Metal skewers are fine. Wooden toothpicks and bamboo skewers need a soak first, because dry wood in a 400F convection oven can scorch and occasionally catch.
Wood holding food together is normal cooking practice, and the air fryer version has one wrinkle: there is no liquid and the air is moving fast, so exposed dry wood dries out further and can char. Thirty minutes in water fixes it entirely.
| Metal skewers | Safe, and reusable |
|---|---|
| Wooden picks | Soak 20 to 30 minutes first |
| Main risk | Exposed dry wood charring or catching |
| Keep below | The heating element, with clearance |
| Watch for | Picks working loose and being lifted by the fan |
How to use them
- Soak wooden skewers and toothpicks in water for at least twenty minutes.
- Trim any long ends that stick out beyond the food. Exposed wood is what burns.
- Push them through so they sit flush rather than standing up toward the element.
- Check halfway through cooking that nothing has worked loose.
- Use metal skewers for anything over fifteen minutes.
What happens when you get it wrong
- Charred ends. Dry exposed wood blackens and smells, and the smell gets into the food.
- A loose pick lifting. Light, dry and near the element is the bad combination.
- Snapped picks in the food. Over-dry wood goes brittle. Soaking keeps it flexible.
- Scratched basket. Metal skewers dragged across non-stick leave marks. Lift rather than slide.
Short metal skewers made for air fryers, which are cheap and last forever.
For bacon-wrapped items, tucking the end underneath often holds as well as a pick does.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put toothpicks in an air fryer?
Yes, if you soak them in water for twenty to thirty minutes first and trim any ends that stick out. Dry exposed wood can scorch at air fryer temperatures.
Are bamboo skewers air fryer safe?
With a soak, yes. Without one they dry out further in the moving hot air and the exposed ends char.
Are metal skewers better?
For anything cooking longer than about fifteen minutes, yes. They do not burn and they can be reused indefinitely. Lift them in and out rather than dragging them across the basket.
Can a toothpick catch fire in an air fryer?
It is uncommon but possible with dry wood close to the element, particularly if it works loose and is lifted by the fan. Soaking removes the risk.
Do soaked skewers affect cooking?
Barely. A little steam comes off at the start, which has no meaningful effect on the food.