Nevada’s Favorite Snack Isn’t America’s Favorite Snack
There’s a good chance you celebrated National Snack Day without even realizing it. No worries, me too. Turns out, yesterday was the national holiday for snack lovers all over the country! And in case you’re wondering what’s the most popular snack food in our home state of Nevada, Cheetos takes the gold medal in the silver state! Chester Cheetah would be thrilled to hear that Cheetos are Nevada’s favorite snack!
People In Nevada Love Their Cheetos
In fact, a market research company named HubScore released a detailed map that shows the most searched snack foods by state. Chips dominated the first 3 spots in Nevada’s top 5 list.
As previously mentioned, “Cheetos” took the top spot. Then, Nevadans picked “Fritos” and “Doritos” next. The popular candy “Starburst” took the 4th position. Finally, the name brand “Chips Ahoy” cookies rounded out the list of snack foods that people in Nevada searched for.
In fact, Cheetos were voted the top snack in 8 states, according to their research. However, overall… the crunchy, cheesy-flavored snack made by Frito-Lay only ranks 3rd in national popularity.
Doritos are the preferred snack in 16 states. And surprisingly, Rice Krispies Treats were the number 1 snack food in 18 states!
Is anyone else surprised by that? I mean, I know I’m a Nevadan, but I can’t recall a single time I’ve gone over to a friend’s house and been asked if I wanted to snack on some Rice Krispies Treats! Call me weird, but it’s always some kind of chip, popcorn, or nuts that I feel are always offered.
New Jersey Just Had To Be Different
Perhaps the weirdest top pick comes from the Garden State of New Jersey. Of all 50 states, New Jersey was the only one who chose a cereal as their top snack choice. In New Jersey, Cheerios reigns supreme. You know what they say, “Gym, cheerios, tan, laundry!”
– Ransom
Foods You Should Probably Skip Air Frying
Large Bone-In Meat
We’re not talking about chicken wings here, we’re talking about large whole chickens. You’re better off sticking to an oven when it comes to cooking them. If you’re wondering why, chicken must be cooked to a specific temperature internally before being consumed. According to the USDA, all poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Unfortunately, air frying this food item doesn’t guarantee an even cook. But hey, at least chicken wings are small enough to get an even crisp. Just make sure you line the air fryer basket first if it’s raw meat.
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Wet Batters
An air fryer is not a deep fryer. So, if you’re looking to toss battered fries, meat cutlets, or battered veggies, think again. There’s a big chance the batter will drip down the base of the machine, causing a big mess and major cleanup after. Bad enough, some people didn’t know you even had to clean an air fryer regularly. No really, someone on Reddit shared that they didn’t wash their air fryer basket after each use. “I don’t think I’ve ever washed it lol. I’ve had it for 8 months and decided to finally wash it today,” they wrote. They continued to say how there was a bunch of “solidified juices” and “fat/ grease” from steak and chicken.
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Cheesy Foods
It’s possible to make your favorite cheesy snacks in an air fryer. But it can get messy. AllRecipes cautions against air frying cheese. This isn’t because of health reasons but for cleanup purposes. They point out that cheese melts fast. The outlet suggests sticking to foods that effectively hold the cheese in place. Maybe, just stick to frozen cheeses like mozzarella sticks.
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Leafy or Chard Greens
Sure you can go ahead and put those Brussels sprouts or broccoli in the air fryer. But skip putting spinach, collard, or chard leaves in. If you haven’t tried it already, light leaves might move and shift around during the cooking process. You may also come across a fairly dry vegetable if you don’t put a little oil with it. And, of course, you don’t want to forget the seasonings.
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Popcorn
Some people have tried it but you probably shouldn’t. Most air fryer models won’t reach the required temperature to pop the kernels. According to Jolly Time Pop Corn, the best popping temperature is between 400 and 460 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, popcorn kernels can become lodged within the air fryer’s heating element, which can potentially cause it to short.
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Pasta, Quinoa, Rice, Grains
Some grains like bread can be cooked in an air fryer. However, it can get a little tricky with lighter breads like toast and English muffins due to the air making them fly around. But anything like pasta, quinoa, and rice doesn’t do too well. Raw grains need to absorb water to cook. But there is some good news. If you have rice that’s already cooked, just add a little oil to reat in the air fryer.
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