An air fryer is famous for turning some unhealthy food into healthy. It is good to get information about parchment paper or foil before putting it in the air fryer.
Parchment paper and aluminum foil are two significantly used things by home cooks for grilling, baking, and roasting.
To decide which one is better and has more benefits to use in the air fryer, you have to look up their key differences because if you don’t, they can easily mess up your cooking process.
Keep reading this article to know everything you want to know about parchment paper and aluminum foil.
What is parchment paper?
Parchment paper is found mostly in all kitchens because it is versatile and heat resistant. It is based on cellulose paper with a silicone layer which makes it nonstick.
Parchment paper can be gotten in brown and white colors, and it comes in individual sheets or small pre-cut sizes to get fit the different baking tins.
Check out the following video to learn how you can put parchment paper in the air fryer.
Advantages
- Easy to take out food – Parchment paper has a nonstick silicone surface which makes sure that food comes out easily without sticking to the basket.
- Easy to cut – Parchment paper is easy to cut, and you can cut it in any size you want.
- Many purposes usage – Parchment paper is used by many home cooks as it has other functions also such as, it can be used to cover the countertop to avoid any mess.
Disadvantages
- Expensive – Parchment paper can be easily found in the market or grocery store but it is expensive as compared to aluminum foil.
- One-time use – Parchment paper is only for single use, which makes it bad for the environment as you have to dispose of it every time.
What is Aluminum foil?
Aluminum foil is a baking sheet used for grilling, baking, and roasting.
Many people use aluminum foil in air fryers because it can handle high temperatures, and it is also used to store food while keeping it fresh.
Advantages
- High tolerance – Aluminum foil has high-temperature tolerance, whether baking or grilling. It can handle temperatures up to 1,200 F.
- Better and even cooking – Aluminum foil absorbs moisture and heat, which ensures even better cooking as food retains all of its juices.
- Good barrier properties – Aluminum foil has great barrier properties, and it doesn’t let food be affected by gas or odor, or light.
- Multifunctional – it is pretty similar to parchment paper in versatility as it can be used from baking to lining and wrapping and storing food.
Disadvantages
- Acidic reaction – Aluminum foil is no good when it comes to acidic foods. It’s not a healthy option for cooking and wrapping acidic foods such as tomatoes.
- Easy to tear – Even after being made from metal, aluminum foil is easy to be torn and poke holes in as compared to parchment paper.
Can Aluminum Foil Be Utilized in an Air Fryer?
You can employ aluminum foil in an air fryer.
It’s a scary thought if you remember the last time (if ever!) you put aluminum foil in your microwave. However, an air fryer works differently. When the cooking process begins, a fan circulates hot air around the pan, crisping and browning your food without the use of oil.
You don’t have to worry about sparks flying because air fryers use hot air rather than electromagnetic radiation.
Using foil is just one of many smart ideas on our list of air fryer hacks.
How to Cook with Foil in an Air Fryer?
The key to using aluminum foil in your air fryer is to keep it securely in the basket because the one thing to watch out for is loose or flyaway foil.
Make sure the foil is weighed down with food or firmly secured to the cooking vessel (ramekin, pan, or silicone mold) so it doesn’t fly up to the fan, which is located directly behind the heating coil.
Parchment paper Vs. Aluminum foil – Health Concerns
Parchment paper and aluminum foil are both safe for cooking.
However, it is important to know that while aluminum foil is safe to use, it can still leech a high dose of Aluminum into your food when cooking with acidic foods. So, it’s better to avoid aluminum foil if you have health concerns about adding Aluminum to food.
How can you choose between Parchment paper and Aluminum foil?
If you’re a person who cooks a lot, then it’s better to use parchment paper and aluminum foil according to the food you’re cooking.
If you don’t know which one to use, here are some of the things to consider:
Cooking Temperature
The most important thing to consider while choosing between parchment paper and aluminum foil is cooking temperature. If you’re choosing to cook on medium heat under 400°F, you can freely choose either of two.
But, if you’re cooking something such as grilling or baking, which requires a high temperature above 400° F, then aluminum foil would be a better choice because it can withstand high temperatures.
What you choose to cook
What you’re cooking also decides which one to use between parchment paper and aluminum foil.
If you’re roasting vegetables or grilling chicken, then aluminum foil is best. But, if you’re making cookies or pastries and want to have a nice color on them without them being burned, then parchment paper is your go-to option.
Being Nonstick
If you don’t want food to stick to the bottom, then parchment paper is the better option.
However, there is also nonstick aluminum foil, or you can even spray little oil on the regular ones, but they would still not work well like parchment paper.
Flexibility properties
Parchment paper and aluminum foil are both super flexible and can be molded and cut into any shape or form as per your liking, but aluminum foil is easier to set and cut into any shape.
Personal choice
Choosing between these two also depend upon your preferences, as many home cooks prefer aluminum foil while roasting food, and other prefer parchment paper in the air fryer for delicate food practices.
For a better understanding of the differences between these two, check out the following chart.
| Parchment paper | Aluminum foil | |
| Structure | Easy to shape and cut | Easier to cut and mold. |
| Health | Safe for health | Safe but reacts with acidic foods |
| Heat resistance | Up to 420°F | Up to 1200°F |
| Cost | More expensive than aluminum foil | cheaper |
Parchment paper Vs. aluminum foil when cooking different foods
Here is a quick review of some different foods cooked in the air fryer and what you should use with them.
- Chicken – chicken requires a high temperature to cook and also takes longer, so aluminum foil will be better for this.
- Bacon – Bacon needs a nonstick surface to cook, so it would be good to use parchment paper for it in the air fryer, but you can also use nonstick aluminum foil.
- Brisket – You can choose whatever you want for making brisket, as aluminum foil speeds up the cooking process while parchment paper allows passing smoke.
Conclusion
Parchment better and aluminum foil both have their advantages and disadvantages with working in the air fryer, so it’s your call to decide which one to use, considering the above-mentioned factors.
- Parchment paper and aluminum foil are easy to cut in shape and size.
- Aluminum foil has higher heat resistance than parchment paper.
- Parchment paper is widely used to prevent food from sticking to the bottom.
- Aluminum foil is used for foods that take high temperatures to cook.