Can you put metal in an air fryer?

Have you ever wondered if you can safely add metal roasting or baking pans inside your air fryer? Or even if you can use aluminum foil (a type of metal)?

These are very frequently asked questions and there seem to be too many conflicting answers. Well, we’re here to help clear things up!

So can you put metal in an air fryer?  You can definitely put metal inside an air fryer; however, it has to be an oven-safe metal pan! Most metal pans are made to withstand high temperatures for long periods of time. Also, since an air fryer doesn’t work with any magnetic currency (like the microwave), you can safely put aluminum foil on it too!

In this short article, we’ll give you a breakdown of exactly how air fryers work, what metals and other materials you can safely add inside, and give you a clearer explanation and examples of the materials and objects you can’t put inside. .

Can you put metal in an air fryer?

This is a question we receive almost daily.  The short answer is yes. You can put metal in an air fryer, but it has to be an ovenproof dish.

What this basically implies is that if you can put it in the oven, you can definitely put it in the air fryer.

This includes any metal oven-safe container or utensil. You can also use ceramic, glass or silicone molds and dishes, as long as they are suitable for the oven.

Another very important thing to keep in mind is that you should only place the objects inside if they fit in the basket.  The basket allows the air fryer to properly circulate air and cook food evenly.

It’s important to note that air fryers don’t work like microwaves, which is where we imagine a lot of people worry about what can and can’t be microwaved.

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 field, and therefore metal does not react with it.

Instead, it literally works like an oven and is actually a type of mini convection oven. It has 2 or 3 heating elements that create intense and almost instant heat.

This heat is circulated throughout the chamber by fans to help regulate the temperature and crisp food.

Why can only metal be put in the furnace?

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’s the same type of appliance, so it will have the same effect on oven-safe and non-oven-safe materials.

Oven-safe materials are made to withstand intense temperatures for long periods of time without the risk of cracking, melting, or otherwise being damaged.

So what about aluminum foil?  You can definitely put aluminum foil inside an air fryer as well, as long as you make sure it doesn’t restrict airflow. You can also refer to the manual to make sure of your specific model.

Some oven-safe metals include stainless steel, aluminum, and cast iron.

Sometimes baking dishes are made from a combination of these materials, for example cast aluminum. As long as the pan itself says it’s oven-safe, you can use it.

What can’t 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 fade almost instantly.

Another risk surrounding painted metal dishes is that they could release toxic gases when heated. These gases could and will be absorbed by your food and could lead to some serious health problems.

Also, avoid placing wood or plastic inside the air fryer . Make sure that your metal tray or plate does not have wood or plastic finishes. Silicone handles are fine, but again, as long as they are heat and oven proof.

Other items that should never be placed inside an air fryer are paper towels or parchment paper.

They could catch fire or restrict airflow inside the camera. Instead, use a metal air fryer basket that allows any excess fat or juices to run down into the drip tray below.