Can You Put Metal in An Air Fryer? Find the Answer
Have you ever pondered whether placing metal baking or roasting dishes inside your air fryer is safe? Alternatively, can you use foil, a type of metal?
So, can you put metal in an air fryer? Metal can be used inside an air fryer, but it must be in an oven-safe dish. For extended periods of time, the majority of metal dishes have been designed to withstand high temperatures. Additionally, since an air fryer (unlike a microwave) does not use magnetic currencies, you can also put in foil without risk!
In this brief article, we will explain how air fryers function in detail, list the metals and other materials you can safely add inside of them, and provide examples of prohibited materials and objects.
Table of Contents
Is It Safe to Use Metal in An Air Fryer?
Yes, you can put metal in an air fryer, is the quick response. Metal cookware is built to withstand the high heat of an oven, typically up to 500°F. Metal cookware shouldn’t have any issues because the majority of air fryers heat up to temperatures between 200 and 400 °F.
Because you shouldn’t put any kind of metal in a microwave, there is frequently misunderstanding regarding the safety of using metal in an air fryer. When a microwave’s radiation comes into contact with metallic objects, it can lead to a variety of issues.
Your air fryer should be considered more of an oven than anything else. With heating elements and a fan to distribute heat, air fryers function similarly to a small convection oven. In the same way that you can bake goods in a metal pan or cover food with foil in the oven, you can do the same with dishes in your air fryer.
Why Oven-Safe Metal Only?
The only metal that can be used in an air fryer is the same metal that can be used in a conventional oven, for the same reason. Since it is the same kind of appliance, both oven-safe and non-safe materials will be affected in the same way.
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.
Consequently, how 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. To double-check for your particular model, you can also consult your manual.
Cast iron, aluminum, and stainless steel are a few metals that can be used in ovens.
A combination of these materials, such as cast aluminum, is occasionally used to make baking dishes. It is acceptable to use a dish in the oven as long as the dish itself indicates that it is safe.
When Not to Use Metal in An Air Fryer?
While most metal cookware can be used in an air fryer without incident, there are a few things to watch out for.
Metal That Isn’t Oven-Safe
It is best to avoid using cookware made from some of the aforementioned metals in an air fryer if it does not have the label “oven safe.” An example of this could be a metal mixing bowl. You shouldn’t probably take the chance of using a product in an air fryer that functions like an oven if the manufacturers didn’t mark it as safe to use in a regular oven.
Handles Made from Other Materials
You should also stay away from metal cookware that has plastic or wooden handles. Although the metal may be safe for air fryers, high temperatures could cause the handles to melt, warp, or burn. Silicone handles are the exception and are safe to use in an air fryer.
Painted Cookware
Although some metal cookware is painted to look nice, you shouldn’t use it in your air fryer. The chemical components in paint degrade at high temperatures and may contaminate food. Enamel paint is the exception to this, as it is considered by the FDA to be a food-safe coating and is often used on cast iron cookware.
FAQs
The Problem With Using a Metal Element in the Air Fryer?
The only drawback to using a metal element in the air fryer is that if you use a large metal bowl, it may prevent hot air circulation, resulting in less crispy food and longer cooking times. Simply use a smaller metal element than your air fryer basket to ensure that air can still easily circulate around your food if you want to avoid that.
What Metals You Can’t Put in the Air Fryer?
A plastic or other material that can degrade when heated should not be present in these metal pans or bowls. Additionally, try to stay away from metal trays with artwork on them. Some of them are not heat-resistant, and you can easily ruin them. These paintings on your pans may also release toxic substances when heated.
Can I Use a Metal Baking Tin/Pan in the Air Fryer?
Yes, you should be able to use a metal pan or specialty baking dish made for the oven in your air fryer.
Can You Put a Metal Plate in the Air Fryer?
You can use it safely in the air fryer if it is heatproof and does not have any paintings on it. Just be cautious when taking it out of the air fryer basket. Following cooking, it might be extremely hot.
Summary: Can You Put Metal in An Air Fryer?
That you don’t need to be afraid to use metal cookware in your air fryer has hopefully been demonstrated by this article. Even though these objects can’t be used in a microwave, it is perfectly safe to use oven-safe metal cookware in an air fryer.
Simply adhere to the recommendations listed above when selecting bakeware and cookware for your air fryer. Dishes made of stainless steel, aluminum, and other metals can be used. Just keep in mind to avoid using anything made of paint or plastic, and always look for the label “oven safe.”
Now that your mind is more at rest, you can feel comfortable using air fryer safe pans and other metal cookware to whip up some more delicious air fryer recipes.
