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No, you should not put a microwave meal tray in an air fryer. Most microwave meal trays are made from thin plastic or cardboard materials that can melt, warp, or even catch fire when exposed to the high heat of an air fryer. The circulating hot air inside an air fryer typically reaches temperatures between 160°C to 200°C - far exceeding what microwave-safe containers are designed to handle.
Why Microwave Meal Trays Don't Belong in Air Fryers
Microwave meal trays serve completely different purposes than air fryer-safe cookware. Microwave containers are engineered to withstand the gentle, moist heat of microwave radiation, not the intense dry heat convection of an air fryer. When you attempt to use a microwave meal tray in an air fryer, several risks emerge. The plastic may leach chemicals into your food as it softens, while cardboard trays could potentially ignite if they come into contact with heating elements.
At airfryerrecipe.co.uk, we've tested various microwave meal trays in different air fryer models, and the results consistently show deformation within minutes. Even microwave trays labelled as "heat-resistant" rarely specify air fryer compatibility. For safe alternatives, check out our air fryer conversion chart to adapt microwave meals properly.
What Happens When You Use Microwave Trays in Air Fryers?
Several concerning outcomes can occur when placing microwave meal trays in air fryers. First, the plastic often warps within 2-3 minutes as temperatures climb above 120°C. This deformation can cause food to spill onto the heating elements, creating smoke and potential fire hazards. Second, the melted plastic may fuse to your air fryer basket, requiring intensive cleaning with specialised air fryer cleaner products.
We've received reports from UK users whose microwave trays actually caught fire in Ninja and other popular air fryer brands. The intense airflow circulates heat more aggressively than microwave radiation, accelerating material breakdown. Even if the tray survives cooking, microscopic plastic particles could transfer to your food - something you'd never want in your air fryer chicken recipes.
Safer Alternatives to Microwave Meal Trays
For those wanting to convert microwave meals for air frying, transfer the contents to proper air fryer-safe containers. Oven-proof glass dishes, silicone baskets, or even aluminium foil trays work beautifully. Our air fryer recipes collection includes dozens of meal ideas that skip microwave trays altogether. When reheating pre-packaged meals, simply empty them onto parchment paper or directly into the air fryer basket.
Manufacturer Warnings About Microwave Trays
Leading air fryer brands like Ninja, Philips, and Cosori explicitly warn against using microwave meal trays in their product manuals. These warnings exist because manufacturers understand the material science behind different cooking methods. Microwave trays lack the thermal stability to withstand prolonged exposure to air fryer temperatures, unlike purpose-built accessories available at airfryerrecipe.co.uk.
The difference comes down to material composition. Microwave trays often use PET plastics or paperboard with thin plastic coatings - materials that begin softening around 70°C. Compare this to air fryer accessories made from heat-resistant silicone (withstands 230°C+) or anodised aluminium. Even microwave "steam vent" films can melt and clog your air fryer's fan mechanism.
Special Considerations for UK Brands
British supermarket meal brands like Tesco Finest, Sainsbury's Taste the Difference, and M&S Dine In use various tray materials. Our testing showed that even premium microwave trays failed air fryer safety tests. If you're craving ready meals, consider our frozen food air fryer adaptations instead for safer preparation.