Can you use aluminum foil in an instant vortex air fryer

Published on January 9, 2022

Air fryers have been game changers in the kitchen. They've made our okra always crispy, helped us pretend donuts can be health food, added new lighter choices to our meal plans, made it easy to make a blooming onion at home, and gotten us gooey skillet cookies at the touch of a button.

Since our air fryers are in pretty heavy rotation, it's a good thing they are pretty darn easy to clean. However, it's pretty tempting to throw a little foil in there to catch any drips and make clean-up even easier, but is that allowed? The short answer is yes.

While we all know that putting foil in a microwave is a no-no (and if you don't know, the flying sparks will remind you), air fryers don't work the same way. They use hot air instead of actual microwaves to create heat, so putting foil in an air fryer doesn't cause the same alarming spark show. In fact, lining your fryer basket with foil can really help when you're cooking something delicate, such as fish. However, there is one important caveat: Only put a layer of foil in the bottom of the air fryer basket where your food sits, not on the bottom of the air fryer itself. That's because air fryers work by circulating hot air, which originates at the bottom of the fryer. Lining it with foil can constrict the air flow and your food won't cook properly.

If you are going to use foil, use a small amount in the bottom of the basket, making sure not to cover the food. This will help make the cleanup even easier while still allowing the hot air to circulate and heat your food.

Of course it's always a good idea to check the manufacturer's recommendations for your particular air fryer. For example, Philips does not recommend using foil, while Frigidaire says it's okay as long as you line the basket, not the bottom of the fryer as we've suggested above.

Putting aluminum foil or metal utensils inside a microwave is not advisable as many of us have been told throughout our lives. Frasier Crane on the TV show "Cheers" once famously lamented that we can put a man on the moon but can't put metal in a microwave. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explains that it will, at best, dampen the cooking of the food and, at worst, become dangerous.

But what about an air fryer? Keeping your air fryer safe and in good working order means users must learn what is okay to place inside it. Knowing what foils and papers can damage the device or the food is vital to successfully owning, operating and enjoying an air fryer.

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Can you put foil in an air fryer?

Yes, you can put aluminum foil in an air fryer. Tasteofhome.com explains that due to the air fryer’s cooking process consisting of rushing hot air, your aluminum foil and the meal it’s with will not be ruined by the air fryer.

Because of the vigorous air, though, the foil must be secured to the food or the air fryer basket. If not, you risk the foil becoming loose and flying around the device as your food cooks, Tasteofhome.com says. The website explains that users must “mold and shape” the foil to the “basket” of the air fryer or the “food you’re cooking.” Make sure to secure the foil to the basket or the food and not the bottom of the air fryer, as this would disrupt the air fryer’s airflow and your food’s cooking, according to southernliving.com.

Southernliving.com also says that, in case you’re unsure, it’s best to review the manufacturer’s recommendations. They explain that some companies, such as Philips, don’t recommend the use of foil in an air fryer while others might.

Using aluminum foil with your food while it’s air frying helps the spices to stay mixed with the food, rather than dripping through the basket and under the food, says keepingthepeas.com. It also distributes heat across the food more evenly, while enabling an easier cleanup.

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Can you put wax paper in an air fryer? 

No, you cannot put wax paper into an air fryer, according to lovefoodnotcooking.com. Wax paper is sensitive to heat and, given the air fryer cooking process is dependent on hot air, they do not mix.

Can you put parchment paper in an air fryer?

Yes, parchment paper can be put into an air fryer, lovefoodnotcooking.com says. Its silicone coating makes it heat resistant, enabling it to be used in air fryers. Parchment paper can be used to protect against food splatter in an air fryer.

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