Are you a foodie and like putting your leftovers in a glass bowl before refrigerating? Do you wonder and would like to learn if you put a glass bowl in an air fryer safely and warm your food? This is a good question and a good point to get started.
In a bid to minimize wastage and preserve any leftovers safely, glass bowls are a great inclusion in any kitchen. As such, you’ll find yourself every now and then seeking to heat and consume the leftovers without going through the traditional hassles or emptying and warming them over a stove.
As a result, you might wonder whether it’s really safe to put the glass bowl in the air fryer and if it’s okay, you’d like to know if there’s a specific temperature limit that you should set and still be safe. If this is you, we encourage you to keep reading to find out the answer to this question and many others related to air fryer usage.
Is it Safe to Use a Glass Bowl in an Air Fryer?
One of the golden rules when it comes to the usage of a glass bowl in an air fryer is that it must be oven safe. So, yes, you can put a glass bowl in an air fryer. However, you should also do it right to prevent it from shattering as a result of thermal stress.
Though it is safe to put a glass bowl in an air fryer, you should never put a glass bowl into the air fryer if at all it’s cold or even direct from the fridge. Putting a cold bowl in the air fryer will only damage the Pyrex, resulting in losses.
It’s important to pre-heat your glass bowl before putting it in the air fryer and the best way to do this is by putting it in mildly hot water. This helps enhance the safety of the bowl.
It’s important to note that the temperature in the air fryer rises tremendously in a matter of minutes and as such, most ordinary glass bowls do not have the capability to withstand the rapid changes. As a result, the bowl will either explode or shatter.
Always confirm whether the glass bowl is oven safe before putting it into the air fryer.
What is a Glass Bowl Made of?
There are different types of glass bowls. However, the ones that are oven safe and suitable for putting in an air fryer are made from borosilicate glass. This glass is designed to be thermal shock resistant. Pyrex bowls are the most popular and suitable for this kind of usage and the material is made from soda-lime glass.
Soda-lime is a bit inexpensive and as such the bowls are affordable and worth investing in. Though not all, many of the Pyrex bowl models in the market are freezer and oven safe and are labeled as such. However, this does not make them completely thermal shockproof.
When using these bowls, it’s important not to heat or cool them rapidly as this caused the different parts of the glass bowl to contract or expand to some extent resulting in stress. Extreme stress causes the bowl structure to fail and have shattering effects.
To avoid this kind of scenario, always watch out and avoid a rapid change in temperature on Pyrex.
Can You Put a Steel Bowl in an Air Fryer?
The answer is yes. You can comfortably use a steel bowl in an air fryer as most metal cookware are designed to withstand high temperatures of up to 500 degrees.
However, not all steel bowls can withstand this kind of heat especially those that are painted. You should avoid putting steel bowls in the air fryer, especially those that come with some sort of artwork on them. This is because the artwork will melt quickly thus contaminating your food.
In addition, you should avoid adding cool or cold water into hot steel bowls as this would result in the cracking of the steel as a result of thermal shock.
The bowl should also not interfere with the air fryer’s functionality and this is something you should verify before putting it inside. Make sure the size and shape are fitting well into the air fryer for safety and convenience.
Can You Put a Ceramic Bowl in an Air Fryer?
Unlike many other materials, ceramic is tough and perfectly capable of withstanding high heat. As such, the answer to whether you can put a ceramic bowl in an air fryer is a yes.
With that in mind, it is also advisable to confirm that your ceramic bowl of choice is oven-safe. In addition, you should consider several other factors which are essential and related to this question. First, make sure that the bowl is purely made from ceramic without other finishes and materials.
While the underneath material could be pure ceramic, the finishes could easily complicate things when put in the oven or exposed to high heat. If the bowl has some patterns printed on it, chances are high that these may not withstand high heat and could lead to food contamination.
There are also other things you should be wary of such as glazing which gives ceramic bowls and utensils a glossy finish. These may be unsafe to put in an air fryer and could also end up dulled if used therein.
There are however some ceramic Dutch ovens purposely designed for use with ceramic plates and bowls. These are worth checking out if you’re in the market shopping for one.
How Do You Keep the Glass From Breaking in the Air Fryer?
Glass is susceptible to breaking when used in an air fryer without being cautious. In order to use your glass bowls safely without shattering, a few things should be considered and adhered to.
Here are some of the precautions you should consider:-
1. Only use oven-safe or tempered glass
Your normal serving glass bowls or drinking glasses are not designed for use in the oven. As a matter of fact, slight exposure to heat and hot items will lead to their shattering. As such, only use oven-safe and tempered glass items in your air fryer.
2. Avoid sudden temperature adjustments
Even the strongest of glasses will break in the face of sudden temperature changes. If you remove your glass bowl from the freezer and directly into an air fryer, the results will be breakage.
Once you remove your leftovers from the freezer, give your bowl some time to adjust to the outside temperatures. Only put the glass bowl into the air fryer at the lowest possible temperature, and once it’s reached room temperature.
3. Check whether there’re structural weakness of your glass
A glass with some structural weaknesses will still shatter when put in the air fryer, even if it’s oven safe. Always check to confirm that your glass does not have some small cracks, color change or some sort of unevenness on the surface.
In case you see any of these, just avoid putting the drinking glass or glass bowl in the air fryer as these are an indication of weakness.
You can always invest in a glass bowl that’s oven-safe to help you enjoy warming your food in an air fryer without stress.
4. Avoid high temperatures
Temperatures above 450 F can be harmful to your glass bowls, resulting to breakage. Oven-safe glass is designed to work within a range of 350 F and 450 F and as such you should read the labels keenly to know the limits.
If a glass bowl is designed to handle 350F, never increase the temperatures beyond this. When exposed to high temperatures, the glass starts cracking and losing its shape and this could even lead to its explosion.
To be safe, try to use your glass bowl below the indicated temperature limits jut to be on the safe.
What Can You Not Put in an Air Fryer?
There are several things you shouldn’t put or even cook in an air fryer. For example, anything that’s susceptible to melting should not be put in an air fryer.
You should avoid putting plastic utensils or bowls in an air fryer as these are not designed to withstand high temperatures.
Additionally, you should avoid cooking foods such as cheese, broccoli, raw rice and leafy greens as these cannot withstand high temperatures.
Best alternative to glass bowl use in an air fryer
If you’re not sure whether to use your glass bowl in an air fryer, then you should avoid it and opt for other alternatives.
There are some best alternatives to glass bowl use in an air fryer such as oven-safe steel bowls, ceramic bowls, silicone molds and perforated parchment paper among others.
If you opt for steel materials, always look for the tough options as some lightweight options could be incapable of withstanding high air fryer temperatures. Always read the labels on the bowls and other items before putting them in an air fryer.
Conclusion
Understanding how air fryers work is key to the correct usage and maximization of its benefits. Basically, an air fryer is a convection oven and very strong. It works by circulating hot air very fast within the basket. This helps in heating or cooking the food within a matter of minutes.
It’s good to always bear in mind that now all bowls are designed for use in an oven and the air fryer in particular. As such, always choose the bowls for use in an air fryer to avoid food wastage, contamination and damage to the bowls.
