Urgent air fryer warning issued to anyone cooking pigs in blankets this Christmas

For many households, Christmas cooking looks very different to how it did even a few years ago. Air fryers have become a permanent fixture on kitchen counters across the UK, promising quicker cooking times, lower energy bills, and fewer trays to wash up once the plates are cleared.

Christmas is no exception; from roast potatoes to honey-glazed veg, plenty of festive favourites have been given the air fryer treatment, saving premium oven space for large food items, like the festive turkey. Still, it’s no surprise that people are tempted to throw just about everything into the handy countertop gadget.

A big plate of pigs in blankets is arguably the biggest showstopper overall, small yet packed with meaty, juicy flavour. But while air fryers may be convenient, experts are urging people to think twice before loading them up with bacon-wrapped sausages this festive season.

Bacon-heavy foods can cause smoke, grease build-up and uneven cooking in air fryers (Getty Stock Images)

A warning has been issued after specialists highlighted that cooking pigs in blankets in an air fryer could pose a serious fire risk if you’re not careful.

Philips’ own air fryer expert, Martin Senders, has advised against using the appliance for this particular dish, explaining that bacon’s high fat content can cause problems as it cooks.

Reported by the Daily Record, he said: “Bacon is high in fat, and as it cooks, it releases grease. In an air fryer, as the air circulates, this grease can splatter and potentially ignite if it comes into contact with the heating element. This could not only create a lot of smoke but also pose a fire risk.”

It’s not just the immediate danger that’s causing concern. A build-up of grease inside the air fryer can gum up the mechanics over time, reduce performance and even lead to mould growth if it isn’t cleaned thoroughly.

Adding to another big mistake some make around air fryers, there’s also the issue of uneven cooking when it comes to particular food items like pigs in blankets. Senders warned that bacon on the outside can cook far faster than the sausage inside, leaving you with what he described as ‘cremated bacon and an undercooked sausage’, which is hardly ideal when serving guests.

Experts say traditional ovens are still the safest option for cooking fatty foods like pigs in blankets(Getty Stock Images)

Cooking expert and recipe creator Brenda Peralta echoed the concerns, also reported by The Daily Record, saying: “Bacon is a fatty food, and when it is cooked in an air fryer, the fat can drip down and cause smoke or splatter. This can make the bacon difficult to cook evenly, and it can also produce a lot of smoke and odours.”

BBC Good Food’s Senior Food and Podcast Editor Samuel Goldsmith added that while pigs in blankets can be cooked in an air fryer, it needs to be done properly.

He recommends using good-quality pork chipolatas and streaky bacon, and stresses the importance of spacing. He advised: “Do everything in a single layer so you’re not sticking them together in the [air fryer] basket to achieve that delectable crunchy exterior when cooking pigs in blankets in the air fryer.”