What Not To Use In An Air Fryer? | Safe Cooking Rules

If you have an air fryer on the counter, you already know how handy it can be for fast, crispy meals with less oil. Yet the same intense heat and rapid airflow that make air frying so handy can turn the wrong item into smoke, damage, or even a fire risk. That is why understanding what not to use in an air fryer matters just as much as the recipes you pick.

This guide walks you through the common foods, materials, and accessories that cause trouble in the basket. You will see where brands and food safety agencies draw the line, and you will get safer swaps that still give you crunch and flavor. By the end, questions about what not to use in an air fryer should feel clear instead of confusing.

What Not To Use In An Air Fryer? Quick List

Before we dig into details, here is a quick at a glance view of items most home cooks should avoid. Some are flat “no” choices, while others need careful handling or a different method.

Item Or Material	Main Problem In The Air Fryer	Safer Alternative
Aerosol cooking sprays	Coating buildup and damage to nonstick surfaces	Brush, mist, or wipe basket with regular liquid oil
Most plastics and plastic wraps	Melting, fumes, and warped containers	Oven safe glass, metal racks, or silicone accessories
Glass that is not oven safe	Thermal shock and risk of shattering from high heat	Glass or ceramic clearly labeled oven safe
Paper towels and thin paper plates	Airflow blockage, scorching, or small fires	Perforated parchment liners weighed down with food
Loose foil covering the whole basket	Blocked vents, poor cooking, and overheating risk	Foil only under food, leaving wide gaps for airflow
Wet, drippy batters	Batter slides off, leaving a sticky mess and raw food	Pre cook battered foods in a little oil or use dry breading
Popcorn kernels	Kernels can burn or jump into the heating element	Use microwave popcorn or a stove top popper instead
Cheese without a base	Melts through basket holes and burns near the element	Build cheese on bread, tortillas, or a solid oven safe dish

Why Certain Things Do Not Belong In An Air Fryer

An air fryer works like a compact convection oven. Hot air moves in a tight space around your food, pushed by a fan just under or behind a powerful heating element. Temperatures commonly range from 350 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and some models go even higher, which means unsuitable items are stressed in a short time.:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Because the basket is vented, fat and crumbs fall through, then sit near the heater. If a liner, plastic container, or stray kernel reaches that area, it can smoke or burn. Air fryer manuals and safety handouts repeat the same themes over and over: protect the coating, keep vents open, and keep unsafe materials away from high heat.:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Food safety agencies also stress that safe cooking is not just about the appliance. Food still has to reach the right internal temperature, and surfaces still need cleaning so old grease does not char on the next batch, a message repeated in the FSIS air fryer guidance.:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2} When you read advice about what not to use in an air fryer, those two goals sit in the background: prevent damage and cook food safely.

Unsafe Oils, Sprays, And Fats

Oil can be a friend in the air fryer basket, as long as you pick the right type and apply it in the right way. The main trap involves pressurised aerosol cooking sprays such as PAM and similar products. Several air fryer manuals warn that these sprays can leave a sticky layer that bakes onto nonstick coatings, which makes baskets harder to clean and shortens their life.:contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Instead of aerosol spray, pour a small amount of oil into a bowl and brush it onto food or the basket, or use a refillable mister with pure oil. Neutral oils with a higher smoke point, such as avocado, canola, sunflower, or peanut oil, usually hold up better to air fryer temperatures than delicate oils.

Heavy layers of rendered fat can be a problem as well. Thick bacon strips, fatty sausages, or duck legs shed a lot of grease as they cook. That grease drips under the basket and can begin to burn, leading to smoke and harsh smells. To reduce that risk, trim extra fat, cook fatty foods in smaller batches, and drain the drawer halfway through if you notice a deep pool of grease forming.

Cookware, Liners, And Materials To Avoid

Not every pan or liner that works in an oven suits an air fryer. The tight chamber and direct airflow mean light items can lift and shift, and some materials respond poorly to sudden heat. Here are the main categories you should skip.

Aerosol Sprays Inside The Basket

As already mentioned, pressurised cooking sprays cling to the basket and tray where they are hardest to scrub away. That sticky layer discolors, smokes, and slowly erodes the coating. Many manufacturers write “do not use aerosol cooking sprays” in bold text in their instructions.:contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4} A light wipe of regular oil has the same nonstick effect without the long term damage.

Plastics, Wraps, And Melting Risks

Standard plastic food containers, plastic wrap, and most disposable trays are not designed for air fryer heat. They can warp, sag through the basket holes, and release fumes long before you reach a normal cooking temperature. Air fryer safety tips from home economists and food scientists consistently advise against placing plastic inside the hot chamber.:contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Use metal racks, a bare basket, or oven safe glass and ceramic pieces instead. Silicone that is clearly labeled oven safe can handle common air fryer settings too. When you are unsure about a dish or accessory, look for an oven safe symbol or temperature rating on the bottom or in the packaging.

Glass And Ceramic That Are Not Oven Safe

Even sturdy looking bowls can fail when they face rapid heating and cooling. If glass, ceramic, or stoneware is not labeled for oven use, the material can crack or shatter as it expands. Sudden temperature changes, such as pulling a cold dish from the fridge straight into a preheated air fryer, raise that risk.

To stay safe, reserve the air fryer for dishes with a clear oven safe label and keep fridge cold or frozen dishes on the counter for a short period before cooking. Thin glass, delicate mugs, and decorative plates belong on the table, not in the basket.

Parchment, Paper Towels, And Loose Foil

Paper towels and thin paper plates do not belong in an air fryer at all. They tend to scorch, curl, and drift toward the heating element where they can catch fire. Even baking paper and foil can misbehave when they are cut too large or left loose. Some guides warn against filling the basket base with parchment or foil because solid sheets block airflow and can press against hot parts of the unit.:contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

If you like liners for easier cleanup, pick perforated parchment sheets that match your basket size and weigh them down with food. Keep edges flat and away from the top of the chamber. For greasy foods, foil can sit only under the food, leaving wide spaces around the sides so hot air can still move freely.

Things You Should Not Use In An Air Fryer And Why

Many frozen or par cooked items thrive under hot circulating air, yet some ingredients fight the method from the start. They either turn out soggy, fail to cook through, or create more mess than they are worth.

Wet Batters And Thin Liquid Coatings

Classic beer battered fish or corn dogs need hot oil to set the outer layer. In an air fryer basket, that wet batter drips through the holes before it firms up. You end up with bare fish on the rack and burnt batter cemented to the tray. Lists of things not to put in the air fryer nearly always mention wet batter for this reason.:contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

To mimic a fried finish, swap in seasoned flour, crushed cornflakes, or panko crumbs tossed with a small amount of oil. Press the coating onto lightly oiled food, then chill the pieces in the fridge for ten to fifteen minutes before air frying so the crust sticks.

Popcorn And Light Items

Loose popcorn kernels sound like a smart use for a hot air chamber, yet they tend to scorch before they all pop, and the light kernels can blow straight into the heating element. Reports of singed plastic guards and burnt kernels have led many experts to recommend other methods.:contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

If you crave popcorn, a microwave bag or a simple stove top pot with a tight lid gives better control. Save the air fryer basket for snacks that already have enough weight to stay put as the fan runs.

Large Roasts, Whole Chickens, And Overfilled Baskets

Trying to cook a whole chicken or a thick roast in a small basket usually ends in uneven results. Meat that touches the top element can burn on the surface while the center stays underdone. Overfilling the basket with fries, nuggets, or vegetables leads to similar problems, with pale, limp patches where steam gets trapped between layers.:contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

For big cuts of meat, stick with a regular oven or pick an air fryer oven with a rotisserie function that the manufacturer rates for roasts. In a small basket style unit, keep food in a loose single layer and cook in batches when needed.

Electrical Add Ons And Placements To Skip

Some hazards sit around the air fryer instead of inside it. Air fryers draw a decent amount of power, and their exterior surfaces run hot when they are in use. How you plug them in and where you place them changes the risk level in your kitchen.

Setup Choice	Why It Causes Trouble	Better Practice
Cheap extension cords or power strips	Can overheat under the air fryer load	Plug air fryer directly into a wall socket
Balancing on thin boards or racks	Appliance can wobble or fall during use	Place on a stable, heat resistant counter
Pushing unit against a wall or corner	Restricts vents and traps heat around the shell	Leave several inches of space on all sides
Setting it under low hanging cabinets	Heat and steam can mark or warp the surface above	Slide fryer forward so vents aim into open space
Resting on plastic or vinyl mats	Heat can soften, bubble, or discolor the mat	Use a stone, metal, or thick wood board instead
Covering vents with decorative objects	Blocks airflow and may lead to overheating	Keep the top and back of the unit completely clear

Consumer appliance testers and safety groups often remind home cooks to treat air fryers like any other high heat electric cooker: keep them on a stable surface, avoid extension cords, and leave breathing room around the vents.:contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10} Giving the machine a safe home on the counter is part of the answer to what you should not use in an air fryer setup.

Cleaning Products And Tools You Should Not Use

Good cleaning habits keep flavors fresh and reduce smoke, yet the wrong product can scratch coatings or leave residue that bakes on. Manuals and cleaning guides agree on a few simple rules.:contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

Skip steel wool, metal scouring pads, and stiff wire brushes on the basket or tray. These tools scratch nonstick surfaces, which makes food stick more over time. Harsh oven cleaners and strong bleach sprays are poor matches too, especially if you do not rinse all traces away. Those chemicals can react under high heat and may touch food on the next use.

Instead, most experts suggest warm soapy water, a soft sponge, and a non scratch nylon scrubber for stuck bits. For stubborn grease on the basket or tray, soak the part for a short period in hot sudsy water, then lift residue with a soft brush. If any cleaning product has a warning against use on nonstick surfaces, keep it away from your air fryer pieces.

How To Decide What You Should Not Use In An Air Fryer

When you face a new accessory, container, or recipe idea, run through a short checklist before you slide the basket back in. These simple checks fold together many of the rules shared by food safety agencies and appliance makers.:contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

Ask yourself these questions:

• Does this food or material handle at least 400 degrees Fahrenheit without melting, burning, or shattering?
• Will it stay in place under a strong fan, or could it blow into the heating element?
• Is there enough open space for air to move around the food and through the basket?
• Will grease or sauce drip through in large amounts and pool near the heater?
• Does the recipe reach a safe internal temperature for the meat or eggs you are cooking?
• Does your user manual mention this item or material as safe, or warn against it?

If the answer to any question raises doubt, pick a safer dish or a different cooking method. Over time, this kind of quick mental review becomes a habit, and working out what not to use in an air fryer feels natural instead of strict.

Final Tips For Safe And Tasty Air Fryer Meals

Safe air frying rests on a short list of habits: skip aerosol sprays and flimsy liners, keep plastics and unsafe glass away from high heat, avoid wet batters, and resist the urge to overfill the basket. Couple those habits with trustworthy food safety guidance from sources such as the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, and you have a strong base for daily cooking.:contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}

When a new gadget or recipe trend appears online, check your user manual and scan the list above before trying it. That way the question “what not to use in an air fryer?” stops hovering in the back of your mind, and you can enjoy crisp potatoes, golden chicken, and roasted vegetables with a calm, steady routine.