Your air fryer’s information booklet likely focuses on the safe way to operate it vs. how to cook delicious food.

You may though still be wondering can I put paper towels in the bottom of the fryer? The answer to that question is no.

Can you put paper towels in the air fryer?

No, air fryers operate at high temperatures. They create hot air which is circulated by a fan to cook food in a short amount of time. Paper towels in an air fryer basket would be a fire hazard.

Putting paper towels in an air fryer is not a good idea. There are plenty of alternatives to prevent food from sticking to the bottom of the air fryer basket.

How does an air fryer work?

Air fryers have in recent years become very popular. Part of their appeal is their ability to cook food fast. In our household speed is a key factor in using the air fryer. As is the fact that the food is always crispier than when using a conventional oven.

An air fryer is a small convection oven, it has a heating coil at the top with a fan used to circulate the very hot air. Air fryers are smaller than conventional convection ovens. The cooking space heats up quickly to high temperatures.

The circulation of this hot air by the fan ensures food is evenly cooked and crispy. As an added benefit, air fryers use a fraction of the oil needed in a fryer or frying pan to replicate.

If you want to know more about how air fryers work. I have written this article which covers how air fryers work in more detail.

What happens if you put a paper towel in an air fryer?

If you place a paper towel in an air fryer you create a fire risk. The high temperatures in an air fryer will cause the paper towels to set alight. This would ruin the food you are cooking and stink out your house. It could also cause a fire that could damage your home.

For the same reasons, it is also not a good idea to put plastic wrap or paper plates in an air fryer.

Safe alternatives to paper towels

The good news is there are plenty of alternatives to paper towels. Using one of the below will reduce the risk of a fire. As well as ensure your food does not stick to the bottom of the air fryer basket. Saving you time when it comes to cleaning up.

The kind of food you are cooking will influence which alternative you should use. All the below are best used when placed in the bottom of your air fryer basket.

Parchment Paper

Parchment paper is perfect for use in an air fryer, though you need to make sure that you do not use too much. If you use too much parchment paper can disrupt the airflow and result in uneven cooking.

To avoid uneven cooking only put parchment paper at the bottom of the air fryer. Place some small holes in the paper. The holes will also allow any excess oil to drain into the bottom of the air fryer’s basket. This can be cleaned with soapy water after cooking.

As parchment paper is light, the fan in the air fryer could cause the parchment paper to move or lift from the basket. It is important to weigh the paper down before pre-heating or cooking in your air fryer. You do not want a piece of paper coming into contact with the heating coil.

Air fryer liners

Due to the popularity of air fryers, you can buy air fryer liners. Air fryer liners save you time as they are pre-cut to fit in the air fryer basket. They have holes already cut into them, ensuring the airflow is not blocked and food is evenly cooked.

Remember to weigh the liner down to avoid it touching the heating element.

As air fryers come in different sizes you will need to pick the right liner for your air fryer.

Aluminum or Tin foil

Aluminum or tin foil can be used in air fryers. Depending on the food you are cooking you may need to use the foil in different ways. Foil can be used as a removable liner to prevent food from sticking to the bottom of the air fryer basket. This would be the approach you take if cooking fried chicken or chicken wings. If you were cooking salmon or leafy greens, you would likely use the foil to create a pocket to keep the food’s moisture.

When using foil, remember as with parchment paper do not use too much foil. Put holes in the foil to avoid disrupting the airflow. Disrupting the airflow can result in uneven cooking of your food.

If you are cooking acidic foods, you should avoid using aluminum foil. Cooking acidic foods on aluminum foil creates a chemical reaction. This may cause the aluminum to leach into your food.

Oil

If you do not have access to any of the above. But want to avoid food becoming stuck to your air fryer basket you could use some oil. Oil can be used to create a barrier between your food and the air fryer basket to stop food from sticking. You will still be using a lot less oil than if deep frying.

When using oil in an air fryer, picking one with a high smoke point is the key. As the higher the smoke points the less likely the oil will burn. If the oil burns, it will cause the food to stick to the air fryer removable basket.

A high smoke point will also avoid your home from being filled with an unpleasant smell. As well as avoiding the flavors of the food being altered.

What oil to use in an air fryer?

If you want to avoid your oil burning and smoking use avocado oil as it has one of the highest smoke points at 520F/270c. But if all you have is some sunflower oil this will be fine for most cooking as this has a smoke point of 441F/227c. I have written an article on the best oils to use when air frying.

Heat-resistant containers – good condition

You can use a range of containers in an air fryer. The important thing to consider when using bowls or trays is that they will disrupt the airflow. This will impact how the food is cooked. They are used when making recipes that need the food to be contained. For example, reheating lasagna or baking a cake.

Containers can be made from a range of substances, tempered glass (Pyrex), ceramic, and metal. All these are air fryer proof. The important thing is that they are in a good condition with no cracks or chips. If they are not in a good condition or indeed not ovenproof they will likely break. You do not want this to happen as it could make your food inedible and result in a big mess for you to clean up.

Always check your containers before using them to make sure they are in a good condition and can be used in an oven.

How can you use paper towels when cooking with air fryers?

You can use paper towels in other ways as part of cooking with an air fryer. Power towels can be used to…

· Help apply seasoning to the food before cooking.

· Soak up any moisture before cooking the food. I use paper towels in the this way when making my home-made hash browns.

· Soak up any residual oil from the food after cooking and before serving. Place a series of paper towels on a plate before putting the food on them.

· Clean up. A wet paper towel is sometimes all you need to wipe your cooking basket clean.

Do not put the paper towels in the air fryer when it is on, then you will avoid them burning and causing a fire.

Final word

Paper towels should not go in an air fryer and nor should they need to. There are so many alternatives that you can lay your hands on.

By using one of these alternatives, you will reduce the risk of a fire and you will spend less time cleaning up.

Paper towels can still play a role in your kitchen when cooking with air fryers. They simply cannot go in an air fryer when you are cooking.

Related articles

What Can And Can’t Go In An Air Fryer – A roundup article summarizing what you can and can’t use in an air fryer. With links to more detail on how to use certain materials and items safely.