One of the most frequently asked questions among air fryer owners is: Can silicone molds be used in an air fryer?
When you don’t want to turn on the oven, the air fryer is the perfect substitute for baking, but is it safe to use baking items like silicone molds in the air fryer?
Everything you need to know about silicone molds and the air fryer is right here.
Table of Contents
What Is the Purpose of Silicone Molds?
The air fryer is the must-have kitchen appliance of the twenty-first century. It can do everything from fry foods without using a lot of oil to reheat frozen foods.
While it may be tempting to use your air fryer for everything because it is such a convenient appliance, you most likely have some safety concerns.
After all, you already know that not every dish is microwave-safe, so it’s safe to assume that your air fryer has some limitations as well.
Silicone molds, despite their name, are used for more than just shaping and forming baked goods. Many bakers prefer to use them instead of baking trays and pans.
Silicone molds are baking tools made of silicone rubber, a flexible synthetic material that is a polymer similar to plastic. Silicone molds are available in a variety of colors, ranging from neutrals to bright neon.
They also come in a variety of shapes, ranging from standard loaf tins and muffin trays to nontraditional baking shapes such as butterflies, cars, and others. Many bakers enjoy using silicone molds to create candy or desserts in unusual shapes, especially for children.
Silicone molds have a few benefits over metal bakeware. They are non-stick and, as a result, are frequently easier to maneuver.
However, because they are flexible and bendy, it is easy to spill your batter when placing them in the oven!
***Read More: Can I Use An Air Fryer As A Microwave? The Expert’s Answer?
Can Silicone Molds Be Used in an Air Fryer?
One of the air fryer’s hidden benefits is that it makes baking so much easier. You can make baked goods in the fryer without having to preheat the oven as long as you adjust for temperature and time.
The good news is that silicone molds can be used in the air fryer. That means you can easily make all of the cookies and cupcakes you want in your air fryer!
Why is it secure?
Oven-safe silicone molds can withstand temperatures of up to 440°F. The temperature of an air fryer is usually between 325- and 400-degrees Fahrenheit, which is much lower than the temperature of an oven.
If your silicone molds can withstand the heat of an oven, they can be used in an air fryer.
Despite the fact that silicone bakeware is a newer material than metal or earthenware, it is generally safe to use.
Silicone molds and pans are FDA-approved to withstand heating and cooling without leaching harmful chemicals into your food, which is a common concern with plastic tins.
Make sure your silicone mold or cooking equipment is oven-safe before using it in an air fryer.
Because silicone molds are made with a special heat-resistant polymer, not everything made of silicone can withstand high temperatures. That means you should never put random silicone objects in your air fryer!
***Read More: Air Fryer Vs Deep Fryer Cooking Time: Which is Your Option
What if you don’t have any silicone molds on hand?
If you don’t have silicone molds, you can still make baked goods in your air fryer. Glass, metal, and steel are also air fryers safe materials. These bowls and pans can be used in the air fryer just like they would in the oven.
If you’re reheating frozen meals or baking mozzarella sticks, you may not want to get a whole baking sheet dirty or you may not have one on hand.
The advantage of air fryers is that they are even suitable for use with disposable materials.
To heat your food in an air fryer, wrap it in aluminum foil or parchment paper. This is best for reheating food or frozen meals, not for baking cookies.
When using foil or parchment paper, make sure it doesn’t obstruct any heating elements or air ducts.
How to Use Silicone Molds
Here are a few things to keep in mind if you use silicone molds in your air fryer.
#1. Molds should be shaken.
The one disadvantage of silicone molds over other types of bakeware is that they bake food unevenly. This is especially problematic in an air fryer, which is smaller.
To avoid this, remove the molds halfway through the baking time, shake them, and then turn them around.
This ensures that all sides of your food have equal access to the heat source and that your cake isn’t a raw and burnt patchwork.
#2. Don’t overfill the silicone tubing
Another disadvantage of silicone molds over metal or glass baking trays is that they are sometimes too flexible.
This means that if you’re not careful, the mold may bend when you place it in the oven or fryer, causing your batter to spill.
Aside from being cautious, the best way to avoid spilling is to avoid overfilling your molds. This also allows your baked goods to rise and prevents different items from sticking together.
***Read More: Home Tip: Can I Put Glass In An Air Fryer? Is It Break?
#3. Use the Frying Mold
Even if you’re not making baked goods, you can use a silicone mold. A silicone pot or basket is ideal for holding items that you are attempting to fry, such as chicken nuggets or French fries.
Using a silicone mold for frying is more eco-friendly than parchment paper and makes cleanup easier because you don’t have to clean the air fryer’s basket.
You can even get silicone molds that are specifically designed for air fryers.
#4. Cleaning Molds on a Regular Basis
Simply because food does not adhere as easily to silicone as it does to other materials does not mean that you can avoid washing your molds on a regular basis. You still want to get rid of the grease buildup.
Warm water and regular dish soap should be used to clean your silicone molds. To make your life even easier, most silicone molds are dishwasher-safe.
#5. Air Fryer and Silicone Molds
The good news is that silicone molds can be safely used in an air fryer. As long as you use oven-safe food-grade silicone molds, they can withstand temperatures higher than those produced by your air fryer.
Silicone molds are completely safe to use because they do not leech or bleed harmful materials into food at either high or low temperatures.
In your air fryer, use them to bake cupcakes or cookies, reheat frozen foods, or even fry chicken nuggets.
For the best results, shake your silicone molds halfway through the baking time to ensure an even bake. You should also avoid overfilling the molds and wash them on a regular basis.
When you’re in a hurry, baking in an air fryer is preferable because you don’t have to wait for the oven to preheat. For added convenience, use your silicone molds.
***Read More: Can An Air Fryer Explode? Is it Safe For Using
Frequently Asked Questions:
#1. Is a silicone mold better than a metal mold?
If you are concerned about food sticking to the surface of the metal, silicone molds may be the best option.
However, silicone molds conduct heat poorly compared to metal pans and cooking food in silicone pans results in uneven cooking.
To combat this, shake the silicone pan between cooking times.
#2. Is it necessary to grease silicone molds?
While most baskets or pans needed to be greased before cooking to prevent food from sticking, silicone molds do not. They are scratch-resistant and simple to maintain.
#3. When heated, are silicone pans/molds toxic?
Silica or sand is used to make silicone bakeware. Unlike plastics, which contaminate food in these environments, they can withstand heating and freezing without leaching or off-gassing hazardous chemicals.
#4. Can Silicone Molds Be Used in an Air Fryer?
Most silicone molds and bakeware can withstand temperatures of up to 440 degrees Fahrenheit.
An air fryer’s temperature ranges from 120 F to 400 F. As long as the silicone mold is oven-safe, it is safe to use in an air fryer.
#5. Is it true that all silicone molds are BPA-free?
BPA, BPS, and phthalates are not present in food-grade silicone.
Conclusion
We hope you found this article to be informative. As a result, you can answer the question, “Can silicone molds be used in an air fryer?” Having said that, a silicone mold can be used in an air fryer because the maximum temperature for silicone is 440 degrees Fahrenheit.
To be extra cautious, check the mold’s label for temperature range and BPA free label.
