The short answer is yes, you can put a ceramic bowl in the fryer. It is also okay to use other ceramic items such as plates in an air fryer. But, this is only true if they are oven-safe. That said, things are still not that simple. There are many factors to consider before putting a ceramic bowl in the fryer. In this article, we explain it in more detail and also give you some pointers on materials you should never put in a deep fryer. We have also collected some tips for using ceramic bowls in an air fryer safely and besides the bowl, the ceramic air fryer is a good choice for a better cooking experience. Be sure to read to the end so you don’t miss out on these helpful tips. Let’s start with a quick look at why you might need to put a ceramic bowl in an air fryer in the first place.
Why You Need to Put a Ceramic Bowl in an Air Fryer: The 4 Reasons in Detail
You may want to use a ceramic or any other pan in your fryer for a number of reasons. They vary depending on your specific situation. But there are common ones like these 4:
1. Ensure a faster warm-up
Ceramic bowls have a higher and more stable thermal capacity. This means they hold more heat and can transfer it to food faster and much better than other materials such as plastic. Using ceramic bowls can ensure that the heat reaches the food much faster.
Then the food will be cooked in less time. While it may not shave many minutes off our total cooking time, it still cuts the cooking time significantly. And so you can save on energy bills.
2. Cook more evenly
Using a ceramic bowl can help ensure food cooks more evenly. Adding the food to the ceramic bowl instead of the basket creates a material difference. The difference in material between the bowl and the walls of the fryer favors the circulation of hot air. It makes it easy for hot air to reach all the food, including the food in the center of the bowl. This way, the food cooks more evenly.
3. It contains the mess
A ceramic bowl comes in handy if you’re cooking something that might create a mess. For example, if you want to melt cheese or cook something that drips a lot. The bowl contains everything inside. And so it will be easier to clean later. Also, the bowl can prevent other problems such as staining the bottom of the air fryer by containing the mess.
4. Get more cooking possibilities
A ceramic bowl can help you overcome certain limitations of an air fryer. For example, baskets and most frying pans are usually perforated. And so they can’t cook anything in liquid. Using a bowl can help you solve this. You can cook pasta or reheat leftover stews in the deep fryer. And you can do all this without making a mess.
Pros and cons of using a ceramic bowl in an air fryer
Pros
1. Natural Non-Stick: You never have to worry about food sticking as ceramic bowls are non-stick. No need to use oil to prevent sticking. So ceramic bowls can help make your food even healthier.
2. Easy Cleaning: Ceramic bowls are easy to clean. Just wash them with a soft sponge and warm water.
3. No Harmful Substances: Ceramic bowls will not contain harmful substances or toxins. You don’t have to worry about anything harmful leaching into your food during cooking.
4. Ceramic withstands high temperatures: A good quality ceramic bowl can withstand over 2000℉. This is much more than the highest cooking temperature of any air fryer.
Cons
1. Chips easily: Ceramic bowls are quite delicate, so they can chip easily. Just hitting them in the fryer is enough to cut out the low quality ones. Also, the coating on some starts to peel after a few uses.
2. It requires extra care: Considering how delicate a ceramic bowl can be, it needs to be given extra care. You won’t like the hassle of using your cookware with extra caution.
Can the ceramic bowl damage/ruin your air fryer?
It’s hard to think of any way a ceramic bowl could damage your air fryer. For starters, the bowl will have no rough edges that can scratch the surfaces of the air fryer. Again, the bowl can tolerate a much higher temperature than the air fryer can produce. And so there is no risk of it melting in the fryer or exploding. The simple answer is that a ceramic bowl will not ruin your fryer.
What to consider when choosing air fryer safe bowls
It is important to make sure you get the best bowls for a good cooking experience. Here are some important factors to consider when deciding what to buy:
1. Materials
Ceramic is one of the best bowl materials to use in an air fryer. And that’s more if you’re cooking and frying a lot, but it’s not the only option. You can use others such as glass, silicone and aluminum. Each material has its pros and cons. For example, glass bowls conduct heat well, but are quite delicate.
2. Size
Bowl size is one of the most important things to consider when deciding what to buy. No matter how big the bowl is, it won’t be useful if it doesn’t fit in your fryer. It is important to check the dimensions of your air fryer. You should then match this to the size of the bowl you buy.
3. Overall design
The design won’t matter much as it doesn’t affect how the bowl works. But, some aspects of the design can make the bowl more comfortable.
For example, a bowl with ridges on the bottom cooks much better as it improves airflow.
4. Temperature tolerance
Ceramics have a high temperature tolerance. But, temperature tolerance still varies from bowl to bowl. It is important to make sure that the bowl you choose can tolerate the maximum cooking temperature of your air fryer. Anything that can withstand at least 500℉.
What materials should you never put in an air fryer?
As you shop for a good air fryer, there are certain materials to avoid. These materials are not safe for use in an air fryer. The 3 common materials to avoid are wood, plastic and paper.
1. Wood
Wooden bowls cannot hold the air fryer hat well. The heat is likely to damage them. And if you keep the bowl in there for too long, it can catch fire. Also, wood doesn’t conduct heat well, so food won’t cook well.
2. Plastic
Plastic bowls are likely to melt in the fryer. Even if the bowl is microwave safe, it still won’t withstand intense heat in an air fryer. Also, cooking in an air fryer subjects the bowl to high heat for longer than in a microwave.
3. Paper
You should never put a paper bowl in a deep fryer as it will catch fire. Also, it doesn’t cook well as the paper can absorb liquids from the food and make a mess.
Tips for using ceramic bowls in an air fryer safely
● Always make sure the ceramic bowl is marked as oven safe before placing it in a fryer.
● Be careful when handling ceramic bowls as they can get quite hot.
● Remember to clean the fryer after each use. Ceramic bowls can release small shards of glass when cooking, which can damage the fryer in the long run.
● Make sure not to leave the ceramic arc in the fryer for too long. Also, keep the cooking temperature within the safe range.
● It is always best to let the ceramic bowl cool a little before serving.
Can you put glass in an air fryer?
Yes, it is safe to use glass in an air fryer. Glass is one of the best cookware that you can use in both the oven and the fryer. Glass can tolerate high heat and ensure food cooks quickly and more evenly.
But, it’s still important to make sure you do it safely. For example, you should not heat the glass too quickly or do it unevenly. Doing so may cause it to break.
Can you put metal in an air fryer?
Metals like aluminum are safe to use in an air fryer. In addition to being excellent conductors of heat, they can withstand high temperatures.
That said, before using metal bowls or other cookware in an air fryer, make sure they are oven safe. Also, make sure it’s not made of a metal that can leach harmful substances into the food.
Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer?
It is safe to put aluminum foil in an air fryer. Aluminum foil can be very useful to ensure even heating and contain the mess. Also, aluminum foil can speed up cooking by containing heat.
But even though it is safe to use aluminum foil, you need to take some safety precautions. To start, make sure to weigh the aluminum foil. Also, never use it when cooking acidic foods like tomato soup. Acidic foods will react with aluminum.
conclusion
Here you have; everything you need to know about using ceramic bowls in a deep fryer. It’s clear that it’s safe and can improve your cooking overall. But, it’s important to make sure you have the right type. And never leave it in the fryer longer than recommended.
So, are you already using ceramic bowls in your fryer? Please share your experiences in the comments below.