What Pans Can You Use In An Air Fryer? | Pan Picks Fast

An air fryer is a small convection oven: a heating element up top and a fan that pushes hot air around your food. Airflow is the whole trick. The pan you choose can help that airflow do its job, or it can choke it and leave you with uneven browning.

If you searched what pans can you use in an air fryer?, you’re probably trying to avoid two headaches: melting something that shouldn’t be heated, or wasting a cook cycle on a pan that blocks crisping. This guide keeps it simple and practical.

What Pans Can You Use In An Air Fryer? By Material And Fit

Rule of thumb: if it’s ovenproof and fits inside the basket, it can work. Philips says you can use ovenproof dishes and molds made of glass, ceramic, metal, or silicone. Philips Airfryer baking tin guidance lays that out clearly.

Two checks still matter: heat rating and airflow. If the pan can’t handle your temperature, skip it. If the pan covers the whole basket floor, expect less browning on the underside.

Pan Type	Best Uses In An Air Fryer	Main Cautions
Aluminum cake pan	Brownies, quick breads, baked pasta	Less crisp under the food if it fits too snug
Steel loaf pan	Meatloaf, banana bread, baked oatmeal	Top can brown fast in shallow baskets
Small metal sheet or tray	Pizza slices, roasted veg, toasted sandwiches	Airflow under food drops; use a rack when you can
Stainless bowl or insert	Saucy leftovers, beans, mac and cheese	Thin steel can warp after repeated heating
Cast iron mini skillet	Searing, cornbread, fajita-style veg	Heavy; needs clearance under the heater shield
Ceramic ramekins	Egg bakes, custards, single portions	Avoid sudden temperature swings
Oven-safe glass dish	Small casseroles, baked fruit, gratins	Confirm oven rating; avoid thermal shock
Silicone molds and cups	Muffins, egg bites, mini cakes	Needs a tray or rack so it’s easy to lift
Disposable foil pan	Drip-catching, quick bakes	Lightweight; can shift if empty

Why Airflow Changes Everything

In a standard oven, heat builds around the whole dish over time. In many basket air fryers, the strongest heat is close to the top element, with the fan pushing that heat down and around the food. A solid pan under your food can reduce that flow to the underside.

That’s not “bad,” it just changes results. Pans are perfect for batter, sauce, and melt-prone toppings. For fries, wings, and anything you want crisp on all sides, the basket grate usually wins.

Pans You Can Use In An Air Fryer For Baking And Roasting

Metal Pans

Metal is the easiest pick. It handles heat, browns well, and cleans up without drama. Aluminum cake pans and small steel roasting pans are solid daily drivers.

Nonstick metal pans work when the coating is rated for oven heat. Stay within the maker’s temperature limit, and use silicone or wood tools so you don’t scratch the coating.

• Pick straight sides when space is tight.
• Leave a small gap around the pan so air can move.
• Skip tall handles that sit close to the element.

Cast Iron And Carbon Steel

Cast iron brings steady heat and strong browning. A mini skillet is great for a single steak, thick-cut veggies, or cornbread with crisp edges. Carbon steel does similar work once seasoned, with less weight.

Preheat the pan if you want a seared surface. Keep the pan dry during preheat so moisture doesn’t bake on.

Ceramic And Glass

Ramekins and small baking dishes shine for single servings. They’re useful when you want tidy portions or you’re cooking something that would drip or bubble over.

With ceramic and glass, heat shock is the main risk. Let the dish warm a bit at room temp, and don’t move it straight from a cold fridge into a hot air fryer.

Silicone

Silicone cups and molds release food easily and are handy for egg bites and muffins. Since silicone is flexible, set it on a thin tray or rack so you can lift it out without spills.

When you buy silicone, look for clear labeling for food contact and high-heat use. The FDA describes how food contact substances are authorized and assessed. FDA information on food contact substances is a useful overview.

Pan Shapes That Fit Most Air Fryers

Material gets most of the attention, yet shape is the daily make-or-break. A pan can be oven-safe and still cook poorly if it crowds the basket or sits too close to the heater.

• Round pans fit basket air fryers well and leave side gaps for air.
• Short loaf pans work for breads and meatloaf when height clearance is generous.
• Ramekins cook evenly since air can move around each dish.
• Flat trays are nice for pizza and toast, but crisping under food drops.

Safe Use Rules For Air Fryer Pans

Most air fryers cook in the 175°C to 205°C range (350°F to 400°F). Some units go higher. Your pan should be rated for at least the temperature you plan to use.

Check The Marking Or The Maker

Many pans have a stamped label or a molded symbol. If there’s no marking and you can’t find a maker rating, it’s not worth the risk.

Don’t Preheat With Loose Paper

Parchment can lift into the fan if it’s not weighed down. If you use a liner, place food on it first so it stays put.

Plan For Space Around The Pan

If the pan touches the basket walls, heat flow drops. Expect longer cook times and less browning under the food. If crisp texture matters, use a smaller pan or cook directly on the basket grate.

Airflow Fixes When A Pan Is Non-Negotiable

Some foods need a pan: batter, melted cheese, saucy leftovers, or anything that would drip onto the basket. These moves help you keep decent browning:

• Raise the pan. A rack under the pan lets air reach the underside.
• Finish on the grate. Warm in a dish, then move the food to the basket for a short crisp finish.
• Rotate once. If one side browns faster, turn the pan halfway through.

Liners, Racks, And Slings That Make Pans Easier

A pan can be perfect for the recipe and still be awkward to handle in a deep basket. A few simple add-ons fix that.

Parchment liners are great for sticky marinades and sugary glazes. Use liners that have a rim, and place them only when food is ready to go in so the fan can’t lift them.

Wire racks lift a pan off the basket floor. That gap lets hot air sweep under the pan, which helps with browning and steady heat.

Foil slings are handy for cakes and casseroles. Fold a long strip of heavy foil, set it under the pan, and leave two “handles” you can grab with tongs. Keep the foil tight to the pan so it doesn’t wave into the fan.

Pan Size Checklist Before You Buy Or Use

Fit issues waste time. Measure once, then you can shop and cook with confidence.

Check	What To Measure Or Do	What It Prevents
Inside width	Measure the narrowest inside point	Pans that jam or scrape the basket
Height clearance	Check space under the heater shield	Scorched tops and handle contact
Air gap	Leave a small gap around the sides	Slow cooking and pale undersides
Removal	Use tongs, a sling, or a rack	Spills and finger burns
Fill level	Leave headroom for bubbling foods	Boil-overs onto the element
Cleanup	Pick easy-wash materials you’ll reuse	One-time pans that gather dust

Common Results And Quick Tweaks

Air fryers vary by fan strength, basket shape, and heater distance. If your first run is a little off, tweak one variable at a time.

Soft Bottoms

Use a smaller pan, raise it on a rack, or crisp the last few minutes on the grate.

Dark Tops

Drop temperature by 10–15°C and add time. A loose foil tent near the end can slow browning on top.

Spills And Drips

For sticky glazes or cheesy bakes, a pan keeps the basket clean. A stainless bowl is great for reheating saucy leftovers.

Recap For Choosing A Pan Fast

If you still ask what pans can you use in an air fryer?, here’s the simple pick list: you can cook with plenty of pans in an air fryer: metal, ceramic, glass, and silicone all work when they’re oven-safe, they fit, and they leave space for airflow. Use a pan when you need containment. Use the basket grate when you want crisp texture.

When in doubt, go smaller than you think, and leave breathing room around the pan.