If you don't have parchment paper in the kitchen, aluminum foil can make a good alternative. You'll want to follow the same rules: cut the foil to fit in the basket and make sure to weigh the foil down with food. You can also purchase silicone liners designed to fit in an air fryer basket.
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.
You can use parchment paper or a silicone liner. Parchment paper is really cheap and lessens the mess that will be left in the air fryer. But if you want one that is reusable definitely buy the silicone liner which definitely doesn't leave any grease or mess in the air fryer, totally worth it.
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.
Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.
Parchment paper can handle the heat inside your air fryer - up to 428°F (220°C). To get the best results, add the parchment paper to the air fryer basket at the same time as you add your ingredients. This prevents the paper from lifting up and coming into contact with the heating element while cooking.
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.
'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.
1) Plastic Containers or Plastic Takeaway Containers
Any kind of plastic, even if it's labeled “microwave-safe” or “oven-safe”, should never be used in an air fryer.
The reason we recommend the Baking Sheet instead of liners or parchment for cooking very greasy foods is to prevent dripping on the bottom elements and preventing a safety issue. While using the Baking Sheet for Air Fry mode may reduce the airflow for a crispiness on each side, a half-way flip can help.
You can use parchment paper in an air fryer, but with many of the same caveats as with foil (never use wax paper, as its coating can melt at high temperatures). Again, it's important to make sure the parchment is heavily weighted down by food to avoid it getting sucked into the heating element and burning.
Recipe tips
You can use paper cases in an air fryer, but they work best if you put them in an air fryer cake tin or muffin tin as they're not as sturdy as silicone ones.
If you don't have parchment paper in the kitchen, aluminum foil can make a good alternative.
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.
A basic saying to guide your use of papers in the kitchen: "Sweet treats need parchment sheets; grill or broil, go with foil," says Weaver. Foil conducts and distributes heat, making it able to withstand high temperatures from baking, broiling, roasting, or grilling. For anything above 400 degrees, use foil.
Baking paper
Some do not suggest the use of baking paper or tin foil as it can affect the airflow inside the air fryer. If you are using baking paper, cut the paper to the size required and ensure the meat can weigh it down adequately. Failing to do so may result in the paper flying up into the element and burning.
Silicone baking pad/mat
Made of high-quality, food-grade silicone and fibreglass, they have many of the same qualities as parchment paper, with a non-stick surface, and a cooking temperature limit of up to 428°F. They can be used to line baking sheets and pans, or laid out on the counter for rolling and kneading dough.
A slice of bread in the bottom of your air fryer can help collect grease without making a mess.
Very important to NOT put the liner in until after you preheat the air fryer..the power of the air inside will lift up the liner & it will start to scorch it..
CAN YOU COOK FISH IN AN AIR FRYER? Yes. Fillets of equal size are the best option, since this will yield the most consistent cooking, but you can also cook fish wrapped in tinfoil. You can also cook fish cakes and fish fingers in an air fryer – especially important if you have young children.