Are you desperate to enjoy your meal without worrying about cleaning your air fryer afterward? I get it — those black specks can get pretty annoying. After all, the whole idea behind these small ovens is their ease of use, right?
So how about a good old kitchen hack such as tin foil? You might not be too sure about putting aluminum in your air-heating kitchen appliance. So can you put tin foil in an air fryer and still be safe from burning your house down? Sure, you can; just follow the tips and you’ll be both safe and full.
How Does an Air Fryer Work?
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These little convection ovens seem to have won our hearts in quite a short time. The truth is, their popularity seems to have been on the rise ever since 2010. Philips Electronics Company introduced them as a quick way of preparing nutritious food low in fat and oil. Instead, the only thing that air fryers use is circulating hot air.
But how do these things work?
Air fryers are made up of two sections. The bottom section resembles a drawer with a built-in basket. You just open it and put your food inside. Unlike the bottom, you cannot manipulate the rest of the air fryer. That’s because the top section contains a heating mechanism and a fan.
To get it to work, you just need to set the time and temperature. Thanks to its fast air circulation, it doesn’t need any oil or fat to cook your food and keep it crispy. Depending on what you’re making, your meal can be ready in less than half an hour.
Can You Put Tin Foil in an Air Fryer?
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Okay, you don’t need any oil, but what about tin foil? Just like everyone, you’re probably also used to covering your baking surfaces with it. It makes your food warm up much faster and protects your surfaces from getting too dirty.
When it comes to using tin foil in air fryers, it undoubtedly is an option. The truth is, you could also do without it. As air fryers don’t use any oil or fat, they are incredibly easy to clean.
Still, you can use tin foil to cover the basket before putting your food in it. Air fryers are similar to microwaves because they use hot air to heat your food or cook it. And you can’t use tin foil in microwaves, right? Sure, but air fryers won’t be able to melt or burn it because their circulating air isn’t as hot as microwave air. So, how do you go about putting foil in your air fryer?
How to Use Tin Foil in an Air Fryer
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In case using tin foil in an air fryer would make your life easier, here’s how to do it:
• Use tin foil to cover the surface of your air fryer basket before you put your food in it.
• Leave some spaces uncovered to enable a better airflow.
• Use tin foil only inside the basket without letting it get to the other surfaces.
• Check your air fryer’s manual to make sure the producer’s not against tin foil for some reason.
Things to Avoid When Putting Tin Foil into an Air Fryer
Using tin foil in an air fryer is pretty safe, but you still need to make sure you’re doing it right. Here’s what you shouldn’t do when you decide to cover your air fryer surface with tin foil:
• Don’t cover the entire surface of the basket with tin foil. If you do, the air wouldn’t be able to circulate properly, causing the entire mechanism to lose its main function.
• Make sure that the foil doesn’t stick out of the basket. Otherwise, it could touch the heating elements and cause you trouble.
• Don’t forget to put your food over tin foil. If you do, the airflow could easily bring it up to the main mechanism, which could cause a fire.
• Avoid using acidic foods like tomatoes or soft fruit. When heated, their acid could easily melt tin foil and stain your air fryer.
So, does this mean using tin foil in an air fryer can also be dangerous?
The truth is, if you do it properly and follow the tips listed above, you shouldn’t be at risk of causing a fire or destroying your appliance. Still, the fact is that cooking with tin foil allows tiny particles of aluminum to get into our food. As a result, our aluminum intake increases. Just remember not to overdo it if there’s no need to, and you’ll be safe.
Wrapping Up
Thanks to your air fryer, you can now prepare your meal in no time. Plus, you get to stay healthy and keep your stomach flat. But does this mean you also have to give up your old habits, like tin foil? Or can you put tin foil in an air fryer? Luckily, yes, but you’ll need to make sure you’re following the rules.
You can cover the cooking basket with tin foil, but remember not to overuse it. This way, your air fryer won’t cause a fire. Now that you’re safe to enjoy your air-fried meal, bon appétit!
Featured image source: Pinterest.com
