Can you put aluminum foil in your air fryer? Here are the dos and don'ts you should know

• Aluminum foil can be used in an air fryer, but it should only go in the basket.
• Acidic foods react with aluminum, so avoid using foil when air frying tomatoes, peppers, or citrus.
• Using parchment paper or a bare basket is better than foil because it won't interfere with cooking.

For many home cooks, the air fryer has joined the Instant Pot and KitchenAid stand mixer as a countertop essential. Whether you're cooking under a time crunch, have run out of oven space, or want a healthier spin on a deep-fried recipe, air fryers can come in handy.

As with other beloved kitchen tools, the first thing you should figure out is what you can — and subsequently, cannot — do. Before you get cooking, it's important to learn what can safely go in an air fryer, including a common household item: aluminum foil.

How does an air fryer work?

According to chef Meredith Laurence of Blue Jean Chef, an air fryer is simply a compact, countertop convection oven that crisps and browns food quickly.

There is, however, one key difference between this appliance and a traditional oven.

"There's a fan that blows hot air right next to a heating element, while in a regular oven, a fan blows hot air all around, but it's not in direct relationship to the element," Laurence says. "So in an air fryer that convection cooking is way more intense and way more direct."

Use aluminum foil in the basket of your air fryer

"If you can put something in an oven, you can put it into an air fryer, " says Laurence — and that includes aluminum foil. So, if you're typically one to sidestep an oven mess with this added layer, it's also safe to use in an air fryer, but there are a few tips to adhere to.

The golden rule of using foil in an air fryer is to only put it in the basket. If placed in the bottom of the drawer, it could get blown around and ultimately dislodge.

In the worst-case scenario, the foil could blow onto the heating element, overheat, and potentially start a fire. Never preheat the air fryer with a foil-lined basket.

Quick tip: "Make sure that [the foil is] weighed down with food," Laurence says, or it could blow around into the heating element and start a grease fire.

Avoid placing acidic foods on aluminum

When you're using foil with any heating appliance, there are certain foods to steer clear of. Aluminum is a reactive surface and it can react negatively with highly acidic ingredients.

"They react with the foil and start to break it down, so you'll actually have aluminum in your food," she says. "Aside from the fact that that's not palatable, it's also not very good for you."

Foods that should not go on foil in your air fryer

• Tomatoes
• Fruit, especially citrus
• Peppers
• Marinades that contain vinegar or lemon juice

Tips for using foil in your air fryer

Here are three tips to use aluminum foil in your air fryer safely and effectively:

• Don't cover the holes. "You're really hindering the best effects of an air fryer when you cover those holes in the bottom of the basket," Laurence says. "They're there for a reason — to let the air really circulate perfectly around the whole entire surface of the food, including the bottom." When you cover the perforations, you're essentially top browning your food and not cooking it through.
• Create a foil sling. Laurence suggests folding a long piece in half two times to create a narrow strip."I'll use that as handles to put something into the air fryer, and then I can just tuck those handles in, so that when the food is finished, I can then take those handles and pull the food out again."
• Crumble up the foil. Foil can also be used to bring food closer to the heating element. "If you're cooking a steak and you want to get a really brown crust, you could crumble up foil so that it's very uneven and then you could put that in the basket," she says. "You put the steak on top of that and it just elevates it a little bit closer to the element, so you can get a nicer brown on there."

Consider trying parchment paper

Laurence recommends using parchment paper over foil when possible since it's not a reactive surface and food is less likely to stick the paper.

Plus, it's better for the environment. Retailers even sell perforated parchment paper with circles specifically designed for air fryers.

"Always opt for parchment paper over foil, except when you want to elevate your food or if you're using that foil as a sling," Laurence says. "Otherwise use the foil when the food comes out to keep it warm, but that's about it."

Insider's takeaway

Putting foil in an air fryer is completely acceptable as long as you adhere to certain safety protocols.

But ultimately, foil isn't the most ideal cooking sheet to use in the air fryer. Using a bare basket or one covered in perforated parchment paper is the best option.