Can you put Nando's Peri Peri Bag & Bake in air fryer

How scary it is when first reading the how-to instructions on the box, only would you be able to use Nando's Bag and Bake if you have an extra large air fryer at your disposal.

Safely use Nando's Bag and Bake in an air fryer if only your air fryer is of a large size, approximately 5.8 litres or above. Bag is expected to scorch due to being close to the heating element situated above, but should be OK if you check on it frequently. Set temp and time to your Chicken Breast oven cooking directions.

I admit while it was a little scary using the Nando's Bag and Bake in my air fryer, it all worked out just fine in the end.

Close calls included the bag inflating after a few minutes of air fryer which brought the made in parchment paper bag dangerously close to the heating element.

Unfortunately, this caused the bag to scorch a little but it didn't burn or set on fire of course, as the bag didn't touch the coil.

My Cosori air fryer utilizes a fairly wide 22-23 centimetre basket which was almost made to fit the approximate 10 inch by 8 inch Nando's Bag and Bake bag.

What I did is put the bag into my basket while it was still cold. I then made a fold/crease in the bag to know where all my food ingredients will fit inside the bag. When I creased the bag closed - as instructed to on the box - the food didn't need to be piled over to one side, in an effort to make room inside my air fryer basket.

I used Nando's Peri Peri Bag and Bake product using one medium brown onion, one red pepper and two medium chicken breasts, weighing 140 grams each.

I feel I may of overstuffed the bag which would course for half a onion and pepper only.

With all these vegetables and chicken breasts added the bag was a little heavier than it needed to be, which made it harder to shake the seasoning inside the bag - which did risk ripping the bag.

If you do cook all this, and possibly more if you have the room inside your air fryer basket, it will absolutely feed two people - especially when adding any kind of rice.

NOTE: Only use half of the seasoning sachet when air frying less food, as a whole pack will be a little too salty unless its cooked into a larger portion.

Can air fry Bag and Bake with caution

Reading Nando's Bag and Bake 'Important' notice on the box will tell you this product isn't safe for an air fryer. Product can't be used in a gas oven, microwave or an open flame element - of which an air fryer uses an open heating element.

Continue to use this product in your air fryer by checking on the bag inside the basket frequently, until its done cooking to be sure it doesn't set on fire.

• If the paper bag touches the heating element inside your air fryer it will emit a plum of smoke out of your air fryer, which is a sign the bag is on fire
• Top of Parchment Paper Bag is expected to brown in an air fryer due to the paper being so close to the heating element situated above.
• Expect smell of burning due to parchment paper scorching on heating element situated above, so do keep an eye on this vital cooking stage at all times

• Parchment Paper Bag will inflate a little which will bring the paper bag closer to the heating element
• Double crease opening will occasional open fully so its important to push the bag to the side of the basket as a way to keep it shut
• Opening Nando's Bag and Bake will cause a plum of steam to escape the bag when you open it - poke bag with knife to allow hot steam to escape

NOTE: Be sure chicken breast fillets are NOT stacked on top of each other inside the bag, as this could lead to undercooked chicken.

STAGE 1: Prepare Chicken & Veggies

Cut the onion into wedgies then break the onion wedgies up into finer layers. Cut the pepper open to de-seed while retaining the flesh only.

• STEP 1: Sit 2 Chicken Breast fillets at room temp. - Open packaging of chicken breast fillets and allow to sit at room temperature for 30-40 minutes
• STEP 2: Pat dry access moisture on fillets - When 30-40 minutes are up, pat dry the chicken breasts with a paper towel to remove moisture

• STEP 3: Cut 1 Onion into wedges - Chop one brown onion into as many as 6 wedges, while dividing up the onion into extra layers
• STEP 4: Cut 1 Pepper into slices - Chop one large red, green or yellow pepper into 1cm slices - mixing peppers together with the chopped onions

NOTE: One Pepper, one Onion, and two Chicken Breast Fillets is enough to feed two people when you add a quick and easy pouch of microwave rice.

STAGE 2: Prepare Nando's Bag & Bake

Following the instructions on the Nando's Bag & Bake can be a little overwhelming, but is quite easy. Simply add all your ingredients to the bag; shake the seasoning around inside the bag - and then double fold the open side of the bag to create a tight seal.

• STEP 1: Pop Chicken & Veggies into bag - Nando's bag will open like a carrier bag on one end, of which the chicken breasts and all veggies are put in
• STEP 2: Add Nando's spices into bag - Following that be sure to only add half of the Nando's Peri Peri spices - as all of it can be a little too salty

• STEP 3: Fold 'open edge' of bag twice and crease well - Make it a tight parcel as to avoid bag touching the heating element, while pushing the creased-edge to the side of the basket wall - as a way to avoid bag opening while cooking
• STEP 4: Gently shake bag to distribute spice - Spread the spices over the chicken and veggies inside the bag by gently shaking for a moment

CAUTION: As the bag is expected to expand a little as it air fries, take this into consideration when preparing the bag. It would be wise to make it a tight parcel with the food inside; as to stop the bag inflating which will touch the heating element.

STAGE 3: How to cook Nando's Bag & Bag in air fryer

What time and temperature you should set your air fryer to will depend on your chicken breast fillet oven cooking directions. I did reduce the time by 5 minutes but kept the temperature to a mid 355°F/180°C for my particular fillets only.

• STEP 1: Preheat air fry for 5 Minutes - Air fryer requires a preheat as a cold start will throw out the timing of this product, which recommends a preheat
• STEP 2: Set temp to 355°F/180°C; time to 25 Minutes - Product instructions calls for higher time and temperature; experience however tells me to lower the temperature along with 5 minutes less cooking time

• STEP 3: Place bag 'seams facing downwards' in basket - Ensure the bag is laying flat on the bottom of the basket with no possible chance of the bag being able to touch the heating element situated above
• STEP 4: After 25 Minutes, slide out bag and open - Remember to coat the chicken and vegetables in access juices out of the bag before serving

CAUTION: Bag began to burn a little on top being so close to the heating element; to double wrap the parchment paper bag in foil may be the safest way to go.

Summary

Air frying one of Nando's Bag and Bake can feel a little intimidating because there are a few dangers when air frying what is a flammable paper bag in an air fryer.

Its vitally important you pre-check the bag can't touch the heating element inside your air fryer situated above, as it will 100% set on fire. Bag is expected to scorch but if you keep an eye on it, you can continue to air fry with caution.

Ensure the bag when it inflates in the air fryer won't come into contact with the coil.

Do use as much meat and vegetables as required which can help to weigh the bag down. I used two chicken breasts, one pepper and onion which reached the bags' limit.

Don't cook your chicken according to what this product box instructions recommends.

Air fry your chicken to what the oven cooking instructions are labelled on your chicken breast fillet packaging only.

You can reduce the time by 5 minutes but it would be a good idea to keep to the oven temperature.

Nando's Bag and Bake isn't made to go into an air fryer, and certainly one that isn't small enough which could cause the bag to catch on fire.

Be very cautious of the flammable paper bag catching on fire by smelling the air, checking for smoke emitting out of your air fryer; and of course do open the air fryer as frequently as you can - to check if the bag isn't actually on fire.

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