When to use foil

Foil in the air fryer generally works – but it’s only really worth using in certain cases. I’ve tried it out and I’ll show you when it helps and what to watch out for.

When foil in the air fryer actually makes sense

Most of the time, you simply don’t need it. But there are a few cases where foil comes in handy in the air fryer:

• Juicy, not crispy: A little foil parcel lets ingredients like salmon cook in their own juices.
• Less cleaning: No burnt-on bits or scrubbing – foil keeps the basket cleaner. But with a few simple cleaning tricks, you can do without it.

My top tip for you: If you’d rather your food didn’t touch the foil directly, wrap everything in a little baking paper first, then in foil.

When it’s better to skip the foil

Foil won’t help you make crispy food. For anything you want crispy – chips, veg and nuggets – foil actually works against you. 

It blocks the airflow that makes your food so crispy. The result: soft rather than crispy. So remember: anything you want crispy = no foil!

Is it dangerous to use foil in the air fryer?

Don’t worry, it isn’t dangerous – as long as you use it properly:

• Never put it in loose, as it can fly up and block the heating element.
• Make sure it doesn’t block the airflow completely.

Foil can easily handle the heat of your air fryer, and it won’t damage your appliance.

My verdict: only use foil when you need it

After testing it, it’s pretty clear when foil is worth using: 

• I only use it when it gives me a real advantage. For example, for spare ribs with barbecue sauce or tender pulled pork with BBQ rub. 
• For anything you want crispy: skip the foil and let the air fryer do its thing.