Air fryers have grown in popularity with home cooks in recent years, this is due to their versatility and ability to cook delicious food quickly.

If you are exploring the potential of your air fryer and come across recipes that need the use of cookware, you are likely wondering if you can use metal cookware in your air fryer.

The simple answer is yes, you can, though there are types of metal cookware that you should avoid using in your air fryer.

In this article, I detail why you might want to use metal cookware, how to use metal cookware safely in your air fryer and suggest alternatives.

Can you put metal in an air fryer?

Yes, you can put metal cookware and metal utensils in your air fryer. Metal cookware can withstand high temperatures of up to 500 F (260 c). Most air fryers generate up to 400 F (200 c), so most metal cookware will be safe at those temperatures.

Some air fryers can generate higher temperatures up to 500 F (260 c) though it is unlikely you will use the maximum heat setting for most recipes. If you are considering air frying at those temperatures check the manufacturer’s instruction manual for your specific model of air fryer before using any cookware.

Why have I heard it is not safe to put metal in an air fryer?

This is likely due to air fryers often being compared to microwaves. This is because they are similar-sized countertop kitchen appliances and both cook foods fast. That is where the similarities end. So, if you have heard that metal should not go in air fryers this is incorrect, as air fryers and microwaves cook food differently.

An air fryer is a mini convection oven, it has a heating element at the top with a fan used to circulate the very hot air. The cooking space heats up quickly to high temperatures. As a result your air fryer has more in common with your regular oven vs. a microwave.

Meaning you can use the same cookware you have likely been using for years in your regular oven. This includes metal cookware.

Though it is true you should not put metal in a microwave, you can put metal in an air fryer as you do with your regular oven. Likewise, you should not put plastic in an air fryer or oven but you can put plastic in a microwave.

Also, note that your air fryer comes with a metal basket, indicating metal is safe to use in your air fryer.

If you want to know more about how air fryers work and how they are different from microwaves. I have written this article which covers how air fryers work and why they do not use radiation.

What type of metal cookware can I use?

Not all metal cookware is the same, you like me might have a whole range of metal cookware that you have collected over the years. To help identify cookware that can be used in your air fryer and withstand the intense heat your air fryer can produce, look for the following…

Air fryer-specific metal accessories

These will all be safe to use in your air fryer as they have been specifically designed for use in air fryers, these include baking sets, replacement parts for your air fryer and wire racks.

Oven-safe metal cookware

Look for “oven-safe” or a temperature range stamped on the bottom of your metal cookware. This wording will be on most metal cookware and include stainless steel bowls, pots, pans, trays, and cast-iron skillets.

Metal cookware with the “oven safe” wording has been designed for use at high temperatures. So will be fine in your air fryer. As it can withstand oven temperatures.

Aluminum foil and pans

Foil and low-cost aluminum pans can be used in your air fryer. Foil can be used to reduce the clean-up time and offer an easy way to cook delicate food via foil packets. An aluminum pan is great for storing and then re-heating leftovers.

If you want to know more about how to use aluminum foil or pans in an air fryer, then you will find this article useful.

As a rule, if you have used it in your oven before, it will be fine in your air fryer. Just make sure you leave enough space for the hot air in your air fryer to circulate around the cookware and that you have enough room to safely remove your cookware from the air fryer once the food has cooked.

What type of metal cookware can I not use in an air fryer?

Most metal cookware will be safe in an air fryer, especially if you have used it for years in your oven. If you are unsure here are some key indicators to help identify metal cookware that should not be used in an air fryer…

No “oven-safe” stamp

If there is no “oven-safe” wording and you have not used it in your regular oven many times, do not use it in your air fryer. If the manufacturer has not marked it as “oven-safe” then it has not been designed or tested for use in a regular oven at high temperatures. On this basis, it will not be worth taking the risk of using it in an air fryer as it will not withstand the high heat.

Other material

Some pots and pans do come with different materials on their handles this could include wood or plastic, these should not be used in an air fryer. The metal will be fine; however, the handles will likely be damaged. They could burn, warp, or melt when exposed to the high temperatures that air fryers (and regular ovens) generate.

Painted

If you have some decorative metal cookware, then this should not be used in the air fryer. If you use this type of cookware in your air fryer, the high temperatures used during the cooking process will cause the paint compounds to break down. The compounds will then leach into your food. Enamel-painted cookware is fine, as enamel paint is classed as a food-safe coating by the FDA.

Why would I use metal cookware in an air fryer?

Metal cookware not only contains the food, stopping it from slopping about in the basket, but it also does not react to acidic food like aluminum foil/pans. Unlike plastic or paper-based containers, it can also withstand heat and be used in an air fryer.

The most common reason to use metal cookware and other containers in an air fryer is to cook or reheat food that needs to be contained. For example, this could include cake batter for baking a cake, reheating a casserole, or a lasagna.

What other cookware can be used in an air fryer?

Metal containers are not the only types of containers you can put in an air fryer. There are alternatives…

Silicone

Silicone molds are great for baking cakes. They are easy to clean and hard to break. If you want to know more about how to use silicone molds and accessories in an air fryer, please read this article.

Glass

Glass cookware is another suitable alternative. The glass cookware like metal cookware will need to be oven safe. You will also need to take precautions to avoid the glass experiencing a thermal shock. This could lead to it breaking from heating or cooling unevenly.  Like ceramic cookware, it needs to be handled and stored correctly, this is to avoid the glassware being damaged. A damaged glass bowl even if oven-safe has a higher risk of breaking.

If you want to know more about how to use glassware in an air fryer, I provide more detail in this article.

Ceramic

Ceramic cookware provides a great alternative to metal cookware, provided they are rated as oven-safe. Ceramic cookware is easier to clean than metal containers. Yet, ceramic cookware like glassware is susceptible to cracking and chipping if not handled and stored correctly. This can increase the risk of your ceramic bowls breaking when cooking.

If you want to know more about how to use ceramic containers in an air fryer, this article has all the detail you need.

Do not use paper or card cookware (paper plates or paper towels) in your air fryer.

Safety tips for using all cookware in an air fryer

Regardless of the type of cookware you use, the cookware will get extremely hot after being used in your air fryer. So, it is a good idea to…

• Use an oven mitt or mitts to safely remove the cookware
  • Or use tongs to remove the food item (if possible) until the cookware has cooled
• Place your hot cookware on a heat-proof mat to protect your countertop when you remove the cookware.
• Not squeeze the cookware into the air fryer’s basket. There needs to be space around the sides of the cookware. So, the hot air circulates to cook the food and you can safely remove the cookware. The cookware will also expand when heated. If you have forced it into the air fryer basket it may damage the basket as it heats up.
• Use a meat thermometer (if cooking meat) to check the meat is safe to eat.
• Not leave your air fryer unattended. If using cookware for the first time you may need to check the food and cookware to ensure it is cooking as intended.

Does cookware work well in an air fryer?

It does if you are using it for the right reasons. During the cooking process, air fryers rely on good airflow to cook your food evenly and make it crispy. The cooking basket has large holes in it to allow for the circulation of hot air. By placing metal containers or indeed any container into your air fryer’s basket you will block this airflow, changing how the food cooks.

For example, I would not use cookware if I was cooking sausages or other types of meat.

By placing the food items in cookware, the hot air will circulate around the outside of the cookware rather than coming into direct contact with the food. This will lead to uneven cooking and is unlikely to produce the best results.

So, if you want the crispy food you were craving from your air fryer, a better option would be to place the sausages/meat in a single layer at the bottom of the air fryer basket. If you want to reduce the clean-up time as your non-stick coating in the basket has deteriorated maybe use silicone air fryer liners, parchment paper, or foil instead of any form of cookware.

Final word

You only need to use metal cookware in air fryers if you are wanting to cook certain foods like cakes or other wet foods. Cookware reduces the airflow in the air fryer. So, by using cookware to hold foods like sausages, chicken wings, etc they will not crisp up as quickly, which may have been why you bought the air fryer in the first place.

If the meal or recipe you want to make requires cookware, then oven-safe metal cookware can be used in an air fryer.

There are plenty of good alternative types of cookware made from oven-safe materials, if you do not have any oven-safe metal cookware.

Related articles

What Can And Can’t Go In An Air Fryer – A roundup article summarizing what you can and can’t use in an air fryer. With links to more detail on how to use certain materials and items safely.