Different do’s and don’ts are associated with each appliance we use in our daily lives. The same is the case with one of the most recently introduced kitchen gadgets; the air fryers. People often wonder about the things like whether they can use a pizza stone in it and other related queries.
In this blog, you’ll learn about using a cast iron pan in an air fryer and the pros and cons related to it. We’ll take a look at several relatable question answers too.
I aim to educate you about any possible dangers as well as if it is safe to use a cast iron plate in an air fryer. Let’s keep up till the end.
Cast iron is far more durable than the majority of other cookware materials. Without concern for burning, use an air fryer or Ninja Foodi. Compared to most other cookware, it heats up quickly.
If you use cast iron more frequently, it will eventually get more seasoned. For many reasons, using a cast iron plate in your air fryer is not necessary, but it is useful to know if the two may be used together.
Almost no conventional force can harm, fracture, or shatter cast iron since it is practically unbreakable. However, it can also seriously harm your air fryer. The air fryer will be at fault if anything goes wrong since it may overheat or become overworked from inadequate air circulation.
Cast iron plates are safe to use in an air fryer due to their high-temperature resistance in the oven or on the cooktop.
What is an Air Fryer?
The air fryer is essentially a better-than-average countertop convection oven that does not fry food. The Philips Electronics Company patented small appliance claims to replicate the results of deep-frying using only hot air and little or no oil.
According to market research firm NPD Group, the popularity of this device has grown in recent years, with nearly 40% of US homes expected to own one by July 2020. Everything from frozen chicken wings and homemade french fries to roasted vegetables and fresh-baked cookies can be cooked in an air fryer.
How does an Air Fryer work?
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.
With just one tablespoon of cooking oil, you can achieve the same results as a deep food fryer while using a fraction of the calories. It removes moisture from food by using heated air with fine droplets of oil. The air fryer, like many other cooking methods, causes a chemical reaction that improves the flavor and color of the food.
Is It Suitable To Use A Cast Iron Plate In An Air Fryer?
Cooks generally adore cast iron because, once heated, the heat is more evenly distributed throughout the pan and it is simple to hold for extended periods.
Cast iron is very indestructible, unlike other metals. They won’t damage your air fryer. When cooking, a cast iron skillet or pot won’t feel sticky to the touch if it has been properly seasoned.
But what’s the reason behind this?
If we talk about the Ninja Food air fryer, we can use a cast iron pan or plate in it. As I’ve already mentioned, it produces more heat compared to other electrical appliances. It won’t damage or cause any harm to the air fryer.
Your cast-iron pans are very likely to withstand the tremendous heat and vigorous cooking in an air fryer if you have a good air fryer. So, you can safely say that a cast iron pan is suitable to be used in an air fryer.
It is an affordable and effective cooking tool due to its durability, seasoned non-stick properties, and low price. My understanding of air fryers is that they fundamentally function like convection ovens, relying on air circulation to ensure equal cooking.
However, the cast iron pan already circulates air by nature, so utilizing them together creates a redundant action. The size of the equipment is another problem; whereas most cast iron pans are very big and heavy. Air fryers work well on their own since they are compact, making it simpler to maintain the proper temperature.
How To Cook Using A Cast Iron Pan In An Air Fryer?
Various steps help you while cooking with the help of cast iron.
First of all, Pick up a fresh cast iron plate. Cast iron cookware can be purchased from different websites. One could say that recently acquired cast iron from the store is clean and almost ready to use.
It still has a chance to survive, despite the way it looks.
Then, select parts that appear to be in sound condition, devoid of severe rust spots and cracks. Cast iron is frequently used to season food naturally.
Before starting to bake, heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Because cast iron has so many cracks and crevices, soap shouldn’t be used to clean it.
Its components are useful for air fryer cooking and camping. The most common cooking utensil is a Dutch oven or pan.
Anything that can burn in the oven, such as cast iron or wooden handles, should not be used. Modern campers and backyard cooks can cook without having to start a fire in their cooking apparatus by substituting a charcoal block for hot coal.
Are All Skillets Made of Cast Iron the Same?
First of all, let me brief you about cast iron.
A cast-iron skillet is a simple, rounded, and heavy object. It comes with a plain iron handle without any bells or whistles, one or two pouring spouts, and may or may not have an assist handle on the other side. The best cookware is made of cast iron.
They have an excellent assortment of pans of various sizes, including small skillets, huge dutch ovens, and everything in between, all with lids. They are used for a variety of household purposes such as frying, heating, boiling, etc.
All cast iron skillets maintain heat efficiently and uniformly, but not all makes and models are created equal. While some have traditional designs, others have unique shapes and handles. Some are already seasoned while others are not.
Thus, through all this information we came to know that cast iron skillets differ from one another in terms of their characteristics.
What Things Can Damage A Cast Iron Pan?
Following are some of the major risks associated with using a cast iron pan. Let’s have a look at them!
Rust: A pan can rust over time if it is improperly stored and left unused. It’s not a big deal, but you’ll need to re-season the pan and grind out the rust. Just don’t use soap.
By heating it, adding a little water, and lightly cleaning it with steel wool, you may clean your pan. Nothing further is required. Still, it won’t be a big concern if you simply re-season it.
If your pan occurs to fall from a great height and lands on an existing concealed fault in the iron, it may break. The pans are fragile but also very hard.
Due to the pans’ brittle nature, they are particularly prone to developing faults at regions of significant temperature variation. In essence, heated iron expands, and cold iron shrinks. Extreme weather can cause those regions to separate from one another.
Never put a hot pan in water. Just let it cool off naturally if it ever becomes extremely hot.
Despite all this, cast irons are nonetheless incredibly adaptable and dependable instruments. I urge you to consume one. Ideally, one in good condition from a thrift shop. It would be a waste to use someone else’s fine seasoning.
Is A Cast-Iron Skillet Worth It?
There are so many myths to bust! Throw some flour in a cast iron skillet and place it on a burner; you’ll see that the flour will brown much more quickly towards the flame than it will on the sides. Cast iron is lousy for dispersing heat uniformly.
Choose tri-ply all-clad cookware if that is what you’re after. Additionally, cast iron is not entirely non-stick. It’s decent, but nothing compares to Teflon, which is so non-stick that we had to develop new technology simply to get it to adhere to the pan itself!
The fact that cast iron can withstand a lot of heat makes it one of the material’s best uses. When all the heat is released from a pan quickly, you may get it scorching hot and then put a steak on it for a gorgeous sear.
Consider it a capacitor for when you need to quickly apply a lot of heat. Cast iron can shine in the situation.
What Are Different Types Of Cast Iron Cookware?
I’ve compiled for you a list of great cast iron pans to be used in air fryers along with whom, the prices are mentioned;
| Cast Iron Cookware | Prices |
| Staub Round Cocotte La Mer 28cm 6.7L | $557.95 |
| Lodge 3.2 Quart Cast Iron Combo Cooker | $145.95 |
| Lodge Blacklock Triple Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet 26cm | $134.95 |
| Staub Round Cocotte 28cm/6.7L Basil Green | $548.95 |
Do All Cast Iron Pans Generally Perform Similarly?
Not really. A variety of cast iron pans have distinctive functions that make one better than the other.
I have a variety of cast iron pots and pans, and I have discovered a wide range of quality. I keep my commentary to plain black cast iron cooking utensils and avoid using enameled cast iron.
Once, I bought a set of cast iron cookware, thinking I was getting a deal. It was not a good experience though!
This set included a Dutch oven and cast iron pots that had numerous casting flaws. It “seemed” to be polished rather well, but it did not season well or hold up to use in the real world.
The second time I used the Dutch oven, it developed a leak. Other pans developed cracks after being repeatedly heated and cooled, the cracks extending from one interior void to another.
Surprisingly, the lids were excellent; I still have and use them.
The cast iron my grandma left me is different from what I can find today in stores. Though Lodge cast iron cookware is good if we consider its price. However, it is not as smooth or as beautifully finished as my grandmother’s cast iron.
I also have a cast-iron waffle maker that was created in the early 1900s for use with vintage wood-burning stoves. Including Lodge, it is more expertly crafted and finished than the majority of cast iron I have seen in stores.
All in all, we cannot state that all the cast irons have the same features, one may serve a purpose and lack the other ones. It depends on your experience.
Wrap Up
To conclude, I’d like to mention that;
- Cast iron pans have been a good option to be used in an air fryer. Making it secure for use in the Ninja Foodi or an air fryer.
- The material; cast iron is best adaptable and affordable for cooking purposes. It offers a lot of benefits such as not heating up quickly.
- Cast-iron skillets can be used for a variety of culinary methods, including sautéing, pan-frying, searing, baking, braising, broiling, roasting, and more.
- Additionally, cast iron pans are used in Dutch ovens too, which are often used in several households.
- Not only pans but many cookware uses cast iron such as skillets and other kitchen utensils. Unlike other pots and pans, it can get quite hot.
- Your cast-iron pan will impart more flavor to whatever you are cooking, from cornbread to chicken, the more seasoned it is.