Can you put parchment paper in an air fryer?
The short answer is yes, but with some caveats. While parchment paper can make clean-up after using the air fryer quick and effortless, it's not recommended for regular use because it could potentially block 99% of airflow, Consumer Reports' test engineer Larry Ciufo explains.
Yes, your parchment paper really needs to be perforated. This helps with the air flow of the air fryer and can prevent a fire. But no worries, it's easy to make on your own!
Larry Ciufo, the CR test engineer who oversees air fryer testing, warns that while you can use parchment paper inside an air fryer, it's not recommended for regular use there. “It has the potential to block 99 percent of the fryer's airflow,” Ciufo says.
Laurence says she always chooses parchment paper over aluminum foil in the air fryer. Parchment paper is more versatile because it is non-reactive, whereas aluminum foil is reactive. "Whatever food you're putting on that aluminum foil is going to react with aluminum," Laurence says.
Is Parchment Paper Safe In the Air Fryer? Absolutely! If it's safe for the oven, it's safe for the fryer. Most parchment papers can withstand a heat of over 400 degrees.
Oven-safe parchment paper may darken a bit in the oven, but it won't catch fire.
Parchment paper, while not as easy to cut and mold as aluminum foil, is your best bet when air-frying these foods, since it's not a reactive material. It's also less likely to stick to food the way foil can. Otherwise, foil is a fine option to use in the air fryer.
The next protective measure you can take is an obvious one: spraying the basket lightly with vegetable oil spray. We recommend doing this with foods that are prone to sticking, including fried chicken, chicken Parmesan, and our better-than-boxed fish sticks.
Summary – You should not put paper towel in your air fryer. Your air fryer operates at a high heat, so using paper towel is a fire risk and should absolutely be avoided.
You do not need to use liners in order to use an air fryer, but there are many reasons you may choose to anyway. Here are some key reasons to use air fryer liners anyway: They reduce the likelihood that your food will stick.
Can I use parchment paper instead of foil?
What are the best aluminum foil alternatives? Depending on the dish and method, what you replace foil with would change, explains Brown. For oven use, replace foil with parchment paper. For food prep, wax paper is non-stick and can be an alternative to foil.
It's excellent for lining baking sheets when making cookies, because it makes cleanup a snap. There is no right or wrong side to parchment paper, so either side can be used. For the best baking results, use a fresh sheet of parchment paper for each pan of cookies.

The paper won't release noxious chemicals, and will not burn. Most parchment paper is rated for use at temperatures no higher than 420 to 450 degrees.
It depends on the type of parchment paper you use. Unbleached parchment paper is non-toxic. However, bleached parchment paper has toxic dioxin, which can be released when heated. These toxins are potentially dangerous to your body and can cause a variety of health issues.
You can use paper cupcake liners in the air fryer. I prefer to use silicone liners because the silicone liners hold their shape without the aid of a baking pan. If you are using a paper liner your cupcakes will spread out wide instead of tall unless you use a muffin tin.
Pyrex glassware is capable of withstanding high temperatures up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit so a pyrex dish will be safe in air fryers since most top out at 400 degrees.
Cooking scrambled eggs in an air fryer on lower heat works the best to cook the eggs thoroughly. I recommend cooking them at 300 degrees. It only takes 9 minutes to cook 2 eggs and they won't burn easily.
You can use any ovenproof dish or mold in the Airfryer, whether it is made of glass, ceramic, metal or silicone.
No. You should NEVER use PAM cooking spray inside an air fryer.
Rank | Product |
---|---|
1. | Misto Oil Sprayer (Set of Two) |
2. | Woohubs Oil sprayer |
3. | Evo Oil Sprayer |
4. | Cooking Oil Sprayer with Filter & Glass Bottle |
Do you have to flip food in air fryer?
To help food crisp, always turn, rotate or shake the contents in the air-fryer basket—just like flipping french fries, fish fillets or chicken tenders halfway through cooking in a traditional oven).
What is this? Well, it is possible to put a plate in air fryers during cooking. The plate must be oven-safe and withstand the high temperature inside the air fryer. Almost every oven-proof plate, including stoneware, pyrex, metal, glass, and ceramic, is suitable for air fryer use.
It is very likely to fly around the cooking compartment and could get stuck in the heating element of the air fryer. This would be a major fire hazard. So no, NEVER put a paper plate inside an air fryer.
Don't: Plastic
Unfortunately you cannot heat up your foods in plastic containers, such as Tupperware and plastic takeaway containers in the airfryer (like you can in a microwave). The general rule of thumb is what can go in an oven, can also go in the airfryer.
When Not to Use Parchment Paper. Parchment paper is not designed for high heat cooking. Avoid using it in your oven or on the grill if temperature will exceed 400 degrees, says Michelle Weaver, chef at Charleston Grill in South Carolina, as there's a chance it could catch fire.
While foil and plastic wrap seal out air, parchment paper allows foods to breathe a little when wrapped. This means exterior crusts stay crisp, instead of getting soggy.
Parchment paper is heat-resistant. In fact, it can stand up to very high heats. That is because it is treated with silicone, which not only makes it non-stick but makes it stand up to very high temperatures. This fact leads people to make a common erroneous statement about it: Parchment paper will not burn.
Though you likely feel comfortable cooking pre-cooked meats that just need to be heated in an air fryer, it's always a good idea to double-check safety guidelines for cooking raw meat. According to Kitchen Snitches, the good news is that it is absolutely safe to cook raw meat in an air fryer.
Add your bread to the air fryer basket. Set the temperature to 400° F | 204° C, and air fry for 4 minutes. If you have very thin sliced bread, your toast will probably be done in 3 minutes. If you like your toast dark, add 30 seconds more.
Always make sure your parchment paper is perforated to allow airflow during cooking. If there are no holes in your parchment, your food will not warm or cook properly. Airflow is key to using an air fryer.
What do you line air fryer with?
Even though most air fryer baskets have nonstick coatings, you'll still want to grease the basket to make sure nothing sticks. Oils with high smoking points (such as safflower or soybean oil) are ideal for using in air fryers, as the temperatures within the machine can get very hot.
That's because air fryers work by circulating hot air, which originates at the bottom of the fryer. Lining it with foil can constrict the air flow and your food won't cook properly. If you are going to use foil, use a small amount in the bottom of the basket, making sure not to cover the food.
An air fryer liner is a pre-cut paper that sits in the bottom of the air fryer to absorb grease and trap crumbs. Tiny pre-cut holes allow hot air to circulate and crisp up food—something you won't get if you cut your own parchment paper into circles.
Summary – You should not put paper towel in your air fryer. Your air fryer operates at a high heat, so using paper towel is a fire risk and should absolutely be avoided.
The next protective measure you can take is an obvious one: spraying the basket lightly with vegetable oil spray. We recommend doing this with foods that are prone to sticking, including fried chicken, chicken Parmesan, and our better-than-boxed fish sticks.
"Put a slice of bread on the bottom of your air fryer," said Kang. "It's a green alternative to foil for catching grease and drips for easier clean-up."
Pyrex glassware is capable of withstanding high temperatures up to 425 degrees Fahrenheit so a pyrex dish will be safe in air fryers since most top out at 400 degrees.
What are the best aluminum foil alternatives? Depending on the dish and method, what you replace foil with would change, explains Brown. For oven use, replace foil with parchment paper. For food prep, wax paper is non-stick and can be an alternative to foil.
You can make one or two eggs at a time, depending on how many pans fit on one rack of your air fryer. Spray the pie tin(s) that you'll be cooking the eggs in with cooking spray. Crack an egg in each pan (one per pan). Air fry eggs for 3-5 minutes at 375°F (190°C).
Yes! Unlike a microwave, you can use aluminum foil in an air fryer, since it's more similar to an oven. If you don't want your baked potato skins to get too crispy, you can cover the potatoes in aluminum foil if you would like to.
Can you cook eggs in an air fryer?
Cooking scrambled eggs in an air fryer on lower heat works the best to cook the eggs thoroughly. I recommend cooking them at 300 degrees. It only takes 9 minutes to cook 2 eggs and they won't burn easily.
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.