Glass bowls can be placed in an air fryer if they are marked as oven safe. Even if they are, you should still be careful to avoid rapid heating of the glass which could cause it to shatter from thermal shock.
Okay, you are a huge foodie and enjoy making meals in your air fryer. Or maybe it is your first time using one and is still a bit new to it. You have different containers and bowls in the kitchen, especially glassware. So you start thinking, can you put a glass bowl in your air fryer?
Many people keep their leftovers in a glass container and want to take them out of the fridge and warm them up without needing to transfer them to another container. Or perhaps you even want to start cooking with glassware.
There are many questions to ask first such as is there an upper-temperature limit for using one in your air fryer? And are there any safety concerns when placing a glass bowl in an air fryer?
We’re here to answer all of your questions and show you whether or not you can put a glass bowl in an air fryer. Let’s get started.
When Can You Use a Glass Bowl in an Air Fryer?
You can only use your glass bowl in your air fryer when it is an oven-safe one. Still, you must remember that your air fryer can change temperatures much faster than your oven. Placing a cold glass bowl out of the fridge into the air fryer can fracture your cookware.
When glass undergoes rapid changes in temperature, it can cause thermal shock. This is because things expand as they get warmer and contract as they get colder. This expansion or contraction will happen at different layers in the glass, causing tension.
This different tension within the glass will then cause it to crack. For thick and toughened glass, this cracking can be quite violent.
We recommend placing your glass in some mild-warm water if taken out of the fridge. Then you can put it pre-heated in the air fryer as an added safety measure. Doing this will not cause any thermal shock.
Some glass is better at handling high heat than others. If your glass is not marked as oven safe, then it’s best not to take any chances.
How Do You Check if Your Glass Cookware is Oven-Safe?
The simplest way to check if your glass bowl is oven-safe is on the manufacturing label or if it has a symbol. You usually find this written on the base of the bowl.
Alternatively, you can check the brand’s website for information related to your cookware. As a last resort, you could also contact their customer service department.
It’s also important to note that not all oven-safe glass is made the same. That means they may have different temperature limits which you should check out as well.
How To Prevent Your Glass Bowl from Shattering in Your Air Fryer
If you still feel unsure, even if you have a high-quality glass dish such as Pyrex, here are some steps you can follow to ensure there are no problems:
Never have a sudden temperature change
Sudden temperature changes cause the glass to break. If you have a glass bowl with leftover food in the refrigerator, leave it to stand outside for a while. Once it reaches room temperature, you can put your air fryer at the lowest temperature.
This applies the other way too. Don’t put a heated glass straight into cold water or into your freezer.
Look for any structural damage in the glass
Even an oven-safe glass bowl can shatter with a weak spot. You can hold the bowl up to the light to look for fine cracks or any unevenness in the glass.
As we mentioned before, thermal shock happens when there are rapid tension changes to the glass. If there are any weak spots, then these tension changes will expose them.
Always use oven-safe or tempered glass
Never place a drinking glass, glass container, or serving glass bowls in your air fryer. They are not made to withstand temperature changes unless it is labeled oven-safe. If in doubt, leave it out of the air fryer.
Try not to use high temperatures
Always read the label of your glass bowl to know what temperatures it can handle. The glass loses shape, cracks, and explodes at a higher temperature than it can hold.
If using glass in your air fryer, it’s best that you use it at the lowest temperature possible to be on the safe side.
Does Using Glass Cookware Work Well in Your Air Fryer
The critical factor in using an air fryer is airflow, as it relies on the circulation of the warm air around your food to cook well. Hence, these ventilation areas should never be blocked.
Using a glass bowl or other glass cookware without holes is not going to provide perfect results. The reason is that it will take longer for the food to cook around the base of the bowl. Still, there are exceptions, like baking a cake in your air fryer.
No matter what cookware you use, always remember the airflow factor. The best way to achieve this is using a glass bowl that does not fill up the cooking compartment, as otherwise there will not be proper air circulation.
Placing glass cookware in your air fryer can be useful for heating up food but you may have mixed results if you’re cooking inside a glass bowl.
FAQs On Can You Put a Glass Bowl in an Air Fryer
Can I use a glass pan in my air fryer?
Using a glass pan is not advised as it can result in your food cooking unevenly and not crispy.
Can I use a baking dish in my air fryer?
You can use any ovenproof dish, or even a mold in the air fryer if it is made of silicone, metal, ceramic, or glass.
How do you know you have an oven-safe glass bowl?
Check and see if the glass bowl has a stamp, label, or any description on the base. If you are uncertain, you can check out the brand website.
