An air fryer cannot be used to cook food on a paper plate. Paper plates shouldn’t be used to quickly reheat food in an air fryer.

The most popular kitchen appliance for preparing or warming food is an air fryer, which is rising in popularity. However, you might want to read this article if you’re unsure whether it’s okay to warm food in an air fryer using paper pate.

Let’s take a closer look at what happens when a paper plate is placed in an air fryer and what transpired when I heated up my pizza on a paper plate in an air fryer.

Can You Put a Paper Plate in the Air Fryer?

A high temperature is used to cook food in the air fryer. Most air fryers reach temperatures of 400–500°F to achieve the same texture as deep fryers without using a lot of oil or fat.

While keeping food from becoming overly dry, the air fryer’s high heat helps produce a crispy or crunchy texture. The air fryer’s fan and vents make sure that food has received adequate heat distribution so that food cooked at high heat is properly cooked.

When you use a paper plate in an air fryer, you prevent heat from rising from the bottom up, which results in undercooked food. A paper plate could catch fire and harm your device if it is directly exposed to high heat.

So, is it possible to use a paper plate in an air fryer?

An air fryer cannot be used to cook food on a paper plate. Paper plates shouldn’t be used to quickly reheat food in an air fryer. Due to the air fryer’s high heat, there is a significant chance that a paper plate will catch fire, injuring your appliance and rendering your food unusable. When warming food in an air fryer, it is preferable to use a paper plate substitute.

Why is It Not Safe to Put Paper Plates in An Air Fryer?

When heated at high temperatures, some paper plates that are too thin will warp and lose structural integrity, while those that are too thick will not properly heat food.

Even though recycled paper plates are thick, they cannot withstand high temperatures without catching fire. Porous paper plates, in contrast, are too thin and absorbent. When food is heated to a high temperature, it will absorb the food juices and possibly crumble.

Here are a few reasons why it is risky to quickly reheat food on a paper plate in an air fryer.

It’s a Fire Hazard

When you turn on an air fryer, it produces a high temperature and hot air rushes down and around the food. The top section of an air fryer houses a heating coil and fan. The food becomes crisp due to the high heat and rapid air circulation. So, when you put food on a paper plate or paper towel to warm it up in an air fryer, it is more likely to catch fire.

Read More: Can You Microwave Paper Towels

When we heated food at 400°F for five minutes, we looked for burnt paper plates from Costco but found none. But given the plate’s tarnishing, we should probably not keep it for too long because it might catch fire.

It Could Damage Your Air Fryer

Using a paper plate to warm food in an air fryer risks catching fire and damaging the appliance, which is more expensive than using a plate designed for use with an air fryer.

Food May Become Inedible

Some recycled paper plates contain lead or toxins, so when heated to a high temperature, they may leach into food and make it inedible.

It is Not Meant to Be Exposed to High Temperature

Some paper plates have a coating and are marked “oven safe.” But coating only works when food is quickly warmed at a low temperature. When exposed to the paper plate at a high temperature, such as in an air fryer, the coating does not function.

When food is heated on a paper plate in an air fryer, the plate absorbs any juices or gravy, leaving the food dryer.

What Can You Use in Your Air Fryer Instead of a Paper Plate?

This experiment taught us never to use paper plates in an air fryer, so that’s out. But there are many different kinds of plates that can be used in place of paper ones.

In terms of air frying, some of the plates on the list below are excellent.

• Glass
• Silicone
• Ceramic
• Cast iron
• Metal

These materials are very strong and structurally sound. Beyond the temperatures an air fryer can reach, they are thought to be heat resistant to several hundred degrees.

Look around on your plate for a symbol that denotes heat resistance if you are unsure whether what you have is air-fryer-safe.

Additionally, if it is listed as oven-safe, it is also air fryer-safe.

Why Do We Recommend Parchment Paper over Paper Plates?

We advise using parchment paper if you were using a paper plate because you didn’t want to clean up or even risk damaging your kitchenware. Your food can be placed on top of a piece of parchment paper that has been placed on top of your plate.

The majority of parchment paper is able to withstand air fryer temperatures of up to 428 degrees Fahrenheit.

Make sure you only use as much parchment paper as is necessary. The amount of parchment paper that is extra and not needed by your food should be as little as possible. Parchment paper typically has a much thicker layer of wax than a typical paper plate, giving it a little bit more heat resistance.

Additionally, weighing down the parchment paper will stop it from fluttering about inside your air fryer. Keep in mind that the interior of your air fryer is like a tornado of moving air. In the event that your air fryer separates from your food, it might end up flying around and possibly obstructing some ventilation. Even worse, it might ignite the heating coil if it gets caught there.

We strongly advise checking on your air fryer on a regular basis to make sure there aren’t any issues that could arise when using parchment paper in an air fryer.

Alternatives to Using a Plate in An Air Fryer

• In the air fryer, parchment paper can be used without risk. Paper parchment can withstand heat and is non-stick. You can buy pre-cut parchment paper that has holes to make it simpler to use in your air fryer.
• You can also use aluminum foil, which is a safe alternative. If you do not cover the air holes, it is heat resistant. It can retain heat, which aids in more even cooking of the food. To prevent the foil from tearing while cooking, make sure to tightly seal the food inside.
• Steel bowls—Using a steel bowl will cause the food inside to conduct heat, especially if the bowl is covered in aluminum foil.
• Cookware made of cast iron is safe to use with an air fryer. Heavy-duty and designed to withstand extreme heat is cast iron. As long as it fits comfortably inside your air fryer without obstructing the airflow, you can use dishes that are typically prepared in cast iron cookware. (Read More: 10 Best Cookware for Gas Stoves)

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