Can You Put a Plate in An Air fryer?

Can I put a plate in the air fryer is what you are probably wondering if you have recently bought an air fryer.

Good that you are checking if it can be done before going ahead with it. It’s better to be safe than sorry. 

I’ve been cooking with an Air Fryer for over 10 years now. With my experience,  I can tell what works and what doesn’t.

Coming back to the question: Can I put a plate in the Air Fryer? The answer is both Yes and No!

You may like My detailed Philips Air fryer User Review

10 common mistakes you can avoid while using an air fryer

First let’s see which plates you can’t put in an Air Fryer:

Can You Put a Paper Plate in an Air fryer? 

Paper plates are a fire hazard. They can burn pretty easily. You definitely should avoid using regular paper plates in the air fryer.

You may want to read Can I put paper towels in air fryer where I have written in detail on why paper cannot be used in an air fryer and what could be used instead.

Can I use Metal Plates in an Air fryer?

Metal plates, though they can handle the heat inside an air fryer may sometimes not be suitable for cooking in an air fryer for the following reasons:

1. If they have any wooden or plastic parts: When subjected to immense heat these parts may melt or burn hence creating a fire hazard.

2. Blocking air flow: Air fryers cook by circulating all around the food that is being cooked.

Using a metal plate would restrict heated air flow around the food. 

This could make your food unevenly cooked.

To avoid this, your metal plate must leave some air vents in the air fryer basket exposed.

You must also flip the food placed on the metal plate to enable even cooking.

Can I Use Plastic Plates in an Air fryer? 

Plastic plates are not suitable for use  in an air fryer. Plastic may melt or disfigure on exposure to high heat.

You might reason that the air fryer body is made of plastic, so you should be able to use plastic in the air fryer. 

Well, let’s just say that the manufacturers of air fryers use special purpose plastic for the body of an air fryer. 

Please keep your common kitchen plastic plates away from the air fryer.

Plates in general hinder free flow of the hot air generated by the air fryer which actually cooks the food evenly. 

But if you must use a plate for your cooking then following are the plates that you can put in your air fryer:

Can I use Ceramic Plates in an Air fryer? 

Ceramic plates heat up evenly and are usually oven safe. But do check the oven safe rating of the ceramic plate before using it in the air fryer.

Can I Use Metal Plates in an Air fryer? 

Stainless steel, aluminium and other metal plates that are suitable for use in the oven are okay to use in the air fryer.

Make sure that you flip the food and also have enough vents exposed for circulation of hot air even after you have placed food put on metal plate inside the air fryer.

Can I Use Silicone Plate in an Air fryer? 

Silicone plates are perfectly fine to use in an air fryer. 

Some also come with perforations to allow of better airflow around the food being cooked.

Both types work well. 

Can I Use Parchment Paper Plates in an Air fryer? 

Parchment paper are special purpose papers that can withstand the heat inside an air fryer. 

You can use both perforated parchment paper and parchment paper plates in your air fryer safely.

You may also want to find out more about parchment paper in air fryer and can you put paper towels in air fryer?

Can I Use a Glass Plate in an Air fryer? 

Yes you can use the ones rated safe to use in ovens.

Pyrex though a brand has become a generic name to represent all glass cookware that can withstand intense heat. 

You can use pyrex plates and tumblers in your air fryer.

How does the use of plates in air fryer help?

Plates especially shallow ones help in holding liquid or semi sold foods that are safe to air fry.

Hence cake mixes, eggs, even bite sized appetizers are good to be placed in shallow plates in the air fryer.

To summarize, some parts can be used in the air fryer. 

Be conscious of the fact that they may block some parts of your air fryer basket and impede free flow of hot air to cook food evenly. 

Safe plates to use are ceramic, pyrex, silicone, parchment paper or metal plates after checking their safety ratings in an oven.

Keep paper plates and plastics far from your air fryer.

Read here for can you put water in an air fryer.

Do let me know if you have any questions regarding this.

You may also download my FREE Beginner's Guide to Air fryer Cooking

You can buy my Indian Air fryer Recipes Cookbook here and buy Air fryer Vegan and Vegetarian Recipes cookbook here.

Also join my Awesome Air fryer Recipes Facebook Group for more recipes, conversations and fun.