What can And Can’t go In An Air Fryer?

Air fryers are great! That is why so many people have been buying air fryers in recent years.

With owning a new kitchen appliance, you will want to ensure you are using it correctly. In doing so you give yourself the best chance of getting the most out of it and avoid damaging it.

This leads to lots of questions about what you can and cannot put in an air fryer. This article covers what you can and cannot put in an air fryer. It also provides links to more in-depth articles on each item or material.

In these articles, you will find more detail on why you can or cannot use it in an air fryer, information on how to use items or materials safely and alternative options.

What can go in an air fryer?

Silicone molds and accessories

Silicone is a naturally non-stick and reusable material that can be used in air fryers. There is a range of silicone accessories that are useful to own alongside your air fryer.

The three I use the most are my silicone basket liners, molds, and tongs.

• The silicone basket liners stop food from sticking to the air fryer’s basket. Saving me time when it comes to cleaning the air fryer.
• Silicone molds are great for cooking food that needs to be in a container, for example baking cakes, egg bites, etc.
• The tongs allow me to turn and remove food without scratching the air fryer.

Parchment paper

Parchment paper can be used in an air fryer. It is commonly used to form a barrier between the food you are cooking and the air fryer’s basket. As parchment paper is non-stick, your food will not stick to the basket, reducing the time it takes you to clean up.

You can make your own air fryer liners, or you can buy pre-cut liners. The pre-cut liners come in various sizes to fit a range of air fryers. Both parchment paper and the pre-cut liners are inexpensive.

If you don’t have a silicone liner, parchment paper pre-cut liners are the next best option in my opinion.

Aluminum foil and pans

Unlike with microwaves, aluminum foil and aluminum pans can be used in air fryers.

Foil can be used similarly to silicone and parchment paper liners to reduce your clean-up time. Though foil can also be molded into packets around more delicate foods like salmon and vegetables. This stops them from drying out when cooked in an air fryer.

I use aluminum pans for storing and then reheating food that needs to be put in a container.  For example, leftover casseroles or lasagna. The pans and the food can then be put in the air fryer to be reheated.

Aluminum reacts with acidic foods, so I use parchment paper and silicone more often than aluminum foil. Especially when it comes to lining the air fryer basket with something to reduce the clean-up time.

Metal, glass, and ceramic cookware

Metal, glass, and ceramic cookware if rated as oven safe can be used in an air fryer.

All are heat resistant up to temperatures more than those generated by most air fryers. If you are unsure if your cookware is oven safe, look for wording that should be stamped on the cookware.

If you cannot find a stamp and you have not used the cookware before in your conventional oven you can run a test. However, it might be best to find an alternative container, maybe a silicone mold or an aluminum pan.

Oil

You don’t need to use oil in an air fryer, but you can use it to help certain foods become crispier. You can also use oil to stop food with a low-fat content from sticking to your air fryer’s basket.

With so many types of oil available in your local store I did some testing to identify the best oil to use in an air fryer. As some oils are better than others when it comes to cooking in an air fryer. I tested a variety of oils, and I deemed the best to be avocado oil. This is because of its high smoke point, neutral flavor, and health properties.

To read the outcome of my testing, I have written an article on the best oils to use in an air fryer.

Water (two or three tablespoons maximum)

Using small amounts of water in an air fryer is fine. There are risks but providing you do not add more than two or three tablespoons in the right circumstances your air fryer should not break.

I use small amounts of water in my air fryer when cooking food with a high-fat content and when reheating food. I do this to reduce the amount of smoke produced from the fat/grease from foods like sausages burning off and to keep the food I am reheating moist.

Air fryers are electrical appliances, and water and electricity do not mix well. Do not put lots of water in your air fryer to see if you can replace your kettle or make rice in an air fryer. Stick to small amounts and this will prevent you from breaking your air fryer or worse.

Metal, glass, and ceramic plates (if oven-safe)

Like cookware oven safe metal, glass, or ceramic plates can go in the air fryer. However, if you are looking to use a plate to reduce your clean-up time, by using it to stop food from sticking to your air fryer’s basket. There are better alternatives. I would recommend using silicone or parchment liners.

In using silicone or parchment liners, you not only avoid breaking plates. You are also using something that will not disrupt the airflow in the air fryer. Airflow is essential for serving up crispy foods. Silicone and parchment liners have holes in them to allow the hot air in the air fryer to move around freely. Evenly cooking your food and making it crispy. Plates will block this air flow, impacting the cooking process.

Wooden skewers

Wooden skewers can be used in an air fryer to make kebabs/kabobs. To stop the skewers from burning, soak them in a shallow bowl for 30 mins before use.

You may find due to the size of your air fryer that you need to cut them in half to around 6 inches.

Bamboo skewers can also be used in air fryers.

What can’t go in an air fryer?

Paper towels

Paper is a combustible material. Do not put paper towels in your air fryer. If you put a paper towel in an air fryer it will burn and set alight generating smoke. If the paper towel does ignite, it will cause a fire within the air fryer. The fire will damage your air fryer and potentially worse. More likely if the air fryer has been left unattended.

Paper towels can be used to help you draw moisture from food that needs to be as dry as possible before cooking (homemade hash browns). It can also be used to soak up excess oil/grease from foods with a high-fat content after they have been cooked.

Paper plates

Like paper towels, paper plates are combustible and should not go in an air fryer. Use one of the safer alternatives listed above.

Wax paper

Wax paper should be used at room temperature or above. It should not be used in an air fryer.

If used in an air fryer the wax will melt and mix with the food, making it inedible. The wax paper will also burn and could start a fire. If you are looking to stop food from sticking to your air fryer’s basket, use one of the safer alternatives above.