Whether preparing something in an oven or working on your air fryer, a non-stick surface is definitely something you want your food on. Sometimes because you simply do not want your food wasted by sticking to the pot, and sometimes because cleaning becomes easier this way.
You might have been using parchment paper for baking in your oven, but have you tried using it in your air fryer? Are you considering doing it, but you are reluctant because you have no personal experience with it?
I understand how people are more comfortable using parchment paper in an oven but are confused about its use in an air fryer. This is due to a lack of information and inexperience.
Well, parchment papers are safe to use in an air fryer but are still not recommended by professionals.
If you want to know more about parchment paper’s use in an air fryer. Read the article until it ends, and try using parchment paper with confidence next time.
Can I line the air fryer with parchment paper?
Yes, you can line the air fryer with parchment paper; just be sure to make some holes in it so that the airflow does not get interrupted.
Some people do not like to make holes in their parchment paper as that gives the grease a chance to reach the bottom, but holes make the cooking faster as the hot air could reach the food perfectly by this technique.
Also, make sure that you are using the correct paper. Sometimes in the name of parchment paper, people use wax paper.
Wax paper is absolutely not a good idea for an air fryer or even for an oven because the heat melts the wax, and the wax reaches your food, contaminating it.
Be very careful when selecting the paper you choose to put as a liner in your air fryer.
One more thing you must keep in mind is that if you plan to pre-heat your air fryer, do it with the parchment paper inside. Also, avoid reusing it!
Moreover, cut your parchment paper by taking note of the size of your basket. You do not want the paper bigger than that basket of yours.
Why Should You Use Parchment Paper in Your Air Fryer?
One of the primary reasons people use parchment paper in their air fryers is to reduce cleaning time. Put some paper on the bottom of the basket to keep food from sticking to the bottom and making a mess in the basket.
It’s especially useful when cooking messy dishes like these amazing air fryer ribs, which have a sticky BBQ sauce that can easily burn on the bottom, or delicate foods like salmon, which can stick to the bottom and make it difficult to get out of the pan in one piece.
Is it Safe to Cook with Parchment Paper in an Air Fryer?
Using parchment paper in the air fryer is just like using it in the oven, precautions should be taken in the same way.
When using parchment paper in the basket, never leave the air fryer unattended, and make sure the paper does not touch the heating element. It’s best to use it only when cooking something heavy enough to keep the paper from floating up to the top, where the heating element is.
Will parchment paper burn in an air fryer?
There is a chance of burnt parchment paper if the temperature of your air fryer is more than 428°F (220°C), but if the temperature remains within the limit priorly mentioned, then the paper is good to go!
Most air fryers go to the limit of 390°F to 400°F; if you have an air fryer with this temperature, it is a parchment paper-safe air fryer.
There are some brands of air fryers whose temperature limit reaches to 500°F. This kind of temperature can make the parchment paper burn easily, and the mess inside can damage your appliance or can do more danger than that.
Check out the video to learn if parchment paper helps in air frying.
Where do you put air fryer parchment paper?
The best place to put any lining in an air fryer is where your basket is, and that goes for parchment paper too.
You just have to cut a piece of parchment paper to the size of your basket and put some holes if you do not want the airflow interference and put it at the top of the basket.
Make sure that you are putting the ingredients just when you are placing your parchment paper to avoid misplacement of your paper.
Never line parchment paper near the heating element. An air fryer has a fan right after the heating machinery, and placing your lining in the bottom drawer can be extremely dangerous for your appliance and you.
Is it better to use parchment paper or foil in an air fryer?
Parchment papers and foils both have a green signal from the experts, but if they have to choose between one over the other, you will always find them choosing a parchment paper over a foil.
Foils are a great conductor of heat, but it is also true that they are reactive. They react with your food, especially when it has citrus in it, which is very harmful to your health.
One problem with the parchment paper is that you cannot lift it just after the food is done because it remains hot.
While the foil does not get hot and a handle made out of it can pick up the whole thing right after the food is done.
See this table to learn what linings are good to be used in an air fryer.
| Linings for your Air fryer | Preferred, Okay, and Not Okay depending on the brand |
| Parchment paper | Preferred over the rest. |
| Aluminum foil | Okay, to be used. |
| Wax paper | Must never use it. |
| Silicone | Okay, to be used most of the time. |
Summary
Parchment paper happens to be the best sort of lining for your air fryer, but some tips must be followed to get better results.
- You can sure line your air fryer with parchment paper.
- Be sure to line it on your basket.
- The parchment paper must be cut to the size of your basket.
- Holes made in parchment paper can lead to better results but it also leaves a chance for the grease to escape.
- Never pre-heat your appliance with parchment paper in it.
- Make sure that you have placed your ingredients on the parchment paper so they can not fly away.
- Keep it away from the heating elements.
- Check your air fryer, if its temperature is 428°F or anything below that, then parchment paper is safe to be used. But if the temperature reaches more than that, there is a change of some burning inside your air fryer.
- Avoid, in all situations, bringing the parchment paper in contact with the heating elements in your air fryer.
- Foils are good to be used in an air fryer but parchment papers are preferred over every other lining.