We have all been standing in our kitchens with something hot – wondering where to place our hot equipment without causing damage to any surfaces. Most of us have plenty of trivet mats or silicone pads in our cupboards, but they never seem to be where we want them when we want them! So – Where can you put a hot air fryer basket next time you are in a pinch?
Air fryers can be put on a treated wooden surface such as chopping boards without warping or marking. Placing an air fryer on untreated surfaces may result in the wood splitting or the basket leaving permanent markings. If in doubt, you should use a trivet mat or pad to hold hot pans.
Almost all wooden chopping boards have been treated in some way to be able to withstand heat of some sort. It’s safe to say, if you have a chopping board to hand, you can use it to hold pots, pans and air fryer baskets.
However, if you have untreated wood – Such as a wooden table, you shouldn’t use it to put hot pans or air fryer baskets on.
The biggest mistake people make with air fryers is underestimating how hot the basket can get. We are all accustomed to using microwaves on regular bases, but air fryers work very differently. Having a heating element at the top of the cooking area, air fryers deliver direct heat. Pair that with the metal of an air fryer the results are quite literally – scorching hot.
Unless you are confident your countertops have been treated for heat resistance, you should avoid putting any hot items directly on work surfaces. Instead, you should use a treated chopping board or dedicated mats for holding hot pans.
Most countertops will have been treated. Unless you are sure, you shouldn’t assume. Coming from experience, I have had surfaces I was sure were heat resistant. Only to lie on a hot pan, and to be left with a scorch mark as a reminder of my mistake, forever.
Glass and Granite countertops are known for being heat resistant. However – you should always check what your countertops are made of. The counter I scorched with a soup pan (yes, I remember, like a scar in my mind) I had assumed granite.
Stainless steel should also be used with caution. In theory, stainless steel is supposed to be just that – stainless. Having worked in restaurants, most surfaces must be made from non-porous materials such as stainless steel. After a few months of usage, scorch marks appear from scalding pans being put down. You can usually tell, as most marks from extreme heat appear as a purple/gold pan ring.
I don’t imagine many households opt for a stainless steel work surface. However – if you do, buyer, beware!
If you are still unsure about your countertops – Or you are extra careful, there are a few great options (plus some pretty ones) you can use in the kitchen to rest hot items.
Chopping Boards
Probably the most accessible of them all. As discussed, make sure it’s a treated chopping board. You can also use plastic chopping boards to hold hot pots and pans. Most plastic chopping boards are made from heat-resistant materials. Although (as with all), make sure before you put your shiny new air fryer basket on top.
Silicone Mats
Silicone mats were the latest kitchen fad in the late 90s. Luckily they have stayed a part of many kitchens and, even better – Saved many countertops.
Silicone mats – also known as trivets, come in every shape and colour you could ever wish for.
Aside from the typical “mat” shape. You can also get rolls of silicone mats if you are working with many hot pans at a time or are dealing with space issues. These can be rolled up and stored in a drawer or next to your cutlery – as I like to.
Cork
Suppose you are a certain age like myself. Every kitchen has at least one cork mat to hold hot pans. These were usually pretty battered and looked like they had been handed down through generations of chefs.
The truth is, cork is fantastic and affordable. Cork is entirely heat resistant and lightweight.
That said – Cork isn’t without its flaws. Due to its porous nature, it stains before you have it out of the packet. There is also an unmistakable smell from a cork trivet. It is one of those unique, instantly identifiable smells (not the most pleasant).
Of course, we can’t talk about a cork mat without discussing the fact they fall apart after a while, unlike silicone, which will last years. Cork will age poorly and often dry out and crack or crumble after a year or so.
That being said. Cork is cheap, so they are usually sold in large packs of 4 or more, ready to replace when aged out.
Oven Racks
The most obvious is often right under your nose (or in your oven). I use my secret go-to more often than I would like to admit.
When waving a hot Air Fryer basket in the air – Or even a hot pan, I always forget about my fancy trivets, reach straight into my oven, pull the rack out, and slide it gracefully onto my counter.
There is an obvious caveat to this. It only works if you aren’t using your own at the time. Pulling a hot rack out to put your hot air fryer basket on – defeats the object!
You CAN put an air fryer on a wooden surface, as long as it’s a treated surface, such as a chopping board or dedicated trivets. You should use wooden tables to place hot items.
You can use a variety of dedicated utensils to hold hot items, such as silicone mats or cork. However,
if you find yourself in a pinch – You can use a cold oven rack.
