Can I line an air fryer basket with foil?

Author: Katlyn Rosenbaum  |  Last update: Friday, July 11, 2025

CAN YOU LINE AN AIR FRYER WITH FOIL? Air frying uses the rapid circulation of hot air to cook and crisp your food. While lining your air fryer with foil might seem like a convenient way to minimize cleanup, it's not recommended. Foil can disrupt the airflow within the appliance, preventing food from cooking evenly.

What can I line my air fryer basket with?

Line Your Air Fryer Basket With Pre-Cut Parchment

They are best for lining standard air fryer baskets, not air fryers that look like toaster ovens. The holes allow hot air to circulate around the food while still providing a base to trap some of the grease and food bits that usually fall through the basket.

What can I use instead of air fryer liner?

  • Parchment Paper: Parchment paper is a popular choice for lining the bottom of an air fryer.
  • Aluminum Foil: Another option is to use aluminum foil to line the bottom of your air fryer.
  • Silicone Liners: Silicone liners are also suitable for lining the bottom of an air fryer.

Is it better to use foil or parchment paper in an air fryer?

ALTERNATIVES TO ALUMINUM FOIL IN THE AIR FRYER Parchment paper is a wonderful alternative to aluminum foil for both oven baking/roasting and air-frying. Unbleached parchment paper carries none of the toxicity concerns of aluminum foil and can be used in all the same applications as foil.

What is the best thing to put on the bottom of an air fryer?

Best Materials to Put Under an Air Fryer—Jazz's Recommendations! Here's what I swear by: Silicone Mats: Heat-resistant, non-slip, and easy to clean.

Can you use Aluminum Foil in the Air Fryer? (FIRE DANGER!)

Can I line the bottom of my air fryer with foil?

Only put a layer of foil in the bottom of the air fryer basket where your food sits, not on the bottom of the air fryer itself. Air fryers work by circulating hot air, which originates at the bottom of the fryer.

What is the best liner for an air fryer?

Our top picks for the best silicone air fryer liners
  • Best overall: Wavelu Air Fryer Silicone Pot — See at Amazon.
  • Best for low-fat cooking: Lotteli Kitchen Reusable Silicone Air Fryer Liners — See at Amazon.
  • Best flat: Infraovens Air Fryer Liners — See at Amazon.

Why can't you use aluminum foil in an air fryer?

Air frying uses the rapid circulation of hot air to cook and crisp your food. While lining your air fryer with foil might seem like a convenient way to minimize cleanup, it's not recommended. Foil can disrupt the airflow within the appliance, preventing food from cooking evenly.

Are air fryer liners necessary?

'People choose to buy air fryer liners for a variety of reasons but mostly for the time saved on cleaning up,' explains Dennis Digwa, appliance expert at RGBDirect. 'By preventing food from sticking directly to the basket, liners can contribute to keeping the air fryer in better condition over time.

Can you put a paper towel in an air fryer?

Airflow is essential to the machine, so while a paper towel is useful for cleaning, it should not be used while cooking food in the air fryer. It can restrict the airflow of the machine and even catch fire. It's important to remember that the air inside the air fryer can get very hot.

Can I put food directly into an air fryer basket?

PREPARE FOOD

Lightly coat the basket of your air fryer with an oil spray to prevent sticking before placing food in the basket, then distribute food in one even layer across the bottom for an even bake.

How do you make your own air fryer liner?

Cut a sheet of parchment to roughly the size of your air fryer basket, fold the paper, then punch holes. Lay it down inside the air fryer basket and, presto, you have a liner.

Do air fryer liners need to have holes in them?

No, most air fryer liners do not have holes. One of the main selling points of an air fryer liner is the fact that it saves you from having to clean the fry basket after each use. Having holes in the liner would make this counter-intuitive.

Can I wrap chicken in foil in an air fryer?

Yes! This is a great method as it seals the moisture and seasonings inside with the chicken breast. If you cook chicken in foil in the air fryer, you get tender and flavorful chicken.

What can I use to lining my air fryer?

If you're tempted to use parchment every day or are simply waste-conscious, consider instead a silicone liner for air fryers.

Is it better to use parchment paper or foil in an air fryer?

It's also a more sustainable option than lining your air fryer with aluminum foil. Lining your air fryer basket with a round of parchment paper is the perfect way to keep your air fryer squeaky clean and slash the time it takes to clean up. It just got a whole lot easier to make air fryer chicken drumsticks!

Do air fryer liners restrict airflow?

Another concern people have with silicone air fryer liners is that they might block the air vents. However, these liners are designed to encourage as much airflow as possible, either via holes or deep ridges.

Can I line my air fryer with baking paper?

Yes, you can use parchment paper in the air fryer as long as you: Add the paper to the air fryer basket. Place food on top of the paper to avoid the paper from flying away in the heating element – this can cause a fire, so watch out carefully!

Can I wrap potatoes in foil in an air fryer?

No need to wrap each potato in aluminum foil, only to have to unwrap the hot foil multiple times to see if the potato is cooked through. Air frying allows the hot air to circulate in a small closed environment for perfectly cooked potatoes that have a soft interior and crispy skin.

What can you not put in an air fryer?

7 Foods You Should Never Cook In Your Air Fryer
  • Wet Batters.
  • Cheesy Items.
  • Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts.
  • Baked Goods.
  • Leafy Greens.
  • Raw Rice and Other Grains.
  • Too Much of Anything.

Should I line my Airfryer with foil?

Don't Use Foil When It's Not Necessary

If you line the basket with foil you're preventing the air from circulating over the bottom; foods won't cook as speedily and the bottom may be soggier. Cook directly on the basket when you can for best results and to avoid wasting foil.

What can you put in the bottom of an air fryer?

You can use aluminum foil in your range with air fry by placing a foil-lined baking sheet or aluminum baking dish on the rack below your air fry basket to help simplify cleanup. Make sure to leave space between the basket and the baking sheet for proper air flow.

What can you use instead of parchment paper in an air fryer?

If you don't have parchment paper in the kitchen, aluminum foil can make a good alternative.

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