Can you put parchment paper in an air fryer?
People have been putting parchment paper in their traditional ovens for years. It is great for stopping food from sticking to baking sheets or baking tins. This reduces clean-up time.
Now you have an air fryer, it’s common to ask if parchment paper can be used for the same reasons in your air fry. The short answer is yes. Parchment paper is perfectly safe to use in an air fryer.
This article details how to use parchment paper safely in your air fryer, the alternatives, and if pre-cut parchment paper air fryer liners are worth the extra expense.
Table of Contents
Can you put parchment paper in an air fryer?
Yes. Parchment paper can be used in an air fryer. Parchment paper can withstand temperatures up to 420 F (215 c) to 450 F (232 c), above that and the paper will start to burn. Most air fryers generate up to 400 F (200 c), so parchment paper will be safe at those temperatures.
But if the paper touches the heating element, it will burn regardless of your cooking temperature. This will create smoke and potentially a fire.
You need to make sure you weigh down the parchment paper before turning your air fryer on. If you do not, the air being circulated in the air fryer will cause the paper to fly around. Bringing it into contact with the heating element.
What are the benefits of using parchment paper in an air fryer?
I use parchment paper in my air fryer because…
- Parchment paper stops food from sticking to the air fryer basket.
- It is an easy clean-up, as you simply dispose of the parchment paper. Then wash the air fryer basket with warm soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge.
- It avoids the need for adding additional oil to your food or basket. Making the food healthier.
- It does not create any chemical reactions with your food, unlike aluminum foil and acidic food.
Do I need to use parchment paper in an air fryer?
Most air fryer baskets are designed to be non-stick, so technically you do not need to use parchment paper.
That said, I find that food always tends to stick to my air fryer’s basket. This is because over time the effectiveness of the non-stick coating reduces. Putting your air fry basket in your dishwasher will accelerate this process.
As a rule, if the food is high in fat, I don’t use parchment paper. The fatty oil from the food will prevent the food from sticking to the basket. You do need to make sure you don’t overcook the food though. If you overcook it the oil from the food will burn off and then the food will stick.
If the food is not high in fat and you don’t want to cover it in oil, use parchment paper. You can then benefit from it not sticking to the basket.
Tips for when using parchment paper in an air fryer
To use parchment paper safely here are some expert tips…
Make sure its parchment paper
There are several types of cooking paper, and my cupboard has rolls of different types. In some cases, without the packaging, I bought them in. You want to make sure you are using parchment paper as other papers are not suitable for cooking in an air fryer. Wax paper for example should not be used in an air fryer.
Parchment paper will feel like a piece of paper and be slightly see-through in appearance. It can be brown (unbleached parchment paper) or white (bleached parchment paper) in color. Wax paper will feel tacky, due to the layer of wax coating.
Check the maximum temperature
If you have the packaging the parchment paper came with, check the maximum temperature the manufacturer states it can be used up to. If you do not have the packaging, avoid using parchment paper in temperatures over 420 F (215 c). As though it is heat resistant up to this point, it will increasingly become a fire hazard at temperatures above 420 F (215 c).
Make it fit
If you use a roll of parchment paper, only use enough to cover the bottom of the air fryer basket. You want to avoid using too much, especially if the paper ends up going up the sides of the air fryer basket and anywhere near the heating element.
If the paper touches the heating element it will burn and potentially cause a fire.
Do not disrupt airflow
Air fryers have a high-velocity fan that circulates hot air around the air fryer basket to cook your food. If you place parchment paper on the bottom of the basket without any holes cut into the sheet, this will disrupt the airflow. If the air is not able to circulate, it will impact the cooking process. Your food will not cook evenly or be as crispy as you may want.
You will get the best results by cutting holes in the parchment paper sheet once you have cut it to the right size. Alternatively, you can buy air fryer parchment paper liners that have perforated holes already in them. These liners are available in different sizes and various shapes to fit most air fryers.
Do not put any paper in the basket when pre-heating
When pre-heating your air fryer, do not have the parchment paper in the air fryer, as there will be no food in the air fryer at this point. The airflow will cause the paper to fly around and touch the heating coil. This will potentially cause a fire, as the parchment paper will burn.
Put the parchment paper in the air fryer once it has pre-heated to the required temperature for the recipe you are following. Be careful when adding the parchment paper as the basket will be hot. Use tongs if necessary to move the paper into position.
Weigh it down
Weigh down your parchment paper to avoid it flying around in the air fryer. Parchment paper is very light. You do not want the paper to touch the air fryer’s heating element or get caught in the high-velocity fan. This will damage your air fryer and potentially cause a fire.
Place food evenly over the paper and make sure that it is heavy enough to keep the paper in place.
Remove and dispose of it
Once your food has been cooked, use tongs to remove the food for serving. Then either let everything cool, before removing the parchment paper or use the tongs again to take out the parchment paper. Dispose of the parchment paper.
How do I make perforated parchment paper?
For your air fryer to cook your food evenly and make it crispy, you need to avoid preventing air circulation.
If you do not have parchment paper air fryer liners with the holes pre-cut, you can make your own using a sheet of parchment paper. To make your own perforated parchment paper follow these steps…
- Take a piece of parchment paper and cut it so it is about the right size to fit in the bottom of your air fryer’s basket.
- Trim the cut paper to fit perfectly in the bottom without any paper coming up the sides.
- Use a hole punch to punch holes in the cut-out parchment paper. Make sure you spread the holes evenly.
- Continue until you have sufficient holes to allow the air to circulate, while the cut-out is still in one piece. Too many holes and it will fall apart.
Once you have created your parchment paper liner, follow the above expert tips.
Pre-cut air fryer parchment paper liners vs. regular parchment paper
Creating your own parchment paper liners from a roll of parchment paper will take time and can be a bit fiddly. If you are using your air fryer a lot, then the time spent making your liners will add up.
You can buy pre-cut liners made from parchment paper if you want to save yourself some time. Pre-cut perforate paper liners are relatively inexpensive at around $5 for 100 or £5 in the UK.
You also save yourself the effort of finding a hole puncher. To find ours I had to rummage around in a stationary box, I can’t remember the last time I used it.
Can I reuse the parchment paper liner?
Yes, you can reuse a parchment liner, it does however depend on what you have been cooking.
I wouldn’t reuse a liner if I had just cooked some meat, it could lead to food poisoning. I would reuse it if I had just cooked some vegetables or been baking. Over time the non-stick properties would deteriorate. I have never used the same air fryer liner more than three times.
Alternatives to parchment paper
If you do not have any parchment paper or want to use something that does not generate as much waste. You could consider aluminum foil or a silicone liner.
Foil
Aluminum or Tin Foil can be used in the same way as parchment paper. You do though need to avoid using it with acidic foods. It also generates waste like parchment paper. If you want to know more about how to use foil in the air fryer. I have written an article that covers how to use foil safely in an air fryer.
Air fryer silicone liners
Silicone provides a non-stick surface and can withstand the high temperatures of an air fryer. Silicone’s main advantage over other materials you might use to line your air fryer basket is that it is reusable.
You need to make sure you buy the right-sized silicone liner for your air fryer. Unlike foil and parchment paper it is not as easy to trim to size.
If you want to know more about the advantages of silicone and the range of silicone air fryer accessories that you can buy to help you air fry, please read this article on how best to use silicone in an air fryer.
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