An air fryer is known for fat-free and low-calorie food which is good for health.
There are many advantages to cooking food in an air fryer, but it is still a delicate appliance and must be used wisely.
Being delicate, people often think about what they can put in an air fryer.
Among many other questions, a commonly asked question is can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer?
The answer is: Yes, you can put aluminum foil in an air fryer, but it also depends upon the model of your air fryer and the type of food you are cooking.
Check out this video to learn more about putting aluminum foil in the Air fryer.
You can use aluminum foil in an air fryer, but it is not necessary to use it because the air fryer already has a nonsticky surface, so it’s best to cook food without aluminum foil.
However, if you decide to put aluminum foil anyway, here are some tips for using it safely.
- It is not good to cover all the holes of the basket of an air fryer because heat passes through those holes to cook food. So, avoid covering the whole basket with aluminum foil.
- You can create a foil sling by folding the foil in half, which will help you place food in the basket and can be easily taken out through this sling.
- If you’re cooking steak and want to have a nice brown crust, then use foil to bring food closer to the heating element.
- Use heavy food to hold the aluminum foil, or the food will start flying around in the air fryer.
What is aluminum foil?
Food-grade aluminum foil is an odorless, non-toxic, and opaque packaging material that can come into direct contact with food without causing harm to human health.
A thin sheet of aluminum foil is typically used in cooking or food preparation.
It is also frequently used to wrap food before it is cooked, as in the “baking” process. Aluminum foil is a common household item that can be found in most kitchens.
What Is the Function of an Air Fryer?
Air fryers use circulating hot air technology to cook.
It circulates hot air around the food to achieve the same crispiness as traditional fried food. Air fryers accomplish this task by removing high-fat, high-calorie oil from the food preparation process.
Air fryers work by rapidly circulating hot air around the foodstuff. This circulation of hot air aids in the even and rapid cooking of food.
Is it safe to put aluminum foil in an air fryer?
There is no universal answer to this question as some manufacturers forbid using foil in air fryers while some say you can use aluminum foil in air fryers on some foods because of its benefits. However, there is no complete yes or no answer.
As far as I know, oven-style air fryers don’t support aluminum foil, and an air fryer containing a basket allows the use of aluminum foil for food that have fillings that drips, such as pork and steak.
Make sure to read your air fryer manual carefully to know whether you can put aluminum foil in it or not. If your brand allows, keep checking the air fryer after putting aluminum foil in it so that it doesn’t touch the heating element.
Why use aluminum foil in an Air fryer?
Aluminum foil is used to create a better flavor as juices of food that drip away in the bottom of the basket are utilized in foil to make food more delicious.
Using foil correctly helps to distribute heat evenly on food, making it cooked thoroughly.
The foil also helps in avoiding the mess in the basket, which is often hard to clean as foil covers the food in itself, leaving you with no mess to clean at the end of the day.
Aluminum foil helps to prevent food from sticking to the basket, which you can easily take out.
Can tin foil be used in an air fryer?
No, you cannot use tin foil in the air fryer because it gives food a bitter taste. Though aluminum foil and tin foil are used interchangeably, they are not the same.
Aluminum foil is made of aluminum, while tin foil is made of tin. In industries, aluminum foil is widely used since it is cheaper than tin foil and tin foil isn’t easily available in markets.
Let’s take a look at their key difference to know more about them.
| Features | Aluminum foil | Tin foil |
| Heat Conductivity | Higher | Lower |
| Taste | Taste terrible when used with acidic foods | Gives bitter taste |
| Temperature | 1220°F | 450°F |
| Uses | Cooking and insulation | Used in an electrical capacitor |
Is there a health risk to using aluminum foil?
Yes, using too much aluminum foil can risk your health and lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
I believe there is no evidence to prove that using aluminum foil in the air fryer is safe, but it is also not proven if aluminum foil makes food toxic or not in the air fryer.
As an air fryer is a new kitchen appliance, there is insufficient evidence to support this argument. But, it is confirmed that aluminum foil has some toxicity in general and can have harmful effects.
However, the amount of aluminum foil we use in food is low, which I believe doesn’t consider harmful. But some say that aluminum amount is increased in food while using it with foil.
So it can be said that aluminum foil itself is not toxic to health, but using it increases human exposure to aluminum which is harmful to health.
Which foods cannot be used with aluminum foil?
- Acidic foods such as tomatoes, citrus, and peppers should not be placed in aluminum foil as it reacts and can be harmful to health.
- Food dipping in the wet batter should also not be used with aluminum foil because it will keep on dripping in the air fryer and wouldn’t cook.
- Food with a lot of cheese is also not recommended to use with aluminum foil as cheese would melt quicker than the rest of the food and look messy and gooey.
- Green vegetables with leaves shouldn’t be cooked in aluminum foil as leaves will start flying around in the air fryer.
Can you use parchment paper in an air fryer?
Yes, you can safely use parchment paper in an air fryer but make sure your food is heavy enough to hold the parchment paper.
If food is not heavy enough, the parchment paper will start blowing around and might come in contact with the heating element of the air fryer, which could be dangerous.
People often prefer parchment paper over aluminum foil because it is food friendly, doesn’t react to food, and comes in small holes that can easily fit in the bottom of the air fryer basket.
Conclusion
- You can use aluminum foil in an air fryer to create a better food flavor.
- Using aluminum foil in an air fryer is not necessary because it has a nonsticky surface that prevents food from sticking to the bottom.
- Never leave your air fryer unattended while cooking with aluminum foil.
- Aluminum foil, when used excessively, can increase the amount of aluminum in your intake.