Can you put Aluminum Foil in an Air Fryer?

Aluminum Foil is a kitchen staple, we use it for everything from covering left overs to lining bakeware to actually cooking in it in the case of disposable aluminum pans. Many wonder how safe is it to use aluminum foil in an air fryer? Will it hold up to the temperatures? Will it be blown away from the power of the fan inside the air fryer and jam it up? Today we look at if using aluminum foil in an air fryer is possible and if there are any risks to doing so. without further ado...

Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer?

The simple answer is yes, you can put aluminum foil in an air fryer. Aluminum Foil is pretty tough stuff and unlike glass it can hold up to high temperatures in an air fryer. The one concern is placement, make sure it is secure in the basket and use the heavy duty stuff to avoid it from floating around in the air fryer. We have a few ideas on the best way to use aluminum foil in an air fryer below that we will be sharing with you towards the bottom of the article.

Is Aluminum Foil dangerous for food?

Aluminum foil that you buy at your local grocery store is completely safe for cooking use, there are a few industrial type aluminum foils that are not recommended for cooking use. Cooking with aluminum foil will introduce some aluminum into your foods but it is so minor that it has no negative effect on your health according to a Health line Article here. We all know that Aluminum foil comes with two sides the dull side and the shiny side so Im sure you are wondering which is better, we answer that here in the next question.

Disclosure we are not health professionals, seek advice from your physician regarding this information, this is article purely for informational reasons and is not considered medical advice.

Which Aluminum foil side is safe for cooking?

Through the manufacturing process of aluminum foil you end up with two sides to the aluminum foil, a dull side and a shiny side. The shiny side just happens to interact with polished rollers compared to the dull side. Is one safer than the other? Not really, both sides are food safe, we personally feel that the shiny side is smoother and will not stick to food as much so we prefer the shiny side for cooking.

Is Parchment paper safer than aluminum foil?

Its more of a matter of preference when it comes to parchment paper vs aluminum foil. They both serve the purpose of not allowing your food to stick to the bottom of your air fryer, they have their advantages and disadvantages. The one benefit of parchment paper over aluminum foil is if the idea of minor aluminum particles in your food bothers you the best alternative would be the parchment paper. It is just as readily available in most stores and can sometimes be a bit cheaper (especially with the current high price of commodities).

The best ways to use aluminum foil in an air fryer?

Cover the Air Fryer Basket with Aluminum Foil

We like taking a long aluminum foil sheet and covering the base of the air fryer, not only does it keep your food from sticking to the bottom of the air fryer basket but if your basket has a non-stick coating the aluminum foil will help persevere it and allow it to last longer. The added benefit is after you finish cooking all you have to do is dispose of the aluminum foil and just wipe down the basket. Mess free cooking? Heck yea, sign us up for that.

Pro Tip: Use heavy duty aluminum foil and make sure the basket is fully covered to prevent the foil from floating around in your air fryer basket from the air fryer fan.

Wrap your food in the Aluminum foil and place it in the basket?

In some instances it might be best to just wrap whatever you are cooking in aluminum foil and placing it in the air fryer basket, the weight of the food will keep the foil in place and the foil covering will contain any grease or oil from dripping in the air fryer basket. We found this method the best for making something like a seafood boil air fryer recipe, or making super loaded baked potatoes.

Disposable Aluminum foil pans

This is probably the best way to make mini cakes, cup cakes or soufflé's in an air fryer. You can even make a one person serving lasagna in the disposable aluminum foil pans. They are relatively low cost, easy to use, perfectly portioned and no mess, just eat out of the pan and chuck it in the bin afterwards.

Best Aluminum Tin Foil Alternatives?

Baking Sheets and Parchment paper are the best aluminum foil alternatives, they are easy to find at most stores and hold up to high temperatures. They have many of the same advantages of aluminum tin foil without the worry about trace aluminum particles in your food.