Can you steam in an air fryer?

In my opinion, air fryers are one of the greatest inventions in modern cooking, and only the Instant Pot comes close to its versatility, time savings, and ability to create the most delicious meals.

If you are looking for a way to save time in the kitchen, while still getting a crispy dish, an air fryer is the tool for you.

Many air fryers offer a wide variety of functions, from dehydrating, air frying, baking, and broiling.

But if you are looking for a more delicate cooking method, you may wonder about the steam cooking function.

So, can you steam in an air fryer?

Unfortunately, air fryers and steam fryers work in two completely different ways, so no, you can’t steam in an air fryer. Steamers heat water to create steam that cooks food, while air fryers circulate hot air to crisp and cook food. 

Read on to find out what you can do with an air fryer and the best options for steaming your food if you don’t want to air fry it.

Can vegetables be steamed in the air fryer?

As I’ve mentioned above, air fryers and steamers work in almost completely opposite ways.

An air fryer is basically a mini convection oven that works by circulating hot air throughout the appliance. This circulation creates an incredibly crunchy texture without using tons of oil.

The purpose of an air fryer is to make food crisp, while the purpose of steaming is to make food moist. This means that their functions are completely opposite and trying to steam in an air fryer is going to be impossible.

Steam fryers, on the other hand, work by heating water to create steam . The steam then rises and cooks the food, such as vegetables, that you have placed in the steamer.

What circulates is steam, instead of air, and provides a much smoother cooking process and a softer texture.

Since air fryers have no place for water (and putting water in one would ruin it at best and be incredibly dangerous at worst), you can’t steam in one.

Can you put water in an air fryer?

Since air fryers are electrical appliances with no space to safely add water, you cannot add water to an air fryer without damaging it and possibly ruining it completely.

Adding water to an air fryer is dangerous and is not recommended. 

If you want to steam food, you must use a dedicated steamer or use your pot with a steamer basket and/or a pot designed with holes in the bottom specifically for steaming.

Can Dim Sum be steamed in an air fryer?

Just like it’s impossible to steam vegetables in an air fryer, it’s also impossible to steam dim sum in the air fryer.

Remember that the purpose of an air fryer is to make food crisp, while the purpose of a steamer is to make food moist.

What you can do is steam the dim sum in the steamer basket or electric steamer and then air fry it for a couple of minutes to get a little crisp on the outside.

If you make dim sum that is supposed to be soft, then you just have to steam it regularly without using the air fryer.

Is a steam oven the same as an air fryer?

To understand the difference between an air fryer and a steam oven, we first need to take a look at what an air fryer is.

In general, air fryers are mini convection ovens that circulate super-hot air to provide a deliciously crispy texture to whatever food you’ve placed inside.

The purpose of an air fryer is to make food crisp, just like in a deep fryer , but without using tons of oils or fats, so that the end product is lighter and fresher than something fried. To do this, use dry heat.

On the other hand, a steam oven uses moist heat in the form of steam to cook food.  Instead of crisping food, steam ovens keep it moist and soft.

The end result is almost the opposite of what you do with an air fryer.

So, no, steam ovens are not the same as air fryers.

Steam ovens use moist heat in the form of steam to cook food until tender and moist, while air fryers use dry heat in the form of hot, circulating air to cook food crispy, similar to an oven. fryer without hot oil.

What can you use an air fryer for?

Even though you can’t use your air fryer as a steamer, there are plenty of ways to use it to create delicious meals and snacks in no time.

Since air fryers are powerful mini convection ovens, they can often cook your food much faster than a regular oven. 

Air fry vegetables

This feature is one of my favorites on an air fryer. You can make crispy vegetables that taste like frying, without using tons of oil . I love using my air fryer to make delicious French fries and potato wedges.

It’s also great for crisping broccoli, green beans, asparagus, and other garden staples.

You don’t need a ton of time or a ton of oil to get perfect results every time. Many of these vegetables will be ready to eat in less than 10 minutes.

Dehydrate fruits and vegetables

Many of the newer models of air fryers come with a dehydration feature, which is great if you’re a kale chip addict like me.

I make a batch or two every week and they always come out crispy and perfect, unlike when I try to make them in the oven and they end up burnt and a bit soggy. Not good.

You can also use the air fryer to make homemade fruit roll-ups with fruit purees.

Or you can dehydrate extras from your garden to make delicious fruit snacks that you can take on the go. I love dehydrating strawberries, peaches, mangoes, and blueberries.

Dehydrate excess herbs

If you grow things like dill, mint, and thyme, you may end up with excess herbs at the end of the growing season.

Instead of letting them go to waste, you can spread them out and dehydrate them in your air fryer so you can use your abundance all winter long.

Use the rotisserie function to cook meats

Not every air fryer is going to have a rotisserie feature, but if you’re a fan of rotisserie chickens, I highly recommend finding one that does.

I use mine regularly and it creates the juiciest, crispiest, most amazing roast chicken I’ve ever tasted.

How do you steam vegetables in the kitchen?

Since you can’t use the air fryer to steam vegetables, what can you use? There are a few options depending on what you have available in your kitchen.

If you don’t want to go out and buy a whole new kitchen appliance, you can probably get by with whatever you have on hand.

One of the easiest ways to steam vegetables is to use a pot with some water. You can then place a steamer basket or another smaller pot with holes in the bottom on top of that first pot.

You want to make sure that the second pot fits snugly into the first so that the steam doesn’t escape.

• Once the steamer basket or second pot with holes is placed on top of the bottom pot, you can add the vegetables on top and then cover the pot with a lid. 
• Place the double level steam pot/basket on the hob and set the resistance to maximum. 
• Once the water boils, it will begin to release steam that will travel up into the steamer basket or pot with holes, cooking the vegetables. I usually lower the heat to medium at this point. 
• After 2-3 minutes, remove the lid on top and stir the vegetables so that the top ones move to the bottom so they are closer to the steam. This process will allow all the vegetables to cook evenly. 
• As soon as the vegetables reach the desired texture (some people like them softer, while others prefer a crisp al-dente vegetable), you can remove the upper pot, strain the water and season the vegetables with butter or olive oil, salt , pepper and seasonings. 

How do you steam vegetables in a steamer?

If you find yourself steaming large quantities of vegetables on a regular basis, then it may be worth investing in a plug-in electric steamer.

These gadgets are very handy as they don’t take up precious space in the kitchen and you can set them aside while you prepare dinner.

They often come with a couple of layers as well, so you can steam multiple items at once. I always put the hardest vegetables, like beets or potatoes, at the bottom, and the softest, like green beans, at the top.

This overlap helps them cook at roughly the same time, since tougher vegetables are closer to the steam, so they can cook faster. 

You can also use a steamer to make things like dumplings, wontons, fish, custard, and other foods that taste delicious when steamed.

Each model is going to work a little differently, so I advise you to read the recipe and instruction manual that comes with the one you buy.

If you want to try one, this three-tiered option is BPA-free, affordable, and easy to use.

How long does it take to steam different vegetables?

When using a steamer basket or perforated pot, different types of vegetables will have longer or shorter cooking times depending on their density.

For example, it will take longer to cook a tougher vegetable, such as cauliflower, than to steam green beans or kale.

Here are some general guidelines for cooking time for the most common vegetables:

• Spinach and soft vegetables take about 3 minutes to steam. 
• Asparagus and green beans take a little longer, 5-6 minutes depending on preference.
• Collard greens, kale, Swiss chard, and other leafy, hearty greens take a similar amount of time, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Brassicas, such as broccoli and cauliflower, are more substantial and take 8-10 minutes to steam. 
• Root vegetables and winter squashes take the longest to steam, as they are quite dense and hearty. These vegetables are beetroot, carrot, potato, sweet potato, turnip, pumpkin, zucchini, etc., and they take about 10-15 minutes to fully steam. 

How long does it take to steam fish?

Cooking fish in a steamer is a great way to preserve the delicate flavor and texture of this seafood. If you want to flavor your fish while you cook it, you can steam it with a flavorful broth packed with flavorings like ginger, garlic, and onion.

Also, you can use that tasty broth as a base for a soup or to cook some rice once you have finished steaming the fish.

If you want a simple one-time meal, you can also put some light vegetables in the steamer with the fish. The bok choy is a good choice.

When steaming fish, make sure it is not in contact with water or broth, as this can dry out the fish and overcook it.

Keep it elevated in a separate steamer basket or in a pot with holes. You can also place a rack inside a pot of water, as long as it is elevated above it.

While there is no set, quick cook time for fish, as fillet sizes and textures can vary, these guidelines are a good starting point:

• Light white fish such as cod, halibut, tilapia or haddock 4-8 minutes depending on size
• Salmon takes about 5-6 minutes, depending on your cooking preference. I like mine closer to medium done so I’d rather not.
• Lake trout or rainbow trout is another delicious option for steaming and depending on the size of the fillet, you can steam it for around 4-6 minutes. 

Final thoughts

As you have learned, you cannot steam food in your air fryer because they use two completely opposite cooking methods.

Steamers work by circulating moist heat in the form of steam to gently and delicately cook food so that it retains its moisture.

Air fryers, by contrast, work by circulating dry heat in the form of hot air to cook food to a crispy texture.

Their goal is to give you the texture you would normally get with a deep fryer, but without adding tons of heavy fats and oils. The end result is crunchy, light and delicious.

You should never add water to your air fryer as it can cause a lot of damage and even be dangerous.

If you want to steam your food, I recommend buying an electric steamer or using a pot and steamer basket in your kitchen. Either option will give you the results you are looking for.

Do you have a favorite food that you like to steam? Do you have a favorite way to use your air fryer? Have you ever used a steam oven? Tell us your favorite cooking methods below!