Can You Put Plastic In An Air Fryer?

 The unique frying ability of air-fryers has earned itself massive popularity among all people. Similar to a countertop oven, it bakes and roasts as well. But what it does the best is that it deep fries your food with no oil at all. Does this sound amazing? Yes, it is amazing. 

But still, adding a new product to your usual set of daily kitchen wares always requires a conscious inspection on your part. You must ensure how it works, what causes damage, how to handle it, and what not to do with it. There are a lot of concerns, and each concern demands careful deliberation. One such recurring question is whether we can use plastic in the air fryer or not.

Can you put plastic on an air fryer?

No, you cannot. Unlike your typical cooking stove, the heating element of an air fryer is located on the top of the appliance. The large and powerful fans at work there continuously blow hot air to give you flawlessly crackling food in no time. But if you put some plastic in there (accidentally or otherwise), the sight will be a chaotic mess.     

What happens when you put plastic in an air fryer?

You should never put plastic in an air fryer. The plastic will shrivel due to the heat; it will be a huge mess, and the appliance will then go down. The temperature inside the air-fryer can go up to 400 Fahrenheit, whereas even a temperature of 130 Fahrenheit can easily melt the plastic. This means that the fryer we have here will effortlessly finish off easily melting plastic like Tupperware. Moreover, the food, even if it is cooked, will be very toxic and unsafe for consumption. 

Are microwavable plastics safe in an air fryer?

Well, this is the next obvious question in line after the plastic one. But you might get disappointed here because even microwavable plastic isn’t strong enough to resist the heat of an air fryer. It will melt easily and may also start a fire of its own that could cause irreparable damage to the appliance itself. Moreover, plastic contains harmful chemicals that may contaminate your food and make it unfit for consumption. So you also need to pay special attention and reduce the use of plastic in your kitchen as much as you can.

What else does not go into an air fryer?

The air fryer does work somewhat like an oven, but it is not entirely an oven. So there are things that you can safely put inside an oven, but you can’t inside an air fryer. Following is a list of things that should never be put inside an air fryer:

• Water: the water, when put inside the fryer, will boil and may damage the fryer itself. 
• Plastic containers: plastic will melt and make everything messy and difficult
• Sauces: the air frying process will disturb the sauces and can get them spilled everywhere. 
• Paper towels: the paper will easily burn and cause a fire. 

 All these things will wrack havoc if ever gone inside the fryer. So do take your safety dose of precautions while dealing with these things and the fryer. 

 What containers can you put in an air fryer?

Most air fryers come with their own set of baskets or racks to make the cooking easier for you. But sometimes, they fall short of your requirement, and you may need some other containers or accessories to aid you there. Fortunately, some appliances are air-fryer-safe. This includes:

• Bowls, pots, and pans made of stainless steel
• Ceramic cookware
• Aluminum containers
• Glass containers
• Silicon containers

Is cooking with an air fryer healthy?

One of the major reasons why air fryers have received so much popularity is because of their ability to fry food with minimal (sometimes zero) oil. Now that you are cutting down on oil intake, it follows that there should be some positive impact on your health. And yes, it does have such effects because it substantially cuts down on your fat intake. 

According to research, higher consumption of fats in oil can lead to a higher risk of heart disease and inflammation. It may also help you easily manage your weight by swapping deep-fried food with air-fried ones. It has also been scientifically proven that air-frying also removes harmful chemical substances like acrylamide and advanced glycation end products when compared to the case of oil frying. So the shift from a traditional deep frying cooking method to an easier air frying one will make your life much easier and healthier.