Air Fryer Bakeware: What's Safe And What's Not?

Air fryers are a convenient alternative to traditional ovens, especially in hot weather. They are great for baking anything that should be crisp and crunchy, such as granola, and baked goods that require a water bath, like cheesecake. They are also perfect for small-batch baking. However, they may not be suitable for baking cakes as the results can be denser and less fluffy.

Bakeware for air fryers

The key to successful baking in an air fryer is having the right bakeware. Standard bakeware for oven baking will usually be too large, so it's important to buy a special set of air fryer baking dishes or individual small pans that fit your air fryer model. Most air fryer manufacturers sell brand-specific sets of pans for baking, and some air fryers even come with a set.

If you don't want to buy a whole new set, you can use any oven-safe dish that fits inside your air fryer. Look for high-sided cake pans and shallow tins that can also be used for pies, quiches, and cookies. Regular and silicone cupcake cases are also fine to use. It's recommended to get a cake pan that is no more than 3 inches high, as taller pans may touch the heating element.

When baking with metal pans, it's important to choose the right size. The best size for basket-type air fryers is a 5-8 inch round or square cake pan. If you have an oven-type air fryer, you may be able to use slightly larger pans.

If you're using glass bakeware, it's important to note that glass conducts heat more slowly than metal. As the air fryer dispenses heat quickly from the top, it may be difficult to achieve an even browning effect with glass.

For cookies, bread, and biscuits, you can use parchment paper to prevent sticking and to allow for better air circulation. Precut parchment paper liners with holes for air circulation are also available.

Aluminum foil can be used in some air fryer brands, but it's important to check your manual to see if it's safe for your model. If using foil, be sure to wrap it around the baking dish to prevent it from blowing off and touching the heating element.

Dark-coated pans tend to absorb and distribute heat faster, so they may bake faster than light-colored pans. This can be advantageous for some recipes, such as pizza, where a darker pan can help to crisp up the crust. However, cakes tend to brown more evenly in light-colored pans.

• Round or square cake pans for sponge cakes, pound cakes, and brownies
• Springform pans for cheesecakes
• Mini loaf pans for mini cakes and banana bread
• Bundt pans (look for a good-quality non-stick option)
• Cupcake molds or individual silicone cupcake liners
• Donut molds or a donut pan
• Pizza pans (mini pizza pans are perfect for air fryer baking)
• Stoneware that fits inside your air fryer basket, such as mini cocottes or ramekins
• Oven-safe glassware, such as Pyrex dishes
• Mini skillets (a 6-inch cast iron skillet works well)

Converting a baking recipe for the air fryer

Air fryers are essentially small convection ovens, meaning you can bake just about anything in them, as long as you have the right-sized pan and make a few adjustments to the recipe.

The key to converting a baking recipe for an air fryer is to get the quantities right for the smaller air fryer baking pans. For cookies and brownies, this is less of an issue, as you can either cook the full recipe in batches or freeze the leftover dough. However, for cakes, you will want to get the quantities right for your cake pan. You can use a recipe conversion calculator like CakeOmeter to help with this.

When converting temperatures, you will generally need to reduce the temperature of a regular oven recipe by approximately 20°F (10°C) or 25°F. For example, 375°F in an oven would equate to 350°F in an air fryer.

Baking times for air fryers are usually around 80% of the baking times in a regular oven, so you will need to reduce the cooking time by about 20-25%. For example, if a recipe calls for 60 minutes in the oven, you can convert it to 48 minutes of air frying time.

It's important to note that different air fryer styles and models have different fan speeds and wattages, which can affect cooking times. Therefore, it's recommended to check your food at around 30% of the recipe's suggested cooking time to ensure it's not overcooking.

Additionally, due to the concentrated heat circulation in air fryers, the outside of your baked goods may cook quicker than the inside, resulting in a crispier and drier exterior. This can be advantageous for certain recipes, like bread crusts and cookies, but may require some adjustments for cakes and cupcakes.

By making these adjustments, you can successfully convert a traditional baking recipe for an air fryer and enjoy the convenience and speed of this versatile appliance.

Preheating the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is not always necessary, but it can speed up cooking time and make your food crispier. It is recommended to preheat when baking cakes, donuts, and cookies, as it can help avoid underbaking. Preheating is also ideal if you are cooking thinly cut meats, as it will crisp up the edges while the inside cooks.

To preheat your air fryer, first, turn it on and ensure it is clean, plugged in, and ready to go. If you have a preheat button, simply press it, set the temperature, and enter the cooking time. If your air fryer does not have a preheat button, heat it at 400 °F (204 °C) for 3 to 5 minutes.

It is important to note that not all air fryers are the same, so be sure to read your air fryer's instruction manual before preheating. Some models may advise against preheating, while others may require it. Additionally, preheating is not recommended if you are cooking thick cuts of meat, as the outside will burn before the inside is cooked.

Air fryer-friendly foods

Air fryers are essentially small convection ovens, so they can be used to bake anything that you would normally bake in a regular oven. However, there are some key differences to be aware of when baking in an air fryer.

Firstly, due to the cooking action of air fryers, the outside of your food will often cook quicker than the inside, resulting in a crispier and drier exterior. This can be great for achieving a beautiful crust on bread, or light and crispy cookies. It's worth noting that this may cause the centre of cakes and cupcakes to rise, but a well-placed application of icing can easily hide this.

Secondly, standard bakeware for oven baking will usually be too large for an air fryer, so it's important to buy a special set of air fryer baking dishes or individual small pans that fit correctly inside your air fryer, allowing for air to circulate. You can also use oven-safe glass dishes, stoneware, or regular and silicone cupcake cases.

When converting a regular baking recipe for an air fryer, it's important to adjust the quantities, temperatures, and baking times. For cookies and brownies, this is less of an issue, as you can cook the full recipe in batches or freeze leftover dough. However, for cakes, you'll want to adjust the quantities to fit your smaller air fryer pan. As a general rule of thumb, decrease the temperature by about 25 degrees Fahrenheit (or 10 degrees Celsius) and reduce the cooking time by about 20%.

• Breads: biscuits, bread, rolls, focaccia, cornbread
• Cakes: cheesecakes, chocolate cake, fruit pudding
• Cookies: chocolate chip, butter, shortbread
• Cupcakes
• Pies
• Pizza
• Quiches
• Muffins
• Avocado toast
• Omelets
• Pancakes
• Vegetables: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, zucchini, mushrooms, onions, cauliflower, green beans, asparagus, eggplant, okra, red potatoes, carrots, Brussels sprouts
• Proteins: tofu, chicken drumsticks, meatballs, pork chops, fried chicken, steak, chicken wings, salmon, crab cakes, chicken legs, shrimp, beef, chicken tenders
• Appetizers: stuffed Tuscan mushrooms, deviled eggs, loaded zucchini skins, avocado fries, mozzarella sticks, egg rolls, corn dogs, taquitos
• Desserts: berry crisp, apple pie "baked" apples, peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, s'mores, cinnamon rolls, empanadas, avocado fries, peanut butter cookies, grilled cheese sandwiches, bourbon bacon cinnamon rolls

Air fryer-unfriendly foods

Air fryers are a great way to cook food quickly and easily. However, there are some foods that are not suitable for cooking in an air fryer. Here is a list of air fryer-unfriendly foods:

Battered Foods

A wet batter, such as cornmeal batter on a corndog, will not cook well in an air fryer. The heavy and wet coating will drip through the perforated basket before it has a chance to crisp. Instead, try dipping the food in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs for a similar crunchy texture.

Cake Doughnuts

Cake doughnuts, made with a dense batter of sugar, sour cream, and flour, are best fried in a traditional deep fryer to keep them moist and fluffy. Air frying will result in dry and overcooked doughnuts. Opt for buttery baked goods like cookies in your air fryer instead.

Large Whole Chickens

Large bone-in proteins, such as whole chickens, are not ideal for air frying. They will cook unevenly, with the breast meat overcooking before the thighs are safe to eat. Smaller chickens around 3 pounds are more suitable for air frying.

Bacon

While it is technically possible to cook bacon in an air fryer, it is not recommended due to the mess it creates. The hot air causes the bacon fat to spray all over the inside of the machine, resulting in a greasy cleanup. Leaner turkey bacon is a better option for a similar breakfast treat with less mess.

Leafy Greens

Light and airy greens, such as curly kale, are not suitable for air frying. The high-speed hot air will cause them to fly around the air fryer basket, resulting in uneven cooking. Sturdier vegetables, like Brussels sprouts, are better choices for air frying.

Raw Rice and Other Grains

Raw rice and grains will not cook evenly in an air fryer, even with a special pan insert. They are best cooked on a stovetop or in a rice cooker. However, an air fryer is excellent for reheating leftover rice and grains to achieve a crispy texture.

Too Much of Anything

Overstuffing your air fryer basket will hinder proper air circulation, leading to uneven cooking. Always leave enough space around your food items to allow hot air to distribute evenly and promote optimal cooking. Batch cooking is recommended when serving a crowd.

Frequently asked questions