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.
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.
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.
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.
Line Your Air Fryer Basket With Pre-Cut Parchment
The liners are especially helpful if you have an air fryer basket with a fine-mesh bottom—food stuck in those little holes is so hard to clean out. You'll have a lot less cooked-on mess that will take almost no effort to wash off.
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.
'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. '
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.
A slice of bread in the bottom of your air fryer can help collect grease without making a mess.
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.
The paper should not be used multiple times, as it becomes brittle after heating, and the brittle pieces can flake off and lodge in the vents or heating element. 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.
What can you use instead of parchment paper in an air fryer? Aluminum foil works well for air fryers because it's heat-resistant and easily molds to the shape of your fryer basket. Again, greasing it lightly can prevent your food from sticking.
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.
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.
Using air fryer liners without holes restricts air flow, resulting in soggy food and uneven cooking. Our perforated parchment liners will not affect the flavor of your food. No more sacrificing the quality of your food over cleanliness. These liners are air fryer essentials and make clean up a breeze.
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.
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.
Aluminum foil can be used in an air fryer, but it should only go in the basket. Acidic foods react with aluminum, so avoid using foil when air frying tomatoes, peppers, or citrus. Using parchment paper or a bare basket is better because it won't interfere with cooking.
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.