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What Kind of Unbreakable Dishes Can You Use in an Air Fryer?

When using an air fryer, it’s important to choose dishes made of heat-resistant, non-breakable materials. If you’re not sure whether to go for silicone, stainless steel, oven-safe glass, or ceramic, check out the guide below.

If you use your air fryer a lot, you’ve probably wondered, “Which dishes are actually safe to use?” Using the wrong one can crack or warp when reheating frozen shrimp fried rice or making pizza-style tortillas.

These days, there are tons of options like Daiso air fryer bowls, special air fryer dish sets, and Cuckoo-specific containers, but it’s not always clear which materials are truly safe.

So in this post, we’ve broken down which materials really work, what counts as unbreakable, and which ones to avoid.

Are Silicone Dishes Okay in an Air Fryer?

Silicone dishes are one of the most popular options for air fryers. They handle temperatures around 200°C (392°F) easily and hold their shape well.

Silicone air fryer bowls are super versatile — from muffins and steamed eggs to quick black bean noodles. They don’t break, resist heat, and are easy to clean, making them perfect for snacks or side dishes.

Just keep in mind that thin, cheap ones can bend or tear, so pick thicker, sturdy-bottomed products instead.

Can You Use Stainless Steel Bowls?

Unlike a microwave, an air fryer can handle metal containers. Stainless steel bowls are durable and conduct heat well, which is why many people use them.

Stainless steel bowls in an air fryer work especially well for meats, potatoes, or tortilla pizzas. In oven-style air fryers, you can even use them like lunchboxes for direct cooking.

Here’s what to watch out for:

Remove any plastic lids or silicone seals first
Thin bowls can warp under high heat
A light coat of oil helps prevent food from sticking

Recently, I’ve been using stainless “bats” bought online.

The clean stainless with a mesh rack, deep trays, and low lids is super practical.

Stainless Tray

Stainless Tray

What About Oven-Safe Metal Pans or Baking Trays?

Oven-safe metal pans, cookie sheets, and muffin tins can also be used safely in an air fryer. They conduct heat well, so cooking time can be shorter.

For cookie dough, muffins, or mini cakes, baking pans or muffin trays are perfect. They help food crisp on the outside and hold their shape.

Things to keep in mind:

If the pan is too big, airflow might be blocked and food won’t cook evenly
Coated pans can get damaged at high heat — check if it’s Teflon
Use parchment paper or a wire rack to keep it from touching the heating element directly

oven pan

Is Heat-Resistant Glass Safe from Breaking?

Glass marked as heat-resistant can be safely used in an air fryer. Regular glass, however, may shatter, so check carefully.

Glass bowls in an air fryer must be made of oven-safe glass (like Pyrex). Regular or tempered glass can crack from sudden temperature changes.

Also, avoid placing cold glass straight into a hot air fryer. The sudden temperature difference can cause thermal shock cracks. Always check the label to make sure it’s oven-safe glass.

Using heat-resistant glass lets you bring food straight from the air fryer to the table in the same dish. Just be careful — it gets extremely hot, even hotter than other containers, so use thick oven mitts when taking it out.

How About Ceramic or Porcelain Dishes?

Microwave-safe ceramics or oven-proof porcelain dishes are generally fine to use in an air fryer.

Corelle dishes or oven-safe ceramics are solid and retain heat well, making them great for stews or baked dishes.

But ordinary pottery or earthenware can crack, and pieces with damaged glaze or metal decorations may get ruined under high heat — so avoid those.

What About Parchment Paper or Paper Dishes?

Parchment paper is fine to line the bottom, but paper bowls themselves aren’t safe to use.

When using paper in an air fryer, always weigh it down with food. If not, the hot air can blow it around and cause a fire hazard.

Paper dishes don’t handle heat well and aren’t structurally suitable, so skip them.

Some Dishes You Should Never Put in an Air Fryer

Never put plastic, melamine, wood, regular glass, or ordinary pottery in an air fryer. They can’t handle high heat or may release harmful substances.

Microwave-only containers aren’t meant for air fryers. Always make sure it’s labeled oven-safe.