Can You Put a Glass Bowl in an Air Fryer?

I like to stick to conventional cooking rules. I usually pick and choose an appliance according to what it is best made for without experimenting.

However, I have been hearing about the impending doom of financial crises in the coming years. I have now decided to make do with whatever I have without purchasing new cookware, accessories, or appliances.

The other day, I wondered if I could use my glass bowl in the air fryer as I didn’t want to transfer the cake batter.

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Can You Put a Glass Bowl in an Air Fryer?

Yes, you can put a glass bowl in an air fryer as long as it is oven safe and you don’t expose it to thermal shock.

Most oven-safe glass bowls are made up of borosilicate or soda lime.

Although they can resist heat up to a certain temperature, sudden temperature changes can cause them to shatter.

To prevent this, you need to wash the oven-safe glass bowl with hot water before placing it in your Airfryer.

Secondly, if you are crisping chicken or fries, forfeit the glass bowl.

This is because placing a glass bowl defeats the crisping mechanism. You need the basket holes to crisp the food, and you also need to flip the food for an evenly cooked surface.

When you isolate food in a glass bowl, you deprive the airflow through basket holes.

It is like asking if we can put a cast iron frying pan over the barbeque grill. Of course, you can, but don’t expect chargrilled barbequed results!

So except for liquid batters that need a container, I would not recommend placing a glass bowl in your Airfryer.

Also read: Can You Use Steel Bowl in Air Fryer?

How to Find Out If the Glass Bowl is Air-Fryer Safe?

The easiest way to find out if your glass bowl is air fryer safe is to look for an oven-safe sign by the manufacturer.

The label can be stamped anywhere on the box, at the bottom/side of the glass bowl, or in the booklet.

If you have lost the box/booklet and can’t find the oven-safe sign, go through the manufacturer’s website or contact customer care. Most brands also have social media pages. You could ask them on their page there as well.

Here are some examples of oven-safe glass bowls – Pyrex glass bowls, Ocuisine glass bowls, and Simax glass bowls.

Also read: Can Pyrex Glass Bowls Go in the Oven?

How to Perform Durability Test on the Glass Bowl

If you are unsure of the heat safety of your glass bowl, the best way to find out is to perform a durability test on the glass bowl.

This way, you can see for sure if the bowl can withstand the hot temperatures of the air fryer.

Here is how you can do it :

Wash your glass bowl with hot water.
Place it empty inside the Airfryer.
Run your Air Fryer at the temperature you want when cooking food in the glass bowl.
Keep the time duration the same as the recipe you wish to cook.
You can repeat the process until you are sure and satisfied.

What is Airfryer Safe Glass Bowl Made Up Of?

Airfryersafe (and oven-safe) glass bowls are made from borosilicate glass or soda lime. These are tempered to be able to withstand heat.

However, if they are exposed to sudden temperature changes, they undergo thermal shock.

The bowl structure changes, unlocking the molecules within, which causes shattering.

Also read: Can You Put a Paper Plate in an Air Fryer?

What are the Benefits of Using a Glass Bowl in Air Fryers?

The biggest advantage is that glass does not react or leech harmful components into your food.

Glass bowls have a transparent surface so you can easily view what’s going on inside.

They are easy to clean and maintain. Some soapy water and a mild sponge wash give the bowls a new shine.

How to Use the Glass Bowls in the Air Fryer Effectively?

Follow the tips below and your glass bowl will never break or shatter inside the Airfryer :

Always make sure the bowl is oven safe. Look for an oven-safe sign.
Perform a durability test to be on the safe side.
Keep a constant temperature. A sudden temperature change can cause the glass to become weak and shatter.
Do not set a high temperature while cooking inside the air fryer. As most oven-safe bowls are heat resistant from 350° to 450° F, make sure the temperature stays within the limits.
A defective or damaged glass bowl should not be used inside the air fryer. Look out for uneven glass surfaces, cracks, and color changes.

What are the Other Alternatives to Using a Glass Bowl in the Air Fryer?

If you are worried about thermal shock and don’t own an oven-safe glass bowl, try these excellent alternatives for baking your liquid batters:

Silicone Molds

Look no further from silicon molds for delicious cakes and muffins.

Silicone can easily withstand high temperatures and you can use them at any temperature inside the Airfryer.

They are also non-stick so you don’t have to add additional grease or oil spray.

Steel Bowls

Use oven-proof steel bowls for loading your batters inside the air fryer. Steel bowls can withstand hot temperatures easily.

They are easy to use and maintain. You can wash them in the dishwasher or by hand.

Ceramic Bowls

Ceramic bowls can easily withstand temperatures up to 400 degrees.

They are lightweight and scratch-resistant, making them easy to manipulate to and fro from the air fryer.

Paper Baking Cups

These are designed to withstand the hot temperatures of the oven. Due to their small size, they will easily fit inside the air fryer.

Paper baking cups are affordable and easily available options for muffins and cupcakes. You can use them up to 420 degrees.

It’s Better to Cook Food in Air Fryer Without Glass Bowl

An air fryer is ideally meant to crisp and cook food with the help of holes in the basket. These holes allow air to flow all around the food.

In a glass bowl, the food will not get that kind of airflow. It may take longer to cook food. There may also be chances of uncooked food at the bottom of the bowl.

Unless it is a liquid batter, I would advise you to cook the food directly in the basket.

Will the food cooked in the glass bowl inside the air fryer turn crispy?

For crispy results, the air needs to flow uniformly all around the food.

For uniform air exposure, the food is meant to be kept in a basket with holes and flipped halfway.

As the food remains inside the bowl, there are chances of it turning less crispy or not crispy at all.

Can I Place the Pyrex Bowl Inside the Air Fryer?

Yes, you can place Pyrex bowls comfortably inside the Airfryer.

Pyrex can withstand the hot temperatures of the air fryer just like the oven. It is sensitive to thermal shock so you need to warm it up by washing it with hot water before placing it inside the air fryer.

You have to also take care of the dimensions of your basket and the Pyrex bowl.

Place only the ones suitably fitting inside the air fryer. If you put a large bowl, there will be very little air circulation inside the air fryer, giving you disastrous results.

What Should Not be Placed Inside the Air Fryer?

Anything that is not oven safe should not be placed inside the Airfryer.

The items may melt or even burn inside causing a fire. Do not place metals and plastics.

Teflon is a non-stick coating that is hazardous to health. It gives off toxic fumes when heated.

Always read the manufacturing instructions for the material you wish to place inside the air fryer.

Summing Up

Now you know that an oven-safe glass bowl can be placed inside the air fryer.

Always perform a durability test to make sure it is heat resistant. To prevent thermal shock, you need to wash it in hot water.

Make sure the temperature stays constant. If it is solid food, I would advise you to forgo the bowl and place the food in the basket directly to cook/reheat.

For liquid batters, follow the safety tips above. I have also mentioned a delicious recipe you can try using the glass bowl in your air fryer.

You can also use silicone molds, oven-safe ceramic, and steel bowls, as well as paper cupcakes.

Choose wisely and enjoy your air frying experience.

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