Air fryer utensils must be oven-safe and airflow-friendly: use metal, ceramic, glass, or food-grade silicone, and skip plastic, paper plates, and loose liners.
An air fryer cooks with a fast fan and a hot coil. That combo is great for crisp food, yet it also punishes the wrong gear. Put in the wrong utensil and you can get warped plastic, scorched paper, or scratched baskets.
This guide shows what to use, what to skip, and how to pick pieces that fit your basket and your recipe. You’ll get a material cheat sheet and sizing tips that save cleanup.
Utensils That Work In Most Air Fryers
Think “oven-safe, small, and stable.” If an item can handle 200–230°C heat in an oven and it can sit flat without flapping into the fan, it usually plays nice in an air fryer. The catch is coatings and shape.
| Utensil Or Material | Use It For | Watch Outs |
|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel mini pan or rack | Burgers, wings, stacked cooking, draining fat | Keep edges smooth; don’t scrape the basket |
| Cast iron (small skillet or pan) | Steaks, skillet cookies, fajita-style veg | Preheat with food, not empty; use mitts |
| Carbon steel baking tin | Roasting veg, reheating leftovers, quick cakes | Needs space around the sides for air to move |
| Oven-safe ceramic dish | Gratins, baked oats, mac and cheese | Heavy; avoid banging the basket rim |
| Oven-safe glass (tempered) | Reheating saucy food, small casseroles | Confirm oven-safe; avoid sudden temp shocks |
| Food-grade silicone molds or cups | Egg bites, muffins, portioning sticky mixes | Needs a rigid tray under soft molds |
| Perforated parchment cut to fit | Sticky marinades, delicate fish, easy cleanup | Never loose during preheat; weight it with food |
| Aluminum foil (small, shaped) | Protecting edges, catching drips, packet meals | Don’t block vents; crimp so it can’t lift |
| Metal tongs or spatula (for handling) | Flipping and lifting food mid-cook | Avoid scraping nonstick; use silicone tips |
What Utensils Can Go In An Air Fryer? Safe Picks By Material
If you’ve ever asked “what utensils can go in an air fryer?” the clean way to answer is by material. Air fryers run hot, and the fan blasts air straight at anything light or floppy. Choose pieces that stay put and stay steady.
Metal Utensils And Pans
Metal is the default “yes” in an air fryer. Stainless steel, cast iron, and carbon steel all handle heat with ease. The bigger issue is the coating on your basket. A bare metal spatula can gouge nonstick fast.
Use metal pans, racks, and skewers for cooking. For stirring or scraping, switch to silicone or nylon tools outside the basket, then lift food with tongs. If you do use metal tongs inside, keep contact light and grip food, not the coating.
- Best moves: small cake tins, loaf pans, burger presses, wire racks, kebab skewers.
- Skip: rusty pans, sharp-edged cut metal, anything with peeling paint.
Ceramic And Oven-Safe Glass
Ceramic dishes are steady and easy for bakes. Glass works too when it’s rated for oven heat. Both shine when you want a saucy result that would drip through a basket, like baked pasta or chicken in a glaze.
Two rules keep these safe: fit and temperature change. If a dish touches the heating coil area, it can trap heat. Keep it low and centered. Also avoid taking a cold glass dish from the fridge straight into a blazing air fryer. Let it sit on the counter a bit so the swing is smaller.
Silicone Tools, Cups, And Liners
Food-grade silicone is a solid pick for air fryer cooking when it’s made for heat. It handles common air fryer settings and it won’t scratch baskets. Choose thick, matte silicone that feels firm, not flimsy and oily.
Soft silicone cups work great for egg bites, mini cheesecakes, and portioning. Set them on a small metal tray so you can lift them out in one move. Full-basket silicone liners can help with sticky food, yet they also reduce airflow. Use them for saucy items, not for foods you want extra crisp.
For safety notes and brand-specific rules, check your manual. Ninja’s own air fryer FAQ says parchment paper and aluminum foil are safe to use in the cooking pan when used correctly. Ninja air fryer FAQs on parchment and foil.
Parchment Paper And Foil
Parchment and foil can be handy, yet airflow is the whole point of an air fryer. Keep liners small and shaped. A loose sheet can lift, hit the coil, and scorch. That risk is higher during preheat, when the basket is empty.
Use perforated parchment sized to the basket base, then place food on top so it can’t move. Use foil in small pieces, crimped tight. Foil packets work for fish or veg, yet you’ll get a softer finish since the steam stays trapped.
Also note that some brands advise against lining in ways that block the bottom. Philips says baking paper or foil isn’t recommended if it blocks the basket base and reduces airflow. Philips guidance on baking paper and foil.
Wood, Bamboo, And Plastic
Wood and bamboo utensils are fine for stirring food in a bowl, yet they’re a poor match for air fryer heat. They can dry out, darken, and hold odors. Use them on the counter, not in the cooking chamber.
Plastic is a straight “no” unless the piece is clearly marked heat-safe for oven use, which is rare for utensils. Most plastics soften well below air fryer temps. The same goes for melamine, which can char and crack.
Fit And Airflow Rules That Keep Food Crisp
The right utensil can still cook badly if it blocks air. Aim for a half-inch of space around pans when you can. If your pan fills the whole basket, hot air can’t wrap the food and you’ll lose the crisp edge that makes an air fryer worth it.
Choose Low Sides For Roasting
Low-sided trays let air hit the food’s sides. Tall casserole dishes are fine for bakes, yet they act like a little oven inside your air fryer. That’s useful for custards and melts, not for fries.
Use Racks For Stacking
Stacking works when air can pass each layer. A small rack turns one basket into two levels, handy for wings or reheating pizza. Leave breathing room between layers and rotate trays mid-cook if your model has hot spots.
Mind The Heating Element Zone
On many basket models, the coil sits above the food. Anything tall can sit too close and brown fast on top while the center stays underdone. Keep tall items in the middle and reduce the heat a notch if the top is racing ahead.
Cooking Moves By Food Type
Different foods want different tools. Match the utensil to the mess level, the shape, and the texture you want at the end.
Crispy Foods That Need Maximum Air
For fries, breaded bites, and wings, go light on liners. Use the bare basket or a wire rack. If you need less sticking, spritz food lightly and shake the basket once or twice.
- Best utensils: wire rack, stainless tray with holes, silicone-tipped tongs.
- Skip: full-basket silicone mats, deep dishes, loose paper.
Saucy Or Sticky Foods
Glazed chicken, meatballs in sauce, and sweet marinades drip and burn. That’s where a small pan shines. A ceramic dish or metal tin keeps sauce contained and saves scrubbing.
- Best utensils: ceramic ramekins, small loaf pan, foil packet for fish.
- Tip: add sauce late in the cook so sugars don’t scorch.
Baking And Desserts
Air fryers bake well in small volumes. Use a cake tin that fits with a little space around it. Silicone muffin cups work too, yet they need a tray under them so they don’t slump when you lift.
Reduce oven-bake temps by 10–15°C and start checking early.
Reheating Leftovers
Pizza and fries reheat best on a rack or the bare basket. Pasta, rice, and stews reheat best in a heat-safe dish. A small piece of foil can keep the top from drying.
Common Mistakes That Ruin Baskets Or Food
Most air fryer mishaps come from three things: loose liners, sharp tools, and overcrowding. Fix those and you’re ahead.
- Preheating with parchment or a silicone liner inside. With no food to hold it down, the fan can lift it into the coil.
- Lining the entire basket base with foil. It blocks airflow and can lead to uneven cooking.
- Scraping with metal. A scratched coating sticks more and is harder to clean.
- Using aerosol sprays on nonstick. Some sprays leave a tacky film that builds up.
- Putting paper plates in the basket. They can scorch and shed fibers.
Tool Picks That Make Daily Air Frying Easier
You don’t need a drawer full of gadgets. A few well-chosen pieces handle most recipes and keep cleanup simple.
| Tool | When It Helps | Simple Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Silicone-tipped tongs | Flipping wings, lifting hot food | Grip food, not the basket coating |
| Small stainless rack | Stacking bacon, crisping skin | Leave space between layers |
| 6–7 inch cake tin | Muffins, cornbread, brownies | Check doneness early |
| 2–4 ceramic ramekins | Egg bakes, dips, single servings | Set on a tray for easy lift-out |
| Perforated parchment sheets | Sticky foods, delicate fillets | Place food on top before starting |
| Heat-safe silicone brush | Adding glaze late in the cook | Brush in the last few minutes |
| Instant-read thermometer | Chicken, burgers, reheating | Check thickest spot |
Quick Selection Checklist Before You Cook
When you’re staring at a drawer and wondering what to grab, run this quick check. It keeps you from guessing and it keeps the fan path clear.
- Look for “oven-safe” on glass and ceramic.
- Pick metal with smooth edges and no loose coating.
- Use silicone that feels thick and holds its shape.
- Cut parchment to fit the base and keep it under food.
- Crimp foil tight and keep it off the heating element.
- Leave space for air to move around pans.
- Use soft tools when touching nonstick parts.
When a utensil feels light enough to flutter, it’s too light. Add food weight, or choose a heavier pan instead.
Cleaning Moves That Protect Your Gear
Clean tools last longer, and they cook better. Let the basket cool, then soak it in warm soapy water. A soft sponge is your friend. Skip steel wool, which can scar coatings.
Final Answer In Plain Words
So, what utensils can go in an air fryer? Use oven-safe metal, ceramic, glass, and food-grade silicone, plus well-secured parchment or foil when you need it. Skip plastic, paper plates, and loose liners. Keep airflow open and your basket stays cleaner, your food browns better, and your air fryer lasts longer.