Although the arrival of the air fryer in our kitchens was driven by a fad, the truth is that they have become a staple in many homes. This appliance replaces the functions of an oven, microwave, and frying pan in a single device, as well as offering a much healthier cooking method. Have you tried making okra, healthy donuts, or Bloomin’ Onions in the air fryer? There you have a plan for your day off. However, despite the advantages it offers, there is one question that most owners of this device have: can you put aluminum foil inside? Depending on the brand of your air fryer, the answer varies, although the reality is that you can.
Philips does not recommend its use, while Frigidaire only accepts it if it is placed aligned with the basket. And that’s precisely the crux of the matter: the foil can interrupt the air flow, affecting the cooking of the food, and more importantly, if something heavy is not placed on top of it, it can be sucked up and burn on the top of the air fryer. Its use is accepted when cooking more “complicated,” delicate, sticky, or crumbly foods, as it will help clean the basket much more easily. However, other foods such as tomatoes or lemons, which are acidic, can break down aluminum foil, so it is safer to opt for parchment paper.
Air Fryer
An air fryer is an appliance that, as its name suggests, fries food using hot air. It does not need oil, only hot air to cook food. It can fry food without submerging it in oil, bake, and even cook anything that you would normally grill. Countless brands have added this appliance to their catalog, with different sizes, shapes, colors, capacities, and number of baskets.
Aluminum foil in the air fryer, yes or no?
Long story short, yes. It’s true that the use of aluminum foil has created some controversy, as there are manufacturers who do not recommend it, such as Phillips, while others approve of it, such as Frigidaire, as long as it is placed aligned with the basket. Leaving aside the manufacturers’ recommendations, the truth is that using aluminum foil is not a problem as long as it is done properly.
How to use aluminum foil correctly?
It is important to place the foil on the bottom of the basket, inside! If you place the foil directly on the bottom of the air fryer, it could interrupt the flow of hot air, which would affect the cooking of the food. In addition, if the food is not placed on top, the aluminum can be sucked up to the top and burn. We don’t want that, so if we are going to use aluminum foil, it should be at the bottom, inside the basket, and without covering the food.
When is it a good idea to use aluminum foil?
Lining the basket with aluminum foil can be incredibly useful and practical when cleaning it after cooking. This trick is especially useful when cooking:
- Sticky foods: such as dishes with sauce.
- Delicate foods: such as fish.
- Crumbly foods: those that shed crumbs or have a breaded coating.
When is it best not to use aluminum foil?
If the foods you are going to cook are:
- Acidic foods: such as tomatoes or lemons, which when in contact with heat can react with the aluminum foil, also affecting your food.
- Foods that are easy to clean: if you are going to cook or heat food that does not stain too much, it is best not to use it to ensure that the heat reaches all parts of the food equally.
Parchment paper
Parchment paper is the savior in this debate. As long as it is not waxed, it can be used with the same restrictions as aluminum foil.