You can use parchment paper in the air fryer, but only if you take certain measures. First, it must be evenly weighed down with food. Otherwise, because it is lightweight, it can blow around easily and burn like regular paper should it touch the heating element.
Parchment paper, while not as easy to cut and mold as aluminum foil, is your best bet when air-frying these foods, since it's not a reactive material. It's also less likely to stick to food the way foil can. Otherwise, foil is a fine option to use in the air fryer.
They explain that some companies, such as Philips, don't recommend the use of foil in an air fryer while others might. Using aluminum foil while food is air frying helps the spices to stay mixed with the food, rather than dripping through the basket and under the food, says keepingthepeas.com.
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.
Laurence says she always chooses parchment paper over aluminum foil in the air fryer. Parchment paper is more versatile because it is non-reactive, whereas aluminum foil is reactive. "Whatever food you're putting on that aluminum foil is going to react with aluminum," Laurence says.
In your oven, you often use parchment paper to prevent food from sticking to the baking pan. But in your air fryer, you don't have to because a simple spray of oil is enough. So I only recommend using parchment paper to carry food that loses shape when transferred from your kitchen working surface to the basket.
The issue to be aware of is that parchment paper can catch fire in the air fryer. The paper is so light that it can float up into the heating element without you knowing it and start a fire. If the fire catches hold, it can destroy the entire air fryer and even start a house fire.
Lining your air fryer with parchment paper is the best way to keep your appliance clean and your food delicious. Nothing beats cooking with an air fryer to get you crispy, tender food with a fraction of the oil.
Make sure that you're using the right heat-resistant baking paper— wax paper won't work and will damage your fryer. Parchment paper can withstand a maximum temperature of about 420 degrees F making it safe to use in the air fryer up to that temperature.
Parchment paper is often preferred over foil because it is more environmentally friendly, food is not reactive, and it is less likely to stick to the food. You can even buy parchment paper with small holes that will fit the bottom of your air fryer basket.
Putting paper towels in an air fryer is not recommended as it can potentially cause a fire hazard. Additionally, the paper towel may not allow proper air circulation within the fryer, resulting in uneven cooking. Using the tray or basket with the air fryer is better for optimal cooking results.
Whether your liner is silicone or parchment, they both help to prevent food from sticking to the air fryer basket. Food sticking to the basket not only creates a slightly more involved clean up process, but it also affects the food.
Similar to tin foil, parchment paper–or wax paper–are also perfectly safe to use in your air fryer. In fact, Dennis explained that “similar to tin foil, parchment paper can also be a great way of locking in flavor.” However, it too should also be kept out of the direct heat of the air fryer.
If you cover that part of the air fryer with foil, it will prevent the hot air from reaching the food and may make your popcorn chicken soggy. You should also make sure to lubricate the foil you're using with oil so that food won't stick to it—a precaution home cooks often take when using foil in an oven.
If the dish is oven-safe, made of borosilicate or tempered glass, it can work in an air fryer. However, if the dish is made of soda-lime glass, it can't withstand high temperatures in an air fryer. Always check labels and structural weaknesses, and try putting in an empty dish to test it out.
So while air fryer liners are not necessities, they definitely improve the cooking experience in more ways than one. And, considering they're such affordable products, there is really no reason not to at least try them out.
Since our air fryers are in pretty heavy rotation, it's a good thing they are pretty darn easy to clean. However, it's pretty tempting to throw aluminum foil in there to catch any drips and make clean-up even easier, but is that allowed? The short answer is yes, you can put aluminum foil in the air fryer.
However, the pre-cut sheets are not made for your air fryer. Instead, they are made for baking sheets. Both are made of the same material. Both are safe to use in your air fryer as long as they are cut down to the correct size to fit your machine.
You should not use nonstick cooking spray such as PAM in an air fryer because it can damage the lining of the air fryer basket. Avoid any pressurized, propellant oil sprays which have chemicals added to them. You can use a non-aerosol pump-style oil spray that has no propellant.
Adding a few tablespoons of water to the bottom of the basket in a basket-style air fryer is generally safe and can even be beneficial. It can help prevent excessive smoke when cooking greasy foods and keep your food from drying out.
Compared to parchment paper, silicone typically makes for a better air frying experience: These liners are usually heat resistant up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Air Fryer Cook, so you can safely crisp up most foods without worrying about the inside of your device catching on fire.
We've tested foods on 13 different air fryers and our general answer is that in most cases, you don't have to preheat. It all depends on the type of food your'e cooking. If you don't preheat, and the recipe calls for preheating, you just need to add a little more time. Food isn't going to fail if you don't preheat.