If you are tired of cleaning up all the grease in your air fryer after every cooking session, this post on if you can use silicone in an air fryer will save your bottom.
I understand how difficult it is to clean the air fryer basket after cooking a batch of greasy chicken wings or a steak.
You are left with tough grease stains that are hard to scrub because, with the steak, even the excess grease/fats cook to ‘well-done’ in the air fryer, causing them to form an unbreakable bond with the air fryer basket.
This grease is so stubborn that you risk scraping the nonstick coating on the air fryer basket!
But do not worry; this is where silicone liners come in!
They are here to help you, protect you, and save your time and energy from cleaning non-stop after every cook session inside the air fryer.
Can you use Silicone inside the air fryer?
Yes, you can use Silicone inside the air fryer, and they are safe to use. Silicone is a polymer Siloxane, giving the products made from it that rubber texture and feel.
Most silicone molds, pans, and liners can withstand heat up to 450℉ and some even 490℉ depending on the product(always check the manufacturer’s guide).
Silicone products can withstand high temperatures, making them perfect for air fryers.
If you want to cook cookies, cakes, cupcakes, or bread in the air fryer, then these silicone molds can be the best option.
Why use silicone cookware in an air fryer?
One of the best silicone cookware I recommend to all air fryer users is silicone liners. They are the best thing you can use with your air fryer.
Using them to line the air fryer basket makes cleaning easy and helps protect the nonstick coating on the air fryer.
Most grease and grime from the food is collected on the silicone liner, which is easier to clean than cleaning the air fryer basket with stubborn grease stains.
When you cook directly on the air fryer basket, removing the grease can involve scrubbing, which can scrape off the nonstick layer after a few washes.
The silicone liner forms a barrier, and this helps increase the longevity of the non-stick coating on the air fryer basket.
How to use Silicone in an air fryer?
Now that you know that using silicone in the air fryer is safe, it is time to consider the right way to use it.
Most silicone cookware can withstand temperatures up to 450℉, but it will melt if it comes in direct contact with fire or the heating element.
So, let’s look at some basic yet necessary pointers on using silicone in an air fryer.
1. SIZE MATTERS- The silicone cookware should fit perfectly in the air fryer. WRONG. Let me try that again, the silicone cookware should be slightly smaller than the air fryer basket, so there is enough room for the hot air circulation.
This is the same as aluminum pans, where you had to use a tad bit smaller size pans so that the air could circulate else it would cause uneven cooking.
Having room around the cookware in the air fryer also makes it easier to insert and remove the cookware once the cooking is done. So the size matters here; make sure you choose the right cookware.
2. SOMETIMES IT IS OKAY TO WEIGH THEM DOWN- Never insert your mold, liners, or pans inside the air fryer while preheating it.
This can cause the cookware to come in contact with the heating element because of all the air circulating inside the air fryer, and it can cause the silicone cookware to burn.
This can also damage the heating element, so it would be best never to go on this adventure.
3. NO DIRECT CONTACT WITH HEAT- This is another important point to note when dealing with silicone cookware.
Silicone cookware is microwave-safe-yes, but it cannot come in contact with direct fire.
Even though they can withstand high temperatures, they are not fire-resistant and will melt.
So keep this in mind. This is another reason you should avoid them from coming in contact with direct heat.
4. KNOW WHEN TO INSERT AND PULL OUT- While inserting the silicone mold, you need to have some space around the edges. If not, it can be easy to burn yourself, especially while taking out the cookware.
If you insert the mold in a preheated air fryer basket, that is another tricky task.
This is why I had to mention this point: you can consider how you will insert your mold in the air fryer basket and how to take it out.
Best silicone Accessories for air fryer
1. Silicone Liners- This is my favorite of them all! This is a must for anyone cooking in an air fryer, as these silicone liners can withstand a lot of cooking.
Silicone liners line the air fryer basket, making cleaning the basket so much easier.
2. Silicone Molds- This makes baking easier in the air fryer. Air fryers do not come with their custom molds, so using silicone molds help.
3. Silicone pans- If you are cooking something that is watery or you know it would release a lot of fat on cooking, then cooking them on a silicone pan inside the air fryer is the way to go.
These are similar to silicone liners, with a pan shape.
Benefits of using Silicone Cookware
There are so many benefits to using silicone cookware in your kitchen that I had to introduce this section in the post.
Let’s look at some exciting reasons why silicone is a must in every kitchen-
1. Versatility- Silicone is not just good as implants inside the body, but it works well even in the kitchen. Well, who knew?
Silicone is microwave-safe, oven-safe, and air fryer safe so that you can use them for baking in any appliance. The only downside is that you cannot use them under direct fire, which is not a deal breaker.
2. Non-Stick- The silicone molds are non-stick, which helps make cupcakes and other baked goods without using parchment paper.
It can be an excellent tool for a beginner baker who isn’t well aware of how to bake recipes, so they do not end up sticking to the mold. Also, this gives a perfect result every time you cook.
3. Flexibility- You may not be flexible, but silicone molds are!
Silicone molds are very flexible; hence you do not have to worry about dents, cracks, and all the common issues you face with metal molds.
4. Take very little storage space- Since the silicone molds are so flexible, they can transform into any shape and fit in a tiny space in your kitchen cabinets or a small box; they do not take up a lot of space which is perfect for smaller kitchens.
5. Heat Resistance- The silicone molds are heat resistant and can withstand temperatures up to 450℉.
It can also be stored in the freezer to go from cold to hot without any breaks or cracks in the mold.
6. Even cooking and cool to the touch- Silicone molds cook food evenly as they distribute heat evenly.
Another great thing about these molds is that they quickly drop their temperature when out of the air fryer or oven and are cool to the touch after a few minutes, making removing food from them easier.
7. Easy to clean- Silicone molds are dishwasher-safe, making them easy to clean. You can also wash them with dish soap and a sponge(try not to use an abrasive scrubber), and they clean pretty quickly as they are flexible. You can also reach all nooks and crannies because of the flexibility.
Dirt and grime come off quickly from silicone molds as they are nonstick.
8. Price- Silicone molds are cheap and affordable. Considering there are so many different ways to use them, I would say go for silicone molds, as they will last longer, depending on how you use them.
They are worth the money, and I couldn’t recommend them enough.
Are there any downsides to using silicone cookware?
The silicone molds are not sturdy and flimsy, so you must hold them carefully and put the mold inside the air fryer carefully without dropping it.
It is easy to drop the batter from the mold because silicone is very flexible and rubbery, so make sure you hold it the right way to avoid spillage.
Another downside is that silicone cookware cannot go above 450 degrees Fahrenheit most of the time, so if you plan on cooking something at 500 and above, I suggest you skip using silicone cookware for those recipes.
How to clean silicone cookware?
Cleaning Silicone cookware is by far the easiest; since they are non-stick, you do not have a lot of grease and grime stuck onto teh surface as they come out quickly.
And even if you have something on the mold, you can quickly flip it inside out and clean it with a soft sponge and dish soap.
It will remove all the leftover dirt and grime right off. Silicone cookware is dishwasher safe, so you can put them in there and run a cycle to get them out squeaky clean.
New to Air frying?
If you are new to air frying, then I feel you! I know it can be overwhelming to see so much information online and unsure where to start.
This was me a few years back, and that is when I decided to start an air fryer blog that would help people with cooking in the air fryer.
If you are new or have just started cooking in an air fryer, check out these FREE resources on my blog and be an expert in a few minutes.
Can you put Parchment Paper in Air Fryer-Is it RECOMMENDED?
How Do I Get the Plastic smell Out of My Air Fryer?
Can you put a paper towel in an air fryer?
Do Air Fryers Use Oil?- YES AND NO! (Read this before…)
If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments, and I would be happy to help.
Leave a Reply