Can glass go in an air fryer

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Most air fryers include a basket, oven racks, trays, or other inserts. These are specially made for an air fryer. However, what happens when these inserts are dirty, or you are making a dish that can’t be made with basic accessories that come with the air fryer? Luckily there are numerous containers you can use in an air fryer to prepare your desired meal.

I use several containers myself, but in order to find other available options, I researched in detail containers that correspond with air fryer capacities and are at the same time air fryer proof. So the answer to what containers can you use in an air fryer is listed in the table below:

If you need to check container dimensions that will fit your air fryer, click on the picture, and you will be taken directly to Amazon, where you can check all the details.

You can also check best containers for the toaster oven in my other post here!

Ceramic Containers

The term ceramics can mean either ceramic crockery, such as bowls, plates, and cups that do not contain metal and ceramic cookware, which is metal with a ceramic coating. Both should be suitable for air frying as they can keep their shape and structure under high temperatures.

However, if the ceramic bowl or cup has decorative additions, this may make it not safe for use in an air fryer. Be sure to check with the manufacturer. If you can not find the information, do not risk it. 

Ceramic Cookware

Ceramic cookware is metal cookware, such as pans and casserole dishes, that has been coated with a layer of heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant ceramic such as clay.

Because the cookware is coated, it is great at retaining heat without holding onto flavors of what you cooked in it last time. Using ceramic cookware in an air fryer is a great way to make stews and soups without a direct gas flame. The heat will penetrate the food from all directions.

Ceramic Casserole Dish Baking Set

• 【HEALTHY MATERIALS】 The Casserole Dish is made of durable porcelain, a type of premium healthy and high quality ceramic. Never worry about harmful toxins.
• 【MULTIFUNCTIONAL USE】 The Casserole Dish is ideal for making and sharing gratin, roasted meat, lasagna, casseroles, brownies, desserts. In addition, baking, serving, storing, and reheating all in one dish.
• 【SCIENTIFIC DESIGN】 The double handles for more safety. Please use the Anti-hot gloves (excludes) to take the Casserole Dish out when it is still hot. The baking dish can nest within one another for convenient storage.
• 【CONVENIENT CLEANING】 Whether you want to clean the Casserole Dish by hand or with your dishwasher, it won't matter because the smooth porcelain texture makes cleanup a breeze. and It is suitable for microwave, freezer and oven.
• 【BEAUTIFUL PATTERN】 The Casserole Dish features unique flower pattern design and bright color for easy daily use. Classical and remarkable display can be a charming decoration in your table and kitchen.

Last update on 2022-09-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Ceramic Crockery

Ceramic bowls, unlike cookware, do not contain any metal and are therefore more easily broken. Cereal bowls, soup bowls, and coffee mugs are often made out of this material. Because ceramic is heat resistant, ceramic crockery will be fine in an air fryer.

Soup Bowls

• Large capacity: 24 ounces large soup bowl is great for hearty soups and serving, such as french onion soup, stew, chili, oatmeal, pasta, cereals, lobster bisque, side dishes, ice cream. Suitable for use with foods of various capacities without worrying about the soup overflow
• Simple and Classical Design: The substantial handles of the bowl on either side are convenient to pick up and keep balance, sturdy but not overly heavy, only 0.52kg each bowl. This solid & beautifully soup bowl makes for great companion dishes to any table setting and also the ideal for gifts
• Versatile and Healthy: DOWAN solid ceramic bowls made of high-quality material, lead-free, cadmium-free.No worry about getting worn&rough, bad smell, or distorted when In the heat. oven, microwave, fridge, freezer, dishwasher safe
• Tidy and Space-saving: Stacked for storage, the 4 sets of bowls are eight inches in height. Free up enough space for other dining set in the kitchen cabinet，these soup bowls are stain-resistant and easy to clean

Last update on 2022-09-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Glass Containers

Glass containers boast the benefit of being see-through, of course. This can be great if you want to keep an eye on your food as it cooks. As well as being transparent, glass as a material is good at warming up fast and good at not holding onto flavors of past food.

Glass is rarely used as a material for pans and cooking instruments that go under a direct flame. It is more often used for bake-ware such as roasting dishes and pie dishes.

Glass can be used in an air fryer because it can resist oven temperatures. However, be sure to let the glass cool slowly, as plunging the temperature of the glass too quickly can make it shatter.

Last update on 2022-09-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Metal Containers

There are many different types of metals that are used for cooking. As long as the metal container is made entirely out of metal, with no plastic handles or lids, then they will be fine for air frying.

Cast Iron Skillets

A favorite amongst some chefs, cast iron as a material is great for retaining heat and holding onto a depth of flavor from previously cooked meals. Cast iron pans and skillets can be used in an air fryer safely. Just make sure the lid you use, if you are using one, is oven safe too.

Le Creuset 3-1/2-Quart Dutch Oven

• Colorful, long-lasting exterior enamel resists chipping and cracking; interior enamel is engineered to resist staining and dulling
• Sand-colored interior enamel makes it easy to monitor food as it cooks, preventing burning and sticking
• Oversized handles provide even weight distribution and a secure grip
• Ergonomic composite knobs are heat resistant to 500°F
• Built-in lid stabilizers provide a secure, no-slide fit

Last update on 2022-09-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Stainless Steel Bowls, Pots and Pans

So, can you use steel bowl, pots and pans in air fryer? Sure you can, it’s safe but only if the container is made only from steel! Most households have at least one stainless steel pot and pan. They are great for cooking dishes that require frying and for making delicious sauces. As long as your stainless steel bowl, pot or pan does not have any attachments on it that could melt, it will be suitable for the air fryer.

It is best to use stainless steel bowls, pots and pans without loop handles because of the space in the air fryer.

Occasionally stainless steel pans will feature a plastic handle or a plastic section on the handle of the lid. If your pan has any plastic on it, it will not be safe for the air fryer. If you are unsure, do not run the risk, as there are many other options.

Steel Stock Pot 4 Quart

• Quality and Construction: Surgical Grade Stainless Steel. Multi Core for rapid, and even, heat distribution. 360 Cookware is thicker than most cookware brands on the market: 110 Gauge. Our Surgical Grade Stainless Steel Cooking surface gives you a healthy alternative to coated nonstick frying pans or any aluminum pots and pans set.
• Oven safe up to 500 degrees F. Ergonomic handles for easier and better control. Works on every type of stove: gas, electric, smooth top, glass top and induction cooktop.
• Waterless Cookware Capable: A century old technology. The construction of our pans with lids create a vapor seal, which allows you to heat your food from every angle (360 degrees). Cooks food faster at lower temperatures, while keeping the nutrients and natural flavor intact. An added benefit of our cookware.
• Lifetime Warranty, Heirloom Quality: Buy 360 pots and pans once and keep them forever. Why pay more over the years by buying cookware you continuously have to replace? Buy 360 Cookware one time. 360 will be in your family for generations to come.
• 360 Cookware is manufactured in West Bend, Wisconsin. Recognized by the EPA; our manufacturing process includes no harsh chemicals but instead uses a dry sanding process to produce a smoother finish, which results in easier clean-up and a nicer final product.

Last update on 2022-09-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Silicone Containers

Believe it or not but silicone can go in the air fryer. The soft, bendy, pliable material is great for use in baking and other types of cooking that involve getting something out of the container easily. Silicone loaf and muffin containers are a great way to bake in an air fryer.

When one ‘needs’ & futilely looks in every container to find.. a muffin.. one has no choice but to throw a few things in the air fryer & 15mins later. Voilà! Yum! 😂 https://t.co/94bz3Z7Gc7

Silicone is a type of plastic that does not melt until it is actually on fire. This means that it is safe for use in ovens and air fryers without melting. Make sure your silicone molds are designed for cooking, just in case.

The main benefit of using silicone is being able to remove the food from the container easily. We have all experienced the difficulty of getting brownies out of the greaseproof paper or having a cupcake stuck to the cupcake paper wrapper. Silicone is a great solution to these problems.

Last update on 2022-09-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Aluminum and Copper

When you think of aluminum containers for air fryers, you think of single-use containers. They are very convenient. Put any food in these containers, place them in the air fryer, and when it’s done, you easily eat out of them. They come in various sizes and some even with a cover and for multiple uses, like these ones:

Sturdy Foil Pans with Snap-On Lids

HEAT AND COLD PROOF WITH A HIGH THERMAL SHOCK RESISTANCE. Pop your casserole in the oven, stick it in the fridge to cool off, and reheat it in the microwave… all without shattering the glass. No need to start transferring leftovers to a new container. Simply store this pan in your refrigerator, and then pop it in the microwave to warm up when you are ready for round two. Dishwasher safe for quick and easy cleanup.

Last update on 2022-09-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Copper cookware is expensive and not often used in air fryers. But if you have a small saucepot or skillet without a handle, you can easily use it in the air fryer.

Cheats take away. Fish and Chips Nuggets and Chips Cooked everything in the air fryer and dished up in take away containers. Kids loved it 🥰 Sidenote. Henrys take away for dinner was apple and blueberries. *sigh* https://t.co/wN2g83dUxQ

Non stick Teflon containers

Some are pro and some against teflon. I always say if you use proper utensils when handling food in teflon it won’t scratch. The best thing about teflon is, your food will not stick to the container. Your muffins will effortlessly fall out.

Air Fryer Muffin Pans

• PERFECT DESIGN FOR AIR FRYERS : StyleMbro's Muffin Pan is adaptable every airfryer size! You can bake 6pcs of muffins or other baking food in 5.3 & 5.8quarts air fryers.
• NONSTICK AND EASY RELEASE : Teflon coating makes your food easily released.
• HEAT RESISTANCE : Safe up to 460℉ / 240℃. Recommended cooking time for muffins is at least 10minutes in 320℉ / 160℃, but cooking time is depending on paste or dough.
• DIMENTIONS : 3.1 x 3.1 x 1.8 inches per one piece.
• HAND WASH ONLY AND USE SOFT SPONGES.

Last update on 2022-09-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Other Containers

The rule of thumb here is that if it is oven-proof, then it will be air fryer proof. Even stone containers or implements that you use in oven cooking can be used in an air fryer. A good example would be a pizza stone; if you can fit it in the air fryer, it will work fine.

What to look for when buying a container for an air fryer

Check these three characteristics, and you will find the perfect container for your air fryer:

1. Material – Oven safe = air fryer safe

2. Size and capacity

3. Handle

Material – Oven safe = air fryer safe

Air fryers are a great way to cook food in a convenient, safe, and healthier way. Many foods can be made in an air fryer, and many different containers can be used inside them. If your container is overproof, then it will also be air fryer proof.

Because air fryers get as hot as ovens and work similarly, using a container that could melt can be not only detrimental to your food but could also be quite dangerous. If you are unsure what the container is made of, do not run the risk.

Size and capacity

Air fryer capacity will quickly determine which containers you can use. The smaller the air fryer, the less containers available and vice versa.

Most standard-sized containers that are great for a small family would fit in a 6-quart air fryer. 

Let’s say you already picked the right size air fryer, so the maximum container size is determined by the maximum capacity that the air fryer can hold. But the size and capacity of a container also correspond with the dish you are making and the quantity you eat. 

That is why it is best to choose the container for food you mostly prepare in the air fryer.

Handle 

Why does a handle attached to the pan or container matter? Not like cooktops or regular ovens, air fryers have limited capacity. For example, if you buy a cast-iron skillet with a handle, you will need to find a very, very small one to fit in the air fryer. On the other hand, if you get a container without a handle, how will you pick it up?

Luckily skillets and containers come with loop handles that don’t take much space. So, when choosing a container, choose one without a handle or ones with loop handles like this lodge cast iron skillet.

What should you not put in an air fryer?

A rule to remember is not to put anything in your air fryer that could melt or burn at high temperatures. Here are a few suggestions of what not to put in an air fryer.

Tupperware

These containers are unsuitable as they are made of plastic that has a low melting point. Although they are commonly used in microwaves, direct heat will see them melting and potentially catching fire. Not only will this ruin your meal, but it may also cause harmful fumes to be expelled into the air.

Make sure everyone who uses the air fryer knows not to use Tupperware as it is a very common mistake to make.

Wood

Containers, such as Asian steamers, are made of wood. These cannot go into an air fryer as the wood will singe or even catch fire. Some air fryer users add flavored wood chips to their air fryers to replicate a smoked effect in their food.

You do not want to accidentally smoke your food by using a wooden container. If you’re going to steam your food, use an airtight and suitable container inside the air fryer, so it can heat up and steam within itself.

If you absolutely must infuse your food with the smokey flavor of wood, it is best to smoke it beforehand in a designated smoker or barbecue before finishing it off in the air fryer. Although some people claim that wood chips are usable in an air fryer, it is not safe to do so.

The Takeaway

To recap, ceramic, glass, metal, and silicone containers can all be used in an air fryer. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s details and instructions and follow them accordingly.

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