Air Frying with Glass: Tips for Safe and Effective Cooking (2024)

FAQs

Is it safe to use glass in air fryer? ›

Whether you prefer the benefits of cooking in glass or you just use glass dishes out of habit, we've got good news – yes! You can use glass in an air fryer.

A glass air fryer is healthier to cook with when compared with a regular one with non-stick coatings. Any type of PFAS-based non-stick coatings is something I would avoid. PFAS are called forever chemicals, and they are not good for your health.

Remove Top Burner Lid and place food in cooking basket, tumbler, or rotisserie inside the glass bowl. 2. Select any of the cooking pre-set buttons and start cooking.

Summary. In conclusion, while air fryers offer certain benefits such as reduced calorie intake and faster cooking times, they are not without their limitations. Size constraints, limited cooking options, and concerns about crispiness are driving some people to look for alternatives.

Studies show that using an air fryer can increase the levels of cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) in fish. COPs are linked to an increase in heart disease, cancer and other medical conditions.

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

The glass bowl makes it easy and exciting to watch the food during the entire cooking process. The downside of the thick glass bowl is that it's a bit heavy. Not so much that it's going to require a friend to move it, but it's heavier than a typical air fryer basket. It also gets hot on the exterior during cooking.

PFAS are manmade chemicals that don't break down for decades, earning them the nickname “forever chemicals.” When heated to extremely high temperatures over 400 degrees Fahrenheit, PFAS, which are often present in non-stick coating, can seep into food and into our blood, kidneys, and liver.

Overall, air frying is healthier than deep-frying. But if you rarely deep-fry food and have a healthy fat intake, using an air fryer might not make much of a difference to your health.

The main difference comes down to size. Because air fryers are smaller, they heat up to a more intense heat more quickly. If you're cooking for one or two or don't mind cooking in batches, use an air fryer. But if you're cooking for a crowd, it's easier and more convenient to use a convection oven.

Can you put a paper towel in an air fryer? ›

Airflow is essential to the machine, so while a paper towel is useful for cleaning, it should not be used while cooking food in the air fryer. It can restrict the airflow of the machine and even catch fire. It's important to remember that the air inside the air fryer can get very hot.

Aside from aesthetics, there are practical benefits too. Unlike regular air fryers made primarily from stainless steel or plastic materials, these appliances feature high-temperature-resistant glass bowls, which means no questionable non-stick coatings coming into contact with your food during heating cycles.

Some say it's too good to be true, that you can't effectively “fry” something with a few tablespoons of oil and hot circulating air. Some say yeah, it works but it takes up too much countertop space for what it's worth.

A countertop oven is a quick fix

But I'll argue that the taste trade-offs are worth it, and that you'll still be heating food and cooking more quickly than you would in a large conventional oven.

There are four main types of oven-safe dishware: glass, metal, cast iron, and ceramic, though not all glass is necessarily oven-safe (as we learned with Pyrex recently). Since air fryers are again, essentially mini convection ovens, any oven-safe dish should be safe in an air fryer.

Avoid using plastic or paper containers, as they can't handle high heat and might release toxic chemicals. Water, wet food, heavy sauces, and stews are also a no-go. What type of container can I put in an air fryer? You're safe with oven-proof materials like glass, ceramic, silicone, and metal.

“I would use a silicone trivet or heat-safe board or mat to place an air fryer on," suggests Clare. There are lots of heat-resistant mats and boards on the market." And, she says, don't forget the basket/tray, too. "I would also use the heat-safe mat for the air fryer baskets while you are serving the food."