Air Fryer Baking Tray: What You Need To Know

Air fryers are like miniature convection ovens that cook food by circulating hot air within a compact space. They are a great alternative to conventional ovens, especially when baking in small batches and in hot weather. You can bake almost anything in an air fryer, from cookies and cakes to pizzas and lasagnas.

When it comes to bakeware, you can use any oven-proof dish or mould in an air fryer, including glass, ceramic, metal, or silicone. It is important to ensure that the baking tin is not too deep or tall, so it doesn't touch the heating element, and that there is some space on either side for airflow. Parchment paper can also be used to prevent sticking and is a cheaper alternative to a baking sheet.

It is recommended to preheat the air fryer, especially when using recipes that call for baking powder. However, some people choose not to preheat their air fryers as they heat up quickly due to their small size.

While air fryers are versatile, it is important to remember that they cook differently from conventional ovens, and you may need to adjust temperatures and cooking times accordingly.

Air fryer baking: types of bakeware

Air fryers are great for baking, especially if you're cooking for one or two people, or if you want to avoid heating up your kitchen with a conventional oven.

When baking in an air fryer, it's important to remember that you'll need to reduce the temperature and time you would usually use in a conventional oven. Air fryers are smaller than conventional ovens, so they cook food faster.

You can use any oven-proof dish or mould in an air fryer, including glass, ceramic, metal, or silicone. It's important to make sure that your chosen bakeware fits inside your air fryer with some space around it to allow for airflow. You should also avoid bakeware with large handles, as these can get in the way and prevent your dish from fitting inside the air fryer.

• Muffin pans
• Springform pans
• Small, deep baking dishes
• Non-stick cake pans (round or square)
• Non-stick pie pans
• Glass baking dishes
• CorningWare bakeware sets
• Bucket-style baking pans
• Parchment paper
• Aluminium foil
• Stoneware
• Oven-safe glass dishes, such as Pyrex
• Mini skillets
• Pizza pans

Air fryer oven vs basket type

Air fryers are a great alternative to deep fryers as they cook food by covering it with hot air instead of fat, making them a healthier option. They are like mini convection ovens and are available in two models: basket-style and oven-style.

Basket-Style Air Fryers

Basket-style air fryers are compact and take up little counter space. They are convenient for midweek meals for busy families as they preheat in under 5 minutes and most meals are cooked in an hour or less. They are also great for cooking small batches of food quickly. However, they are limited to cooking for 1-2 people, unless you opt for a larger model. Most basket-style air fryers have a plastic exterior that gets hot to the touch, so oven mitts are required when handling.

Oven-Style Air Fryers

Oven-style air fryers are larger than basket-style air fryers and take up more counter space. They are great for cooking larger batches of food and can cook a variety of food at the same time as they come with multiple, adjustable racks. They also offer multiple cooking options, such as rotisserie functions, broiling, baking, dehydrating, roasting, and proofing bread. They are more expensive than basket-style air fryers but are worth the money if you plan on using them a lot.

Basket-Style vs Oven-Style

Both basket-style and oven-style air fryers produce the same results, but there are some differences to consider when choosing between the two. Basket-style air fryers are ideal for those cooking for 1-2 people, whereas oven-style air fryers are better for those who regularly cook large meals. Basket-style air fryers are also good for those with limited counter space. Oven-style air fryers are a good option for those who want to be able to cook multiple items at different temperatures at the same time. Additionally, basket-style air fryers allow you to shake the food as it cooks, whereas oven-style air fryers require you to flip the food.

Preheating the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is a great way to speed up cooking time and make your food extra crispy. It's especially useful if you're baking or cooking thinly cut meats. However, it's not necessary for all types of food and can sometimes lead to uneven cooking, so it's important to know when and how to preheat your air fryer for the best results.

• Always check your air fryer's manual to see if preheating is recommended for your specific model. Some air fryers already come with a preheat button, making it easy to preheat at the desired temperature.
• If your air fryer doesn't have a preheat button, you can manually preheat it by heating it at 400 °F (204 °C) for 3 to 5 minutes before adding your food. Alternatively, you can preheat at the cooking temperature listed in your recipe for the same duration.
• Preheating is ideal if you want to speed up cooking time, make your food crispy, or cook thinly cut meats like chicken breasts or shaved steak. It's also useful for reheating precooked or frozen foods, as it helps them cook evenly and quickly.
• On the other hand, you may not want to preheat your air fryer if you're cooking thick cuts of meat, as the outside may burn before the inside is cooked. Preheating may also dry out your food, so it's not ideal for cooking raw vegetables or sponge cakes.
• When baking in an air fryer, preheating is generally recommended, especially if your recipe calls for baking powder, which needs a certain temperature to activate. However, some experts suggest that cookies may come out better without preheating the air fryer.
• Remember that preheating can slightly reduce your cooking time, so you may need to experiment with preheating and not preheating to see what works best for your specific air fryer and the food you're cooking.

Air fryer baking times and temperatures

Air fryers are a great alternative to baking in a conventional oven, especially for small-batch baking, and when it's too hot to turn on the oven. However, you will need to convert the oven recipe to suit air fryer temperatures and cooking times.

The general rule of thumb is to reduce the cooking temperature by 25°F and shorten the time by 20%. For example, if a recipe calls for baking at 375°F in an oven for 60 minutes, you would reduce the temperature to 350°F in the air fryer and cook for 48 minutes (60 mins x .80 = 48 minutes).

It's important to note that different air fryer styles, models, wattages, sizes, brands, and types can affect cooking times. Therefore, it's recommended to check your food at around 30% of the recipe's cooking time to ensure it's not overcooked. For example, if a recipe calls for 60 minutes of cooking time, check your air fryer after 20 minutes.

Additionally, the type of bakeware you use can also impact the cooking time and temperature. Parchment paper, silicone cupcake liners, and ramekins can be used in an air fryer, but they may require some adjustments. Using parchment paper can slightly reduce airflow, so it's important to ensure that there is still adequate air circulation.

Preheating an air fryer is optional but can help cook food faster, similar to a preheated convection oven. The preheating temperature varies between brands, so it's important to refer to your air fryer's instructions.

When baking in an air fryer, it's important to remember that the top of your food is more at risk of burning due to the placement of the heating element. Covering your dish with foil can help prevent burning and splattering, especially for thin, runny batters.

In summary, while air fryers can be a convenient alternative to a conventional oven, it's important to adjust temperatures and cooking times accordingly and be prepared for some trial and error to find the perfect settings for your specific air fryer model and the type of food you are baking.

Air fryer baking tips

Air fryers are great for baking, especially if you're cooking for one or two people, or if it's too hot to turn on the conventional oven. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your air fryer:

Choose the right bakeware

You can use any oven-proof dish or mould in your air fryer, whether it's made of glass, ceramic, metal or silicone. Just make sure that it's not too deep or tall so that it doesn't touch the heating element. The more shallow the pan, the faster your cake will bake. If you're using a baking dish, go for a small, deep option, and consider a non-stick version if you plan to bake eggs.

For cookies, bread, and biscuits, you can use parchment paper, which will prevent sticking and stop your food from falling through the openings in the air fryer basket. Precut parchment paper liners, some with holes for air circulation, are available to buy.

Adjust temperature and time

Baked goods tend to cook faster in an air fryer because of its compact space and concentrated heat circulation. Therefore, you'll need to reduce the temperature and time you would usually use in the oven. A good rule of thumb is to decrease the temperature by about 25 degrees and the cooking time by about 20%.

Preheat your air fryer

Preheating your air fryer will help you to bake most efficiently, especially if your recipe uses baking powder, which needs a certain temperature to activate. However, some people choose not to preheat their air fryers, as they heat up quickly anyway.

Cover your food with foil

As most basket air fryers have their heating elements at the top, the top of your bake is always at risk of burning. Covering your dish with foil can prevent this. If your cake is browning too quickly, cover it with foil, giving a puffy room above the cake, and this will reduce the rate at which it browns.

Be prepared to experiment

Air fryers don't produce the same results as an oven, so you may need to experiment to get the results you want. For example, cookies will be crunchier on top than the bottom, and pizza will get more colour and texture on top than on the bottom.

Frequently asked questions