My air fryer basket warped after 4 months, is this normal?

Last Tuesday I was making frozen fries and noticed the basket was sitting crooked in the drawer. I pulled it out and the bottom had a big bow in it, like the metal just gave up. I've been using it almost every day since I got it in March, always at 400 degrees, so maybe I pushed it too hard? I sprayed it with oil before cooking which the manual said to do, but now I'm worried I ruined it. Has anyone else had their basket warp on them, or should I just buy a replacement insert instead of a whole new unit?

2 comments

2 Comments

felixm292d ago

and honestly the daily use at 400 is probably exactly what did it. these baskets are usually thin aluminum and they just cant handle that kind of constant heat cycling, especially if you're preheating it empty half the time like i do. i had the same thing happen with a cheap off brand one and the replacement insert was like half the price of a new unit, but it warped again within 3 months so i just gave up and got a different model with a thicker basket. if you're gonna keep using it that much, id look for a stainless steel insert or one that's rated for higher temps, otherwise you're just gonna keep buying replacements. at least the good news is you can probably still cook in it for now, just might not sit perfectly flat in the drawer.

ramirez.vera1d ago

Grab a pair of tongs and check the underside of the basket before you bother replacing anything. The warp might be worse than it looks from the top, and if the metal has started to crack near the corners, it'll just get worse with each use. I've been through two of these thin aluminum inserts myself, and the second time I didn't even bother with a replacement. I just started using a small cast iron skillet on the tray instead, which fits fine and handles the heat way better. The drawer won't slide as smooth but at least I'm not buying new parts every few months. If you do go the replacement route, spend the extra few bucks on a steel one, it's worth it.

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