Can You Bake Polymer Clay In An Air Fryer?

The major problem the polymer clay crafters face is drying or hardening it to make their projects firm. Crafters often need help to handle the temperature and end up burning their clay.

Since air drying does not harden the polymer clay to the right level, using a heating source is the best way to do it. Some people recommend using convection ovens for this purpose.

But ovens are large, and using them for smaller polymer clay projects does seem like an optimal plan. So, we decided to try an air fryer, and we have shared our findings in this post.

Can You Bake Polymer Clay In An Air Fryer?

Yes, you can bake polymer clay in an air fryer. Our team performed several tests, and the results were amazing. The air fryer's powerful and evenly distributed hot air ensures that the clay bakes evenly, leaving no hot or cold spots.

You can check this reddit thread where people are disucssing about curing polymer in an air fryer:

Is it viable to use an air fryer to cure polymer clay?
byu/Suigurataiki inpolymerclay

How To Bake Polymer Clay In An Air Fryer

Curing polymer clay in an air fryer is not tricky. Below is the list of supplies and the step-by-step process of baking polymer clay in the air frying unit.

Supplies You Need

• A lump of polymer clay
• Rolling pin for flattening the clay
• Cutting board to provide a flat surface
• An air fryer for baking

Instructions To Follow

• Put the required amount of polymer clay from the lump and roll it out on the cutting board with the help of a rolling pin. Keep rolling it out until its thickness is about 1/4 inch.

• Make the required shapes out of the flattened clay with a knife or cookie cutter.
• Place all the cut-out shapes of the polymer clay in the air fryer basket. The cut-out shapes must have enough space, so they don’t touch each other.
• Cook the clay for 15 minutes at 340F.
• If the cut-out shapes are baked perfectly, allow them to cool before handling.
• If they are not perfectly baked, cook them for 5 minutes, and in the same manner, gradually bake for longer until you get the desired results.

Things To Remember When Baking Polymer Clay

An important aspect of successfully completing a Polymer clay project is to use the right gadgets, temperature, and time for baking the clay to the right level. Here are some aspects to think of when baking your polymer clay:

Using A Right Gadget

You can use an air fryer for baking polymer clay, which is quite similar to a convection oven discounting its smaller size.

An air fryer is small in size; the heat is concentrated in a small area. Therefore, the total time required to bake Polymer in an air fryer is less than that of a convection oven.

Microwave ovens don’t develop the right kind of environment for polymer clay, so they are never an option.

Setting A Right Temperature

Even if you set the right temperature, you still need a standing oven thermometer near your project to ensure the air fryer is at the right temperature for baking.

Some air fryers don’t have a low enough temperature setting suitable for baking clay. Therefore, before baking the clay, check if your gadget can provide you with the recommended baking temperature.

| ALSO CHECK OUT: When To Use Bake Setting On Air Fryer

Time Adjustment

You need to bake thicker pieces for much longer than thinner pieces. Initially, bake for a small interval; gradually increase baking time to avoid burning or darkening.

Every clay brand has its own baking requirement. Therefore, never stick to the same temperature and timing for baking when you change the polymer clay brand.

FAQS

Does polymer clay shrink when baked?

No, the polymer clay does not shrink when baked. When you make something out of polymer clay, you can expect it not to change in size or shape as it does not expand or shrink.

How long does polymer clay last after baking?

Polymer clay is plastic by nature. So, if you bake polymer clay projects properly, they will last for many years. The only caveat is that, similar to other plastics, if it is exposed to sunlight for a long time, it weakens and becomes brittle.

Wrapping Up!

Baking polymer clay is the trickiest part of working with polymer clay. Traditionally, an oven was used for baking polymer clay. But using an oven is only sometimes a feasible option. An air fryer has offered convenience to artists looking for a heat source to bake their projects. The article above mentions the step-by-step process to bake polymar clay in an air fryer and curing it. However, you must note that using an air fryer for baking clay needs practice and dedication to achieve perfect results.