Robin – Page 81 – Kitchensnitches

The air fryer basket is a convenient way of loading the air fryer but with many air fryers, size is the main problem. Removing the basket and using something smaller might make room for more food, or perhaps, make it possible to cook things that require certain equipment, like cupcakes for example. Therefore, the question has to be raised. You can use an air fryer without the basket inside. You shouldn't put food directly on the base of the air fryer because it will cause a mess, but you could use a pan or any other accessory that can be used in a regular convection oven or microwave. There are accessories specifically made for the air fryer that offer more possibilities when cooking. Some air fryers do, however, come with a function that makes it impossible to start the air fryer unless the basket is placed correctly. Removing the basket from the air fryer will without a doubt count as "the basket being placed incorrectly". If you have used an air fryer regularly you have definitely noticed the lack of space in most air fryers. Many air fryers have a very small interior size, somewhere between 6-7 inches seems to be pretty normal. The basket itself takes up a lot of space but because it can be filled, it usually isn't a problem. If you were to remove it from the equation, you would buy yourself more space to cook, but you would still need to place another heat-resistant dish in its place. What Can I Use Instead Of The Air Fryer Basket Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might able to put a pan in the air fryer as long as the pan doesn't have a handle because then it will most likely be way too big for the air fryer's cavity space. What can you use to replace your air fryer basket? TrayGrill/Cooking RackBaking TinBaking Pan For Air FryerInstant Pot For Air FryerSpringform PanAluminum PanGrill Pan Your air fryer can handle all types of tins and cooking molds as long as they are ovenproof and made of glass, ceramic, metal, or silicone. If using anything other than the air fryer basket, it is important to remember that the tin of your choice should leave some space on either side of the air fryer cavity. This is done to ensure that the airflow can pass through and cook the food on all sides. You might be interested in reading: Do you need special pans for the air fryer? Can You Use an Air Fryer Without the Crisper Tray? The crisper tray, which looks like the bottom of the air fryer basket, is a thin mesh-like plate designed to hold the food in the air fryer and suspend it slightly to ensure the food is cooked more evenly. The main difference is that the tray doesn't have a brim, which the basket does. Every air fryer out there doesn't come with a crisper tray but some models come with a basket/crisper tray combination. There are a few models that only come with crisper trays, too. Of course, these models still have the outer basket - they're just missing the inner basket. Unless they're designed like mini-ovens. Round air fryers often have baskets while square mini-oven air fryers often have trays. You can use an air fryer without the crisper tray but you'll need to use a suitable substitute to make sure the food isn't placed at the bottom of the air fryer, where the circulating air can't reach it from underneath. Cooking without the crisper tray can also result in more cleaning, as the tray acts as a collector of crumbs and spices. The mesh-patterned design doesn't allow the crisp tray to hold juices though. Anything liquid will drip through the tray and collect at the bottom of the air fryer. If your air fryer has both a crisper tray and a basket, you can use the crisper tray when cooking food that can be placed in a single layer and opt for the basket when you're cooking food that can be stacked, such as fries. Can You Put Food Directly In the Air Fryer? By directly, I mean placing the food at the bottom of the air fryer basket or cavity without anything separating the food from the bottom. I've tried doing this and the results taught me that... You shouldn't put food directly in the air fryer without the basket or tray as this will make a mess of your air fryer and offer no suspension, which will hinder the air fryer from reaching the food from all angles. This will make the food less crispy, and possibly undercooked. The conclusion is that you should make sure to use any of the mentioned substitutes when cooking in the air fryer - and preferably something that offers a bit of suspension when cooking foods that need to be thoroughly cooked. Can You Buy Replacement Baskets For the Air Fryer? This will vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer, and from situation to situation. If your air fryer is still covered by the warranty, you may be able to get your hands on a new basket by getting in contact with customer service. Generally, you can find replacement baskets available both online and in stores. Your best option is to check with the manufacturer first then proceed to browse sites like Amazon, etc. More on that soon. You should be able to find something by searching for the specific brand you own followed by the word "replacement basket" on Google or Amazon. I believe there are "universal" baskets that are made to suit certain size air fryers, regardless of the brand but I would suggest looking for a replacement basked made specifically for the air fryer you have to ensure full compatibility. Regardless, the answer is that you, in most cases, can get a new air fryer basket for your air fryer. This is almost a must considering the condition that most air fryer baskets are in after a year of regular use. The non-stick surface starts flaking quite easily. This can be counteracted, or somewhat slowed down, by treating the air fryer basket right and performing proper maintenance. Where Can You Buy Air Fryer Baskets? If you're missing an air fryer basket or if yours is in such terrible shape that you can't even consider using it anymore, then you're definitely going to need a new one. Well not definitely, that's up to you... but...preferably. But where would you get one? You can purchase new air fryer baskets for some models on Amazon. The price varies depending on the brand and size of the basket. If you aren't able to find the basket you're looking for on Amazon, consider getting in contact with the manufacturer. Some manufacturers actually sell air fryer baskets for their models in their e-shops. That's also a great place to start browsing for baskets. I've had a hard time finding baskets elsewhere but if you know of any place, please do leave a comment at the end of the post. Do All Air Fryers Have Baskets? Yes, ever since the air fryer was released on the market and brought into our homes, the basket has been part of the constellation. Sometimes, the air fryer basket is accompanied by the tray but that's more of an exception to the rule than anything else. The basket is really all you need to make chicken wings, nuggets, fries, vegetables, fish, and much more. In combination with parchment paper, the basket can be used for even more stuff. It's all about creativity. Most air fryers do, however, come with a few additions to provide the complete air frying experience. Traditionally, you will find a basket, mittens, and fitting utensils when unboxing your air fryer. If the chef then desires to expand the arsenal, there are a ton of accessories for the air fryer. Read: The 21 best air fryer accessories Other Air Fryer Accessories The list above doesn't really cover all of the accessories that can be used in an air fryer but it does cover most of them. Here are the additional accessories that I think you should have if you use the air fryer on a daily basis. 1. Ramekin A fine porcelain dish that is used to serve single portions of food, usually soup, cakes, gratins, and more. The ramekin is a petit accessory that doesn't provide enough space for two but for a single individual, the ramekin is a perfect complement to the basket. They come in many different sizes but for air fryer users, the 32 ounce 2. Double-Layer Cooking Rack I hope you'll love these just as much as my family does - they allow us to prepare food for the entire family at once. The double-layered cooking rack gives you the advantage of more space, making it possible for you to prepare twice the amount of food in one round. The extra cooking space is provided by an extra level of skewers, perfect for placing hamburgers, chicken, or other meats that shouldn't be in contact while cooking. 3. Bundt Pan The bundt pan is an accessory that will provide you with the tools you need to create a beautiful cake in your air fryer. Generally speaking, bundt pans are quite large and can therefore only be used in larger air fryers. You should measure your air fryer prior to purchase to make sure that the pan you go for can actually fit in your air fryer. The shape of the bundt pan will be sculpted onto your cake, brownie, or whatever it is you choose to use it for. As an added bonus, here are a couple more accessories. While they don't replace the basket in any way, they provide convenient solutions when cooking with the air fryer. TongsFry CutterMandoline SlicerParchment Paper LinersThermometer Related Questions Can silicone bakeware be used in the air fryer? Yes, you can use silicone in the air fryer without risk. Using silicone cups or molds in the air fryer is very popular when making cupcakes and regular cakes. Can I use cooking molds and utensils in my air fryer? Yes, anything that you can use in a convection oven can be used in an air fryer, including cooking molds made of silicone, pots, and other utensils. They can definitely manage the heat of your air fryer if they can handle your oven. Over the years I've come to find out that many of the restrictions that you face when using an air fryer are related to size and space, not heat. Can you put glass and pyrex in an air fryer? Yes. You can put glass and pyrex in an air fryer. Can you bake in an air fryer? Yes, you can bake in an air fryer and get very good results doing so! Conclusion You don't have to cook with your air fryer basket in place if you don't want to. Keep in mind that there are a bunch of other accessories and utensils that can replace the basket when it doesn't provide what you need. Just make sure that the air fryer is large enough to hold them and that the item in question allows the air to flow freely inside the air fryer, otherwise it'll take more time to cook the food and it will be unevenly cooked once it's finished. The basket may be the optimal tool for french fries but there are better options for other foods - especially soup.