Can You Put A Bowl In An Air Fryer? (read this first)

The answer to this question is yes, but there are some limitations. In this article we look at using bowls in air fryers and identify which types of bowls are suitable and which are downright dangerous.

Keep reading to find out just which bowls are safe for use in an air fryer.

What Would Prevent The Use Of A Bowl In An Air Fryer?

There are a few reasons that could prevent you using certain types of bowls in an air fryer. Firstly, there’s the material the bowl is made from. We look into this in more detail below.

Then there’s the actual size of the bowl, because even if the bowl is safe for use in an air fryer, it might be too big. 

Air fryers work in a similar way to convection ovens. A heating element heats up the air which is then forced around the food by a powerful fan. It relies on minute holes or perforations in the basket to allow that hot air to pass all around the food.

If the bowl is too large, it will block those perforations and prevent the hot air from flowing freely. This in turn, prevents the food from cooking evenly.

Oven Safe Bowls

The problem is that the air fryer is far smaller than a standard convection oven. Which means the bowl will be far closer to the heating element in an air fryer than it would be in a regular convection oven.

This can affect the bowl in a few ways;

1. The bowl will heat up extremely fast
   As the heating element is far closer to the bowl, it will be exposed to intense heat right from the start.
2. The bowl will potentially get far hotter than usual
   That close proximity to the source of heat will result in the bowl becoming hotter than it would in a convection oven.

For these reasons we recommend only using bowls that are oven safe. The majority of oven safe bowls will have a mark that declares them oven safe. It will either be written on the back of the bowl or it will have a symbol depicting a flame in a circle.

Can You Use A Glass Bowl In An Air Fryer?

If you’ve been home baking for any length of time, you’re likely to own a few glass bowls. Many glass bowls are not oven safe and should never be used in an air fryer.

Borosilicate Glass Bowls

There are exceptions to this which are borosilicate glass bowls. You’ll probably know these types of glass bowls by the brand name Pyrex. Borosilicate glass is strong enough to withstand the most extreme temperatures produced in an air fryer.

They can be used in an oven, freezer, microwave, air fryer and are dishwasher safe too.

However, to prevent any unwanted accidents we suggest placing the borosilicate glass bowl in the air fryer empty, and running the air fryer at a high temperature for a few minutes. 

This will ensure that the bowl won’t break when cooking food in it which could be both messy and dangerous.

If you have any doubt we recommend contacting the company that produced the bowl and asking them directly if it’s air fryer safe or not.

Can You Use A Ceramic Bowl In An Air Fryer?

Most plain ceramic bowls are air fryer safe, however, you will need to check that it is oven safe before using it in the air fryer. The main problem with ceramic bowls is the glaze used to give the bowl that glossy, shiny finish.

Due to the extreme heat produced in an air fryer, those glazes can in some cases, melt or become burnt. Even if the bowl isn’t glazed, if it has a painted pattern, the results could be similar.

With that said, ceramic is a popular choice for baking equipment because it heats up fast and evenly which makes cooking in a ceramic bowl a consistent way of cooking.

Ceramic bowls tend to hold onto heat for a long time so take care when handling a ceramic bowl after using it in the air fryer.

Can You Use A Steel Bowl In An Air Fryer?

It is usually safe to use steel bowls in an air fryer, however, you should always check that they are oven safe. In the absence of any oven safe mark, we recommend not using the bowl in the air fryer.

Having said that, undecorated stainless steel bowls should be fine to be used in an air fryer. As long as it doesn’t have wooden or plastic handles or a painted design that could become burnt or melted in the air fryer, the steel bowl should be fine.

One thing worth noting is the heat conductivity of steel bowls. Steel is not a very good conductor of heat. This will lead to unevenly cooked food with some getting overcooked whilst other parts of the same dish being almost raw.

Can You Use Enamel Bowls In An Air Fryer?

Enamel bowls are made from steel coated with porcelain and can be used in an air fryer. They are non-stick, non-toxic and can be cleaned easily after use.

Enamel is considered safe by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use with foods and can be used in the air fryer.

Can You Use Silicone Bowls In An Air Fryer

Silicone bowls, moulds and liners are a popular choice with home cooks and chefs around the country. They are available in many shapes and sizes which means you will be able to find a silicone bowl to comfortably fit your air fryer.

Made from food grade silicone, these bowls are heat resistant up to 225 C (450 F) which makes them perfect for use in an air fryer. They are non-stick, non-toxic, air fryer safe, microwavable and dishwasher safe too.

What Types Of Bowls Should Not Be Used In An Air Fryer?

Now we have some idea of the types of bowls that can be used in an air fryer, let’s look at those that should never be used. You should never use any bowl in an air fryer that doesn’t have the oven safe mark or symbol.

In addition you should never use any of the following in an air fryer;

Painted Bowls

Even if the bowl is made from one of the above materials that are considered safe to use in an air fryer, if they have a painted design they could release toxic fumes which could transfer into your food.

Plastic Bowls

Many types of plastic can be used in microwave ovens but that doesn’t mean they’re air fryer safe. In fact, you should never use any type of plastic bowl in an air fryer.

Most types of plastic melt at around 128 C (260 F), most air fryers are capable of attaining temperatures in excess of 200 C (400 F). If plastic bowls were to be exposed to 200 C they would melt, burn and leach harmful chemicals into the air fryer.

Those harmful chemicals include BPA and phthalates which have been linked to cancer, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, fertility issues and digestive complications.

Paper Bowls

Paper bowls are highly flammable and lightweight which means the powerful fan found in an air fryer is likely to blow the paper bowl onto the heating element. This will lead to a fire breaking out which could be the end of your air fryer or your home.

Added to which many paper bowls have thin wax coatings and the wax is also flammable.

Glass Bowls

With the exception of borosilicate glass, glass bowls are likely to shatter under the intense heat in an air fryer. This will make for a very dangerous clear up and the loss of the meal you were trying to cook.

What’s the best food to cook in the air fryer?
Air-vrything! 😂

SEE ALSO:

• Can You Put Eggs In An Air Fryer?
• Can You Put Frozen Chips In An Air Fryer?
• Can You Put Battered Fish In An Air Fryer?

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