Parchment paper is good for food that might stick to the basket, like chicken wings, making clean up a bit easier. If you're tempted to use parchment every day or are simply waste-conscious, consider instead a silicone liner for air fryers. They're reusable and dishwasher safe, cutting down on both waste and worry.
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.
While silicone is the overall better option, it's a good idea to have both types of liners on hand, as they're each suited for different types of cooking.
Silicone is a safe material for cooking, and it's widely used in kitchenware due to its heat resistance and non-toxic properties. Food-grade silicone, the type used for air fryer liners, is free from harmful chemicals such as BPA, lead, and phthalates.
In short, air fryers can be toxic in certain limited situations, but it's rare. To be on the safer side, I recommend choosing a stainless steel or ceramic-coated air fryer with a window, so you can keep an eye on your food and make sure it isn't getting burnt to a crisp.
For frequent air fryer use, especially with sticky foods like chicken wings, parchment paper simplifies cleanup. However, for environmental and cost-efficiency, consider reusable, dishwasher-safe silicone liners as an alternative to reduce waste.
Without the holes, the air flow is blocked, resulting in doughy foods. Our liners are heat resistant up to 450 degrees F, recyclable and biodegradable.
Air fryers work by circulating hot air, which originates at the bottom of the fryer. Lining it with foil can constrict the air flow and your food won't cook properly. If you are going to use aluminum foil in an air fryer, use a small amount in the bottom of the basket, making sure not to cover the food.
Lining your air fryer with parchment paper is the best way to keep your appliance clean and your food delicious.
Ninja Air Fryer Max XL
It continues to be the top performer in our air fryer tests. It consistently makes the crispiest and most golden chicken wings we've come across, which are juicy and not dry, in the shortest amount of time.
Set the air fryer to 200C and cook streaky bacon rashers for 6-10 mins – just-cooked bacon will take 6 mins, but crispier bacon will take 9-10 mins. Cook back bacon rashers for 4-8 mins, depending on your preference.
Flat silicone liners can be used in basket air fryers. However they tend to be more widely used in the oven style air fryers. They are just a flat silicone sheet that usually has holes in for ventilation. Due to them not having 'walls' they won't prevent any food sticking to the sides of your 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.
Spray the Basket Lightly with Vegetable Oil Spray
The next protective measure you can take is an obvious one: spraying the basket lightly with vegetable oil spray. We recommend doing this with foods that are prone to sticking, including fried chicken, chicken Parmesan, and our better-than-boxed fish sticks.
A reusable liner for an air fryer is a useful accessory as they help immensely make a fryer easier to clean and takes no longer to rinse under a hot tap than to screw up a paper one and throw it in the bin.
Silicone baking mats are typically thought of as a step up from plain parchment paper. They create a solid nonstick surface on which cookies can bake evenly; they don't conduct heat, so they don't create hot spots or cause your cookies to burn.
However, this is not without its own drawbacks. Unbleached wood fibers can contaminate food with which they come into contact, and since lignin is the component responsible for wood charring when burnt, unbleached parchment paper could be more prone to smoking at high temperatures6.
between the two, paper would be better since it is easier to toss. silicone is just something extra to clean. That said, I am against using both since it defeats the purpose of the air fryer. It tends to block some of the air flow around the food, possibly causing uneven cooking and longer cooking times.
While air fryers are popular, the most expensive models can start to get a little pricey, which could undermine their status as a budget item. Taking to social media to share their opinions, many people have revealed that they reckon halogen ovens are the best option for frugal cooking.