If your air fryer has been in regular use, you’re probably thinking of other ways to make it even more useful.
For that, people often use parchment paper in an air fryer because it has the potential to make the cleaning easy and prevent food from sticking to the bottom of the basket of the air fryer.
Parchment paper is a great tool for cooking greasy and sticky foods.
While there is no doubt that parchment paper has many benefits in using for air fryers, it is also important to take a few precautions and things to consider for safety purposes.
First of all, the air fryer is not designed to need parchment paper in it because it has a nonstick surface and basket to store any drippings, and holes are present in the basket to allow hot air circulation around the food to cook evenly.
When you put any other elements in the process, such as parchment paper, things can go south.
Parchment paper can burn or catch fire in an air fryer as it is so light that it can float into the heating element without you realizing it. This could be very dangerous if the fire catches hold; it will destroy the entire air fryer, and chances are even your house can catch fire.
Check out the following video to learn how air fryers burn parchment paper.
We should realize this is a huge safety issue that shouldn’t be taken lightly and must be taken into consideration before using parchment paper in an air fryer.
So, I would suggest you keep a close eye on an air fryer while using parchment paper in it and secure it well in the basket.
If you have more questions in mind about the parchment paper, keep reading till the end!
What is parchment paper?
The silicone coating on parchment paper makes it nonstick, grease-proof, and heat-resistant. It’s also known as baking paper or bakery paper.
Brown parchment is unbleached, whereas white parchment has been chemically treated to remove the natural color of the material. The oven and microwave can both be used with parchment. Most kinds are oven-safe up to 420 degrees Fahrenheit, but always verify the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Similar to aluminum foil, parchment paper is frequently provided in rolls, allowing you to tear off exactly what you need for a certain operation. Pre-cut parchment sheets are practical and come in a variety of sizes; the most common size fits an ordinary baking sheet.
There are also perforated parchment circles that may be used to line bamboo steamers and air fryers, as well as parchment imprinted with rings that can be used to assist in space cookies and macarons.
Parchment Paper vs. Waxed Paper
The coating is the most noticeable distinction between parchment paper and waxed paper.
While parchment has a silicone covering that can withstand high temperatures, the waxed paper has a paraffin wax layer that will melt or even burn in the oven. Waxed paper is less expensive than parchment and can do many of the same room-temperature jobs that parchment can.
The most important thing to remember is to never use wax paper in the oven or microwave.
Is using parchment paper in an air fryer safe?
Yes, it is safe to use parchment paper in an air fryer but with precautions.
As a safety check, try not to leave the air fryer alone while using parchment paper in it and just make sure the parchment paper doesn’t come near to the heating element.
The best way to use parchment paper in an air fryer is when cooking something heavy to ensure that parchment paper stays down and doesn’t float up to the heating element.
If the parchment paper comes in contact with the heating element, it will combust. You can use a silicone mat at the bottom of the basket to avoid this issue, as the silicone mat is heavy and doesn’t float up to the heating element; hence, there are no chances of it catching fire.
Why use parchment paper in an air fryer?
Besides the safety hazards, there are many advantages of using parchment paper in an air fryer.
The most important reason for using parchment paper in an air fryer is that it minimizes the cleaning process because placing parchment at the bottom of the basket keeps the food from sticking to the bottom. Therefore, the air fryer would be mess-free.
Parchment paper is quite beneficial when cooking messy dishes such as air fryer ribs which have BBQ sauce that can burn on the bottom, or delicate meat, such as salmon, which sticks to the bottom and are hard to take out in one piece.
Where to buy parchment paper for the air fryer?
Parchment paper can easily be found at most grocery stores. However, if you can’t find it, then Amazon is always a credible option as it has vast options of parchment paper, which are in circular and square forms that can easily fit in your air fryer.
Check out the list of some of the best parchment papers.
| Air Fryer Parchment Paper Set | $8.99 |
| Bykitchen Round Air Fryer Liner | $7.99 |
| GoWise USA Perforated Parchment Paper | $.13.02 |
| Air Fryer Disposable Paper Liner | $.9.99 |
Alternatively, you can buy pre-measured parchment paper and cut it according to the size of your air fryer.
It is important to note that before cutting the parchment paper to the size of your air fryer, measure it twice so that it fits into the basket to avoid causing fire hazards.
Also, always read your air fryer instructions and manuals to make sure it’s safe to put parchment paper in it, as all air fryers are different and contain extremely hot fans and heating elements that can ignite a paper; never leave the air fryer unattended after placing parchment paper inside it.
What are the Dos and Don’ts of using parchment paper in an Air Fryer?
There are some points to consider for placing parchment paper safely and successfully.
- After placing the parchment paper in the air fryer basket, make sure to put enough food on it to keep it down to prevent it from floating up to the heating element.
- Always poke holes in the parchment paper which you have cut yourself to allow hot air circulation around the food.
- Parchment paper is good for a lot of things but not preheating your air fryer as the paper is lightweight and can easily be floated by air fryer hot fans, which can cause a fire.
- Always use good quality parchment paper in your air fryer to ensure that food comes out tasty.
- Most air fryers come with a maximum temperature of 200°C / 450°F, so make sure that the parchment paper that you’re using can stand at that temperature.
- For the healthiest options, try to use FDA-approved parchment paper.
Conclusion
You can use parchment paper in an air fryer, but some precautions must be taken to avoid any accident.
- Parchment paper can burn in an air fryer if it comes in contact with the heating element.
- Parchment paper easily floats in the air fryer because it is light weighted.
- To prevent parchment paper from floating up, make sure to put enough food in it to stays it down.
- The main reason for using parchment paper is that it cuts off the cleaning process and saves time.
- Parchment paper is readily available in grocery stores.
- Never leave your air fryer unattended while using parchment paper in it.