Can you use Parchment Paper in an air fryer? (2024)

FAQs

Can you use Parchment Paper in an air fryer? ›

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.

Laurence says she always chooses parchment paper over aluminum foil in the air fryer. Parchment paper is more versatile because it is non-reactive. "Whatever food you're putting on that aluminum foil is going to react with aluminum," Laurence says.

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.

"Within our recipes we do recommend using parchment to line the baking sheets." Rodgers said. "I use parchment often to line the basket and/or the baking pan. I find it useful especially for ease in cleaning up." She does note that you should always cut the parchment paper to fit the basket of your air fryer.

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.

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.

Using air fryer liners without holes restricts air flow, resulting in soggy food and uneven cooking.

Best overall

The dishwasher-safe Wavelu is one of the best silicone air fryer liners because it keeps ingredients from coming in contact with your basket for an effortless clean-up.

Create a wet seal between the paper and your countertop or rolling surface by misting or slightly wetting it with water or mixing the water with flour or cornstarch. Apply a light layer of butter, cooking spray, or oil on the back of the parchment paper and press it down to your surface.

Parchment paper is lightweight so if you put it in the air fryer while it's preheating, it will get caught up in the air flow and fly around the air fryer. It could get caught in the heating coil and cause a fire. So never put parchment paper in the air fryer by itself while it's preheating.

Do you need to punch holes in parchment paper in air fryer? ›

Two: It involved punching holes in the parchment paper to allow for air flow, which I feel is necessary because rapidly circulated, hot air that hits the food at all angles is the entire point of an air fryer. If you cover the whole basket with parchment paper, you're defeating the purpose.

Since parchment paper doesn't have a helpful “this end up” sign with an arrow, it takes a little detective work. Just hold the paper up to the light and look for the side that's slightly glossier or shinier. It is the shiny or glossy side of the parchment paper that should be face up on your baking sheet or cake pan.

"Put a slice of bread on the bottom of your air fryer," Kang said. "It's a green alternative to foil for catching grease and drips for easier clean-up." In order to minimize food waste, you may want to only use this technique when cooking especially greasy foods (like bacon), and also use bread slices that are stale.

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 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.

Parchment paper is a food-safe paper that is often treated with silicone. The silicone makes parchment paper nonstick. It also keeps it heat resistant, making it safe for cooking in the air fryer or oven.