What Containers Can I Use In An Air Fryer? | Safe Dish

When you first ask yourself what containers can i use in an air fryer?, it can feel confusing. The basket looks like a small oven, but the fan, non-stick coating, and tight space raise new questions. The good news is that you don’t need a long list of special accessories to cook well.

Most of the time, if a dish is clearly labeled oven-safe and fits inside the basket with room for air to move, it will work. The real trick is matching the container material and size to your recipe so food browns instead of steaming and your cookware stays in good shape.

Quick Guide To Air Fryer Safe Containers

Before diving deeper into details, this table gives a fast snapshot of which containers usually work in an air fryer and what to watch out for.

Container Type	Air Fryer Safe?	Best Use And Notes
Stainless Steel Or Cast Iron Pans	Yes, when oven-safe	Great for searing-style heat and roasts; watch total weight and sharp edges on the basket.
Aluminum Baking Tins	Yes	Good for brownies, cakes, and sheet-style meals; avoid scraping non-stick coatings with metal tools.
Oven-Safe Tempered Glass	Yes, with care	Works for gratins and casseroles; avoid big temperature shocks and keep away from direct heating elements.
Ceramic And Stoneware Dishes	Yes, when labeled oven-safe	Nice for pies, bakes, and reheating; check thickness so heat can still circulate around the food.
Food-Grade Silicone Molds	Yes	Ideal for muffins, egg bites, and single portions; keep them on a metal rack or tray for easier handling.
Disposable Foil Pans	Yes, with airflow	Useful for messy or saucy dishes; do not block side vents and handle gently so they do not buckle.
Plain Baking Parchment Liners	Yes, when weighed down	Helps with cleanup under fries or wings; always keep food on top so the paper does not fly up into the fan.
Plastic Containers Or Wrap	No	Softens or melts under high heat and can give off fumes; keep plastic for storage only.
Thin Glass, Crystal, Or China	Usually no	Decorative pieces can crack from heat or sudden temperature change; stick to clearly oven-safe glass.
Paper Plates And Cardboard Boxes	No	Can scorch or catch fire; move food to an oven-safe dish instead.

What Containers Can I Use In An Air Fryer? Safe Rules To Follow

Think about your air fryer as a small, fast convection oven. Once you see it that way, the main rules for containers make sense. Dish materials that hold up in a regular oven at similar temperatures usually handle air fryer heat too, as long as they fit the space and leave air paths open.

Check The Oven-Safe Mark First

Turn the dish over and check the base or packaging. Many pans, bowls, and ramekins state a temperature rating such as “Oven safe to 230°C / 446°F.” That mark matters more than the brand name. If the container does not show clear heat resistance, keep it out of the air fryer.

Air fryers reach temperatures similar to a standard oven, and the fan pushes hot air directly across the container. A dish that only handles low heat, like some plastics or light-duty utensils, can warp or fail in that blast of heat.

Match Container Size To Basket Size

You want air to flow around the food. A container that covers the entire base of the basket like a lid stops hot air from moving and leads to pale, soggy cooking. Pick a dish that leaves some space at the sides and, when possible, a little gap underneath for air to move.

Shorter containers also work better than deep ones for many recipes. Shallow pans let more of the food surface sit in the hot air stream, which boosts browning and crisp edges.

Think About Handles, Edges, And Weight

Heavy skillets or thick casserole dishes do fine in large air fryers, but they take longer to heat up and can stress a fragile basket if you drop them in. Avoid containers with long handles that press against the lid, since they can scratch coatings or stop the door from sealing fully.

Any sharp metal corners or warped rims can scratch non-stick surfaces too. If a pan already has rough edges, keep it for the oven and choose a smoother option for the air fryer basket.

Best Container Materials For Air Fryers

Once you have the basic rules in place, it helps to look at common materials one by one. That way you can glance at your kitchen shelf and know what fits the “air fryer safe containers” category right away.

Metal Pans, Trays, And Racks

Stainless steel, cast iron, carbon steel, and many aluminum pans handle air fryer heat well. Metal reacts fast to temperature changes, which gives crisp edges on foods like roasted potatoes, chicken thighs, or baked pasta.

Choose pans without plastic handles unless the handle is clearly marked as oven-safe. Non-stick metal bakeware is fine too, as long as you stay within the temperature rating printed on the packaging and avoid metal utensils that scratch coatings.

Oven-Safe Glass Dishes

Tempered glass bakeware works in an air fryer when used inside its normal limits. Official Pyrex oven safety guidance explains that their glass bakeware is made for preheated conventional or convection ovens, not direct heat from a stovetop or broiler, and that same logic applies inside a basket-style air fryer.

To stay on the safe side with glass, start with these habits:

• Only use containers labeled for oven use, with no chips or cracks.
• Avoid moving glass straight from the freezer into a hot air fryer, or from the fryer onto a cold wet counter.
• Keep the dish away from the very top heating element so it does not sit in one tight hot spot.

Ceramic And Stoneware

Oven-safe ceramic dishes and stoneware crocks are popular in air fryers for baked pasta, cobblers, and gratins. They hold heat and keep food warm on the table, while giving a gentle, even cook inside the basket.

Check that the glaze is free from metallic trim and that the base lists an oven-safe rating. Thicker stoneware can slow cooking, so you may need to add a few minutes to the time in your recipe, especially for dense dishes like lasagna or baked oatmeal.

Food-Grade Silicone Molds And Cups

High heat silicone molds sit neatly inside an air fryer basket and make it easy to portion food. Silicone muffin cups are handy for egg bites, mini meatloaves, or small cakes. Flexible silicone also releases food cleanly, which saves scrubbing.

Place silicone pieces on a metal rack or pan so they do not sag when you lift them out. Make sure the silicone is labeled for oven use at temperatures that match your usual air fryer settings.

Guidance From Air Fryer Brands

Some brands give clear material rules in their manuals. For instance, Philips states that any ovenproof dish or mold made of glass, ceramic, metal, or silicone can be used in the basket, along with silicone or paper cupcake molds. That kind of guidance tells you the manufacturer designed the appliance with these materials in mind.

You can check similar pages for your specific brand to see if they recommend certain accessory kits or shapes. Many sell metal racks, pizza plates, and baking trays shaped to match the basket, which can sit under your own dishes or liners.

Containers You Should Keep Out Of The Air Fryer

Knowing what not to use matters just as much as knowing which containers are safe. Some materials either cannot take the heat or create a fire risk inside a small, powerful appliance.

Plastic, Melamine, And Resin

Food storage containers made from plastic or melamine, along with plastic wrap, are not designed for air fryer temperatures. They can soften, warp, or melt, and melted bits can be hard to remove from basket coatings and heating elements.

Even if a plastic tub says “microwave safe,” that does not mean it can sit in 200°C air. Keep these items for cold storage or low-heat microwave reheating, and move food to an oven-safe dish for air frying.

Thin Glass, Crystal, And Decorative China

Glassware that is made for serving rather than baking can crack when exposed to quick, uneven heat. Crystal, vintage dishes, and fine china were never meant to sit in a blast of hot air.

If you are unsure about a glass dish, ask yourself where you normally use it. If it only ever appears on the table or in the fridge, leave it out of the air fryer and pick a clear oven-safe alternative instead.

Paper Plates, Napkins, And Cardboard Boxes

Grease, heat, and airflow are a poor mix for paper products. A cardboard box from takeout or a stack of napkins can scorch and smoke in a closed space with a fan and heating element.

When reheating leftovers from a delivery box, move them into a metal pan, glass dish, or ceramic plate that you already use in your oven. You will get better browning and less mess as well.

Non-Oven-Safe Coatings

Some cheap bakeware looks sturdy but hides a weak point: low-rated coatings or glued parts that soften above a certain temperature. Watch for labels that only mention low heat or do not show a clear oven rating.

In doubtful cases, keep that dish for cold prep or serving and switch to a pan with clear oven-safe marks for air fryer cooking.

Liners, Baskets, And Special Accessories

Alongside solid containers, you will see liners and racks sold as “air fryer accessories.” These can work nicely when used with care, but they still need to respect airflow and temperature limits.

Parchment Liners

Round or square parchment liners sit at the bottom of the basket and collect crumbs, spices, and fat. They keep clean-up easy and prevent delicate coatings on foods like fish from sticking.

Always place food on top before you turn the air fryer on, so the fan does not lift the paper into the heating element. Leave some open space around the liner edges so hot air can still reach the food.

Silicone Baskets And Mats

Silicone baskets act like a reusable liner. They hold juices and protect the base of the basket, which works well for sticky sauces or cheesy bakes. Mats with small holes help keep airflow while still catching drips.

Match the size of the liner or basket to the appliance. A silicone bowl that hugs every wall of the tray can slow down cooking and reduce crisping, while a slightly smaller one keeps food tidy without blocking air channels.

Wire Racks And Skewer Stands

Stacking racks help you cook more food at once by creating layers. Skewer stands let you hang kebabs vertically instead of laying them flat, which gives more even browning.

Use only racks made to handle oven temperatures. Place taller racks carefully so they do not touch the top element, and keep enough space between layers so hot air can move around each piece of food.

Second Look At What Containers Can I Use In An Air Fryer?

By now, the answer to “what containers can i use in an air fryer?” should feel far clearer. Most of the containers you already own can move from oven to basket without fuss once you check the material, shape, and temperature rating.

To pull everything together, this table matches common air fryer recipes with practical container choices, so you can plan meals faster.

Food Type	Suggested Container	Notes
Frozen Fries, Nuggets, Wings	Directly in basket with optional parchment	Use a liner only under the food; shake the basket halfway through cooking.
Casseroles And Pasta Bakes	Ceramic or glass baking dish	Choose a dish that covers most, but not all, of the basket base and preheat for even bubbling.
Cakes, Brownies, And Quick Breads	Metal loaf tin or round cake pan	Line with parchment and lower the heat slightly so the top does not brown before the center sets.
Egg Bites And Mini Meatloaves	Silicone muffin cups on a metal tray	Fill cups no more than two-thirds and place them so hot air can move between them.
Baked Apples, Stuffed Peppers	Small ceramic ramekins	Catch juices and keep fillings upright; place ramekins in a single layer.
Whole Chicken Or Big Roast	Low metal roasting tray or rack	Use a shallow pan so air can reach the sides and underside of the meat.
Leftover Pizza And Pastries	Directly on rack or perforated tray	Skip deep dishes so bases crisp rather than steam in their own moisture.
Sticky Or Saucy Dishes	Disposable foil pan or ceramic dish	Protects the basket from sugar and cheese spills; leave space at the sides for circulation.

Final Tips For Safe Air Fryer Containers

Picking containers for your air fryer comes down to a handful of steady habits. Choose dishes that are clearly oven-safe, give them a little breathing room inside the basket, and avoid anything made from plastic, thin glass, or paper.

When you try a new container for the first time, start with a lower temperature and shorter cooking time. Watch both the food and the dish during that first run. If everything looks steady, you can nudge time and heat upward in later batches.

With those habits in place, your regular pans, glassware, and silicone molds will handle air fryer duty without drama, and you’ll get the crispy results you want with a lot less guesswork about which dish to grab.