What Dishes Can You Use in an Air Fryer?
Reviewed by the RecipeAirFryer editorial team · Updated
Anything oven-safe that fits with room for air to circulate is fine: metal tins, ceramic ramekins, ovenproof glass and silicone all work. Avoid plastic, anything not rated for the heat, and any dish that fills the basket so tightly that air cannot get around it.
Quick answer
- 1Safe: metal tins and trays, ovenproof ceramic, borosilicate glass, food-grade silicone.
- 2Not safe: plastic, melamine, thin non-tempered glass, anything without an oven-safe rating.
- 3Leave a couple of centimetres of clearance around the dish for airflow.
- 4Preheat glass and ceramic gently - avoid moving them from fridge-cold straight into a hot basket.
If it is oven-safe, it is air fryer-safe
An air fryer is a small convection oven, so the same rule applies: any dish rated for oven use handles the temperatures fine. Ramekins, small cake tins, ovenproof bowls and silicone moulds all let you cook eggs, bakes and saucy dishes that would fall through a basket.
The one extra consideration is size. A dish that touches the basket walls blocks the air, so the food heats unevenly - leave clearance all the way round.
What to keep out
Plastic and melamine can warp or melt, and thin drinking glasses or non-tempered glass can crack from thermal shock. If a container is not clearly marked oven-safe, do not use it.
With ovenproof glass and ceramic, avoid extreme temperature jumps - a fridge-cold dish going into a fully preheated basket is the classic way to crack one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put a plate in an air fryer?+
An oven-safe plate, yes, if it leaves room for air to circulate. Everyday dinner plates are often not oven-rated, so check before using one.
Can you put glass in an air fryer?+
Ovenproof borosilicate glass is fine. Avoid thin or non-tempered glass, and do not move it from cold straight into a hot basket - the shock can crack it.
Can you use ceramic in an air fryer?+
Yes, if it is oven-safe. Ramekins and small ceramic dishes are ideal for eggs and individual bakes, as long as they leave clearance for airflow.