Pros and Cons of Using Aluminum Foil in the Air Fryer

Aluminum foil can be used in an air fryer, but you can only put it in the basket. Acidic foods react with aluminum, so avoid aluminum foil when frying tomatoes, peppers, or citrus.

For many home chefs, the air fryer has joined other household appliances like the Instant Pot as staple appliances in your kitchen.

If you don’t have much time to cook, you’ve run out of space in the oven or want to put a healthy spin on a fried recipe, the air fryer It will become your favorite device.

As with other kitchen tools, it turns out key knowsr what you can and cannot do with the air fryer.

Before you get down to business with your favorite dishes, learn what can be safely placed in a deep fryer, including a household item as common as aluminum foil.

How does an air fryer work?

According to chef Meredith Laurence of Blue Jean Chef, an air fryer is simply a compact convection oven that sits on the counter and browns food quickly.

But nevertheless, there is a key difference between this appliance and a traditional oven.

“There’s a fan that blows hot air right next to a heating element, whereas in a normal oven, a fan blows hot air everywhere, but it’s not in direct relation to the element”, dice Laurence.

“In an air fryer, convection cooking is much more intense and direct“, he concludes.

Put the aluminum foil in the basket of your air fryer

“If you can put something in an oven, you can put it in a deep fryer.says Laurence, and that includes aluminum foil. If you regularly use this extra layer to prevent oven staining, you can apply it to the deep fryer as well, albeit with certain precautions.

The rule of thumb for putting foil in an air fryer is to put it in the basket only.. If it is placed at the bottom of the drawer, it could fly away and eventually detach.

In the worst case, the foil sheet could fly onto the heating element, overheat and potentially cause a fire. Never preheat the fryer with a basket lined with aluminum foil.

“Make sure the foil is loaded with foodsays Laurence, or it could fly into the heating element and cause a grease fire.

Avoid placing acidic foods on aluminum

When you use aluminum foil with any heating device, there are certain foods that you should avoid. Aluminum is a reactive surface and can negatively react with highly acidic ingredients.

“They react with the aluminum foil and begin to break it down, so you will actually have aluminum in your food.says the chef.Aside from the fact that that’s not appetizing, it’s also not very good for you.“.

Foods That Shouldn’t Go in Aluminum Foil in Your Air Fryer

• Tomatoes
• Fruit, especially citrus
• Peppers
• Marinades containing vinegar or lemon juice

Tips for Using Aluminum Foil in Your Air Fryer

• Do not cover the holes: “You’re really hindering the best effects of an air fryer when you cover those holes in the bottom of the basket.”, dice Laurence. “They are there for a reason: to allow air to circulate perfectly around the entire surface of the food, including the bottom.“. When you cover the perforations, roughly you are browning the food instead of cooking it.
• Create a foil sling. Laurence suggests folding a long piece in half twice to produce a narrow strip. “Use it as handles to put something in the fryer, and put them in, so when the food is ready, you can grab those handles and take the food out again“.
• Shred the aluminum foilo: Aluminum foil can also be used to bring food closer to the heating element. “If you’re cooking a steak and want to get a really golden crust, you can shred the foil so it’s very uneven and then put it in the basket“, she says. “You put the steak on top of that and just raise it a little bit closer to the item, so you can get a nicer sear“.

Consider trying parchment paper.

Laurence recommends use parchment paper also known as parchment paper, rather than aluminum foil when possible, as it is not a reactive surface and food is less likely to stick to the paper.

What’s more, it’s better for the environment. There are even circle-punched parchment paper on the market designed specifically for air fryers.

“Always opt for parchment paper instead of aluminum foil, except when you want to elevate your food or if you are using that aluminum foil as a sling“, dice Laurence. “Otherwise, use the foil when the food comes out to keep it warm, but that’s about it.“.

Definitely, putting aluminum foil in an air fryer is completely acceptable provided that it complies with certain security protocols.

Ultimately, however, aluminum foil is not the most ideal cooking sheet to use in the fryer. The best option is to opt for a bare basket or one covered with perforated parchment paper.

This article was published in Business Insider Spain by Andrea Núñez-Torrón Stock.