Can You Put Metal In An Air Fryer?
Have you ever wondered whether or not you can safely add metal roasting trays or baking dishes inside of your air fryer? Or even whether you can use foil (a type of metal)?
These are very frequently asked questions and it seems like there are too many contradicting answers! Well, we are here to help clear things up!
So, can you put metal in an air fryer? You can definitely put metal inside of an air fryer; however, it has to be an oven-safe metal dish! Most metal dishes have been made to withstand high temperatures for long periods of time. Plus, because an air fryer doesn’t work with any magnetic currencies (like microwaves do), you can safely put in foil as well!
In this short article, we will give you a breakdown of exactly how air fryers work, which metals and other materials you can safely add inside it, and give you a clearer explanation and examples of materials and items you cannot place inside.
Can You Put Metal In An Air Fryer?
This is a question we almost get daily! The short answer is yes. You can put metal in an air fryer, but, it has to be an oven-safe dish.
What this basically implies is that if you can put it inside the oven, you can definitely put it inside the air fryer.
This includes any oven-proof or oven-safe metal container or utensil. You can also use ceramics, glass, or silicone molds and dishes—as long as they are oven safe.
Another very important thing to note is that you should only place the objects inside if it fits inside the basket. The basket allows the air fryer to properly circulate the air and cook the food evenly.
It’s important to note that air fryers do not function like microwaves, which is where we imagine many people become concerned about what you can and can’t put in the microwave.
An air fryer is not a microwave, even though it sometimes looks like one and has the ability to create almost instant heat.
Air fryers do not work with any radiation or electromagnetic fields, and therefore metal will not react with it.
Instead, it literally works like an oven and is actually a type of mini convection oven. It has 2-3 heating elements that create intense and almost instant heat.
This heat is then circulated throughout the chamber using fans to help regulate the temperature and crisp up food.
Why Oven-Safe Metal Only?
So, the reason you can only put oven-safe metal inside an air fryer is the same reason you can only use oven-safe metal in a regular oven. It is the same type of appliance so it will have the same effect on oven-safe and non-safe materials.
Oven-safe materials have been made to withstand intense temperatures for long periods of time without the risk of cracking, melting, or getting damaged in some other way.
So, what about aluminum foil? You can also definitely put foil inside an air fryer, as long as you make sure it doesn’t restrict the airflow. You can also look at your manual to just make sure for your specific model.
Some oven-safe metals include stainless steel, aluminum, and cast iron.
Sometimes baking dishes are made with a combination of these materials, for example, cast aluminum. As long as the dish itself shows that it is safe to use in the oven, you can use it.
What Cannot Be Placed Inside An Air Fryer?
Please do not place painted metal dishes or utensils inside your air fryer. These paints are not always made to withstand heat and will be ruined almost instantly.
Another risk surrounding the painted metal dishes is that they could potentially release toxic gasses when they are heated. These gasses could and will be absorbed into your food and could lead to some serious health problems.
Also, avoid placing any wood or plastic inside the air fryer. Make sure your metal tray or dish doesn’t have any wooden or plastic finishes. Silicone handles are fine but again, as long as they are heatproof and oven safe.
Other items that should never be placed inside an air fryer include paper towels or baking paper.
These could potentially catch alight or restrict the airflow inside the chamber. Rather use a metal-air frying basket that will allow excess fat or juices to run down into the drip tray below.
