Why You Can Use Tin Foil In The Air Fryer But Not Microwave

Microwaves and aluminum foil don't go well together, but in an air fryer, that same foil is fairly safe to use (with some small caveats). This is due to how each appliance works.

If you switch the microwave on with tin foil inside, it will spark and may catch on fire thanks to the electromagnetic waves that a microwave uses to heat food.

Air fryers cook food by blowing hot air all around, which doesn't cause electrons in aluminum foil to move around in the same way a microwave oven does with electromagnetic waves.

Putting aluminum foil in an air fryer is very much like putting aluminum foil in your convection oven. Foil can even be helpful for keeping your air fryer clean.

This works with items that stick to the basket, or breaded foods that might shed crumbs. Check your air fryer manual to see if there are any safety pointers for using foil in it.