A cake tin turns your air fryer into a mini oven — for cakes, brownies, frittatas and one-tin bakes. Most tins are fine; here's what's safe, what size to pick, and the one type to avoid.
Key takeaways
Q: Can you use a cake tin in an air fryer?
A: Yes — most oven-safe metal, silicone and ceramic tins work, as long as they fit with room for airflow.
Q: What should you avoid?
A: Loose-bottomed tins with a runny batter (it leaks), and anything too big to leave an air gap.
What's safe
- Metal cake tins — fine, and conduct heat well.
- Silicone moulds — flexible and easy to release.
- Oven-safe ceramic or glass — fine; see which dishes are safe.
- Avoid loose-bottomed tins for runny batters, which can leak.
Getting the size right
Leave a gap around the tin so air can circulate — a tin that fills the whole basket blocks the airflow that makes an air fryer work. Measure your basket and pick a tin an inch or so smaller all round. Small loaf tins, 15cm round tins and individual moulds are ideal.
Ready to bake? See can you bake in an air fryer.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use a cake tin in an air fryer?
Yes — most oven-safe metal, silicone and ceramic tins work, as long as they fit with a gap around them for airflow.
What size cake tin fits an air fryer?
Measure your basket and choose a tin an inch or so smaller all round — small loaf tins, 15cm round tins and individual moulds usually fit well.
Are there any tins to avoid?
Loose-bottomed tins can leak with a runny batter, and any tin too large to leave an air gap will block the circulation the air fryer needs.