The short answer is, yes, you can put a ceramic bowl in the air fryer. It is also okay to use other ceramic items lile plates in an air fryer. But, this is only true if they are oven-safe. That said, things are still not that straightforward. There are many factors to consider before putting a ceramic bowl in the air fryer. In this article, we explain this in more detail and also give you some pointers on materials you should never put in an air fryer. We have also compiled 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. Make sure you read till the end so you do not miss these handy tips. Let’s start by quickly looking 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 Detailed 4 Reasons
You might want to use a ceramic or any other in your air fryer for several reasons. They vary based on your specific situation. But there are common ones like these 4:
1. Ensure faster heating
Ceramic bowls have a higher and more stable thermal capacity. This means they hold more heat and can transfer it to your food faster and much better than other materials like plastic. Using ceramic bowls can ensure heat gets to your food much faster.
The food will then cook within a shorter time. While it might not shave many minutes from our total cook time, it still reduces the cooking time significantly. And so it can save you on energy bills.
2. Cook more evenly
Using a ceramic bowl can help ensure food cooks more evenly. Adding your food to the ceramic bowl instead of the basket creates a material difference. The material difference between the bowl and air fryer walls promotes hot air circulation. It makes it easy for the hot air to reach all the food, including what is at the center of the bowl. This way, the food cooks more evenly.
3. Contain the mess
A ceramic bowl is useful if you cook something likely to create a mess. For instance, if you want to melt cheese or cook something that drips a lot. The bowl contains everything inside. And so you will have an easier time cleaning up later. Also, the bowl can prevent other issues like 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 crisper trays tend to be perforated. And so they cannot cook anything in liquid. Using a bowl can help you work around this. You can cook pasta or warm up your leftover stews in the air 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. You will not need to use oil to prevent sticking. And so ceramic bowls can help make your foods even healthier.
2. Easy cleaning – Ceramic bowls clean easily. You only need to wash them with a soft sponge and warm water.
3. No harmful substances – Ceramic bowls will not contain any harmful substances or toxins. You do not have to worry about anything harmful leaching into your food when cooking.
4. Ceramic withstands high temperature – A good quality ceramic bowl can withstand over 2000℉. This is way more than the highest cooking temperature of any air fryer.
Cons
1. Chips easily – Ceramic bowls are quite delicate, so they can easily chip. Knocking them on their fryer is enough to chip low-quality ones. Also, the coating on some starts to peel after a few uses.
2. Requires extra care – Given how delicate a ceramic bowl can be, you need to give it extra care. You will not like the hassle of using your cookware with extra caution.
Can Ceramic Bowl Damage/ruin Your Air Fryer?
It is hard to think of any way a ceramic bowl can damage your air fryer. For starters, the bowl will not have rough edges that can scratch the air fryer surfaces. 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 air fryer or exploding. The simple answer is that a ceramic bowl will not ruin your air fryer.
What to Consider When Choosing Air Fryer-safe Bowls
It is important to ensure you get the best bowls for a good cooking experience. Here are some important factors to keep in mind when deciding what to buy:
1. Materials
Ceramic is one of the best bowl materials for use in an air fryer. And this is more so if you will be baking and air frying a lot, but it is 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
The bowl size is one of the most crucial things to consider when deciding what to buy. No matter how good the bowl is, it will not be useful if it cannot fit your air 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 will not matter much since it does not affect how the bowl works. But, some aspects of the design can make the bowl more convenient.
For instance, a bowl with ridges at the bottom cooks much better as it improves the airflow.
4. Temperature tolerance
Ceramic has a high-temperature tolerance. But, the temperature tolerance still varies from one bowl to the other. It is important to ensure 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 bowl for air frying, 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 well to the high hat in an air fryer. The heat is likely to damage them. And if you keep the bowl in there for a long time, it can catch fire. Also, wood does not conduct heat well, so the food will not cook well.
2. Plastic
Plastic bowls are likely to melt in the air fryer. Even if the bowl is microwave-safe, it will still not handle the 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 an air fryer as it will catch fire. Also, it does not cook well as the paper can absorb the fluids from the food and make a mess.
Tips for Using Ceramic Bowls in An Air Fryer Safely
● Always ensure the ceramic bowl is marked oven-safe before putting it in an air fryer.
● Use caution when handling ceramic bowls, as they can get quite hot.
● Remember to clean the air fryer after every use. Ceramic bowls can release tiny shards of glass when cooking, which can damage the air fryer in the long run.
● Make sure you do not leave the ceramic bow in the air fryer too long. Also, keep the cooking temperature within the safe range.
● It is always better to allow the ceramic bowl to 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 you can use when cooking in both an oven and an air fryer. Glass can tolerate high heat and ensure the food cooks fast and more evenly.
But, it is still important to make sure you do it safely. For example, you should not heat glass too quickly or do it unevenly. Doing this can cause it to shatter.
Can You Put Metal in An Air Fryer?
Metals like aluminum are safe to use in an air fryer. Besides being excellent heat conductors, they can withstand high temperatures.
That said, before using any metal bowls or other cookware in an air fryer, ensure it is oven safe. Also, ensure it is not made of a metal that can leach harmful substances into your food.
Can You Put Foil in An Air Fryer?
It is safe to put aluminum foil in an air fryer. Foil can be very useful in ensuring even heating and containing the mess. Also, aluminum foil can speed up cooking by containing heat.
But, while it is safe to use foil, you must take some safety precautions. For starters, make sure you weigh down the foil. Also, never use it when cooking acidic foods like tomato soup. Acidic foods will react with aluminum.
Conclusion
There you have it; everything you need to know about using ceramic bowls in an air fryer. It is clear that it is safe and can improve your overall cooking. But, it is important to make sure you have the right type. And never leave it in the air fryer longer than recommended.
So do you already use ceramic bowls in your air fryer? Please share your experiences in the comments below.
