philips Airfryer XXL$112.47ViewSee all pricesInstant Vortex Air Fryer$139.95ViewSee all pricesBreville The Combi Wave 3 in 1$499.95ViewSee all pricesNinja Air Fryer AF100UK$89.99ViewSee all prices
Philips Airfryer XXL$112.47ViewSee all prices
Philips Airfryer XXL$112.47ViewSee all prices
Philips Airfryer XXL
Philips Airfryer XXL
$112.47View
$112.47
$112.47
See all prices
Instant Vortex Air Fryer$139.95ViewSee all prices
Instant Vortex Air Fryer$139.95ViewSee all prices
Instant Vortex Air Fryer
Instant Vortex Air Fryer
$139.95View
$139.95
$139.95
See all prices
Breville The Combi Wave 3 in 1$499.95ViewSee all prices
Breville The Combi Wave 3 in 1$499.95ViewSee all prices
Breville The Combi Wave 3 in 1
Breville The Combi Wave 3 in 1
$499.95View
$499.95
$499.95
See all prices
Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK$89.99ViewSee all prices
Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK$89.99ViewSee all prices
Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK
Ninja Air Fryer AF100UK
$89.99View
$89.99
$89.99
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Emolife Store Multipurpose Silicone Mat$13.99ViewSee all pricesInstant Vortex Mini Air Fryer$59.99$48ViewSee all pricesDeal endsMon, Jan 20, 2025Dash DCAF150GBBK02 Compact Air Fryer$44.99ViewSee all pricesDash Compact Air Fryer$49.99ViewSee all pricesCosori Pro LE Air Fryer L501$99.99$79.91ViewSee all pricesDeal endsSun, Jan 26, 2025Gourmia 4-Quart Digital Air Fryer with$49ViewSee all pricesChefman Turbofry 3.5L Analog Air Fryer$62ViewSee all pricesGoWISE USA 3.7-Quart Programmable Air$62.53ViewSee all pricesDreo Air Fryer$89.99$67.45ViewSee all pricesGourmia 6 Quart Digital Air Fryer GAF698$68.99ViewSee all prices
Emolife Store Multipurpose Silicone Mat$13.99ViewSee all prices
Emolife Store Multipurpose Silicone Mat$13.99ViewSee all prices
Emolife Store Multipurpose Silicone Mat
Emolife Store Multipurpose Silicone Mat
$13.99View
$13.99
$13.99
See all prices
Instant Vortex Mini Air Fryer$59.99$48ViewSee all pricesDeal endsMon, Jan 20, 2025
Instant Vortex Mini Air Fryer$59.99$48ViewSee all prices
Instant Vortex Mini Air Fryer
Instant Vortex Mini Air Fryer
$59.99$48View
$59.99$48
$48
See all prices
Deal endsMon, Jan 20, 2025
Deal endsMon, Jan 20, 2025
Deal endsMon, Jan 20, 2025
Dash DCAF150GBBK02 Compact Air Fryer$44.99ViewSee all prices
Dash DCAF150GBBK02 Compact Air Fryer$44.99ViewSee all prices
Dash DCAF150GBBK02 Compact Air Fryer
Dash DCAF150GBBK02 Compact Air Fryer
$44.99View
$44.99
$44.99
See all prices
Dash Compact Air Fryer$49.99ViewSee all prices
Dash Compact Air Fryer$49.99ViewSee all prices
Dash Compact Air Fryer
Dash Compact Air Fryer
$49.99View
$49.99
$49.99
See all prices
Cosori Pro LE Air Fryer L501$99.99$79.91ViewSee all pricesDeal endsSun, Jan 26, 2025
Cosori Pro LE Air Fryer L501$99.99$79.91ViewSee all prices
Cosori Pro LE Air Fryer L501
Cosori Pro LE Air Fryer L501
$99.99$79.91View
$99.99$79.91
$79.91
See all prices
Deal endsSun, Jan 26, 2025
Deal endsSun, Jan 26, 2025
Deal endsSun, Jan 26, 2025
Gourmia 4-Quart Digital Air Fryer with$49ViewSee all prices
Gourmia 4-Quart Digital Air Fryer with$49ViewSee all prices
Gourmia 4-Quart Digital Air Fryer with
Gourmia 4-Quart Digital Air Fryer with
$49View
$49
$49
See all prices
Chefman Turbofry 3.5L Analog Air Fryer$62ViewSee all prices
Chefman Turbofry 3.5L Analog Air Fryer$62ViewSee all prices
Chefman Turbofry 3.5L Analog Air Fryer
Chefman Turbofry 3.5L Analog Air Fryer
$62View
$62
$62
See all prices
GoWISE USA 3.7-Quart Programmable Air$62.53ViewSee all prices
GoWISE USA 3.7-Quart Programmable Air$62.53ViewSee all prices
GoWISE USA 3.7-Quart Programmable Air
GoWISE USA 3.7-Quart Programmable Air
$62.53View
$62.53
$62.53
See all prices
Dreo Air Fryer$89.99$67.45ViewSee all prices
Dreo Air Fryer$89.99$67.45ViewSee all prices
Dreo Air Fryer
Dreo Air Fryer
$89.99$67.45View
$89.99$67.45
$67.45
See all prices
Gourmia 6 Quart Digital Air Fryer GAF698$68.99ViewSee all prices
Gourmia 6 Quart Digital Air Fryer GAF698$68.99ViewSee all prices
Gourmia 6 Quart Digital Air Fryer GAF698
Gourmia 6 Quart Digital Air Fryer GAF698
$68.99View
$68.99
$68.99
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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