Can you put wax paper in an air fryer?

Most home cooks have a range of different types of paper that have different uses. Wax paper will likely be one. I use wax paper to help me reduce mess when preparing or storing food.

As air frying can be a messy affair, can wax paper reduce this mess? The short answer is no, if you use wax paper in your air fryer it will more than likely cause a fire and ruin your day.

Can you put wax paper in an air fryer?

No, wax paper should not be used in an air fryer. Wax paper is not heat resistant. It should only be used at room temperature or below. Wax paper becomes a fire hazard if exposed to high temperatures.

What happens if I put wax paper in an air fryer?

Most air fryers heat up to 400 F (200 c), if wax paper was exposed to those temperatures the following is likely to occur…

Fire

Wax paper is not heat resistant, if exposed to high heat the wax coating will melt and run off the paper. This could cause the paper to catch fire, especially if the paper is not weighed down and touches the air fryer’s heating element.

Wax melts into food

With the wax melting it will combine with your food, making your food taste different and unsafe to eat.

Damage your air fryer

If the wax paper catches fire, then your air fryer will be damaged. Even if a fire does not occur the wax as it melts will run off the paper, covering both the food you are cooking and the air fryer cooking basket. It may then prove difficult for you to completely remove the wax through cleaning, risking ongoing food contamination when you use the air fryer in the future.

What is wax paper?

Wax paper is a type of paper with one side coated in wax. The wax is normally paraffin wax giving the paper a non-stick coating, that is also water-resistant.

This wax coating prevents oil and water from either soaking into the food or leaking out of it. This can help reduce the clean-up time following food preparation, help food retain its flavor, and keep food fresh.  

What is wax paper used for?

Wax paper should not be used in an air fryer, but it still can be used to help you prepare delicious meals using your air fryer.

If you have made homemade burgers to air fry and want to store some. Wax paper can be used between patties to stop them from freezing together. The entire batch can also be wrapped in wax paper to protect them from freezer burn and allow for longer storage times.  

Other uses for wax paper extend beyond cooking and include lining shelves in cupboards or refrigerators. All of these various uses do not expose the wax paper to high temperatures and are perfectly safe.

Safe alternatives to wax paper?

The good news is there are plenty of alternatives to wax paper. Using one of the below will reduce the risk of a fire. As well as ensure your food items do not stick to the bottom of the air fryer basket. Saving you time by providing you with an easy clean-up after cooking.

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 and are a better option than wax paper.

Parchment Paper

Regular 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 it can disrupt air circulation and result in uneven cooking. You also do not want the paper coming up the sides of the air fryer towards the heating components. If the paper touches the heat coils, then it will burn, potentially causing a fire.

To avoid uneven cooking only put the piece of parchment paper at the bottom of the air fryer. It is a good idea to use a hole punch to make your own perforated parchment paper. Use the hole punch to poke holes in the paper. The holes will allow the hot air to circulate around the air fryer basket. Excess oil will also drain into the bottom of the basket. This can be cleaned with soapy water after cooking.

As parchment paper is light, the high-velocity 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 to touch the heating coil.

Air fryer parchment paper liners

Due to the popularity of air fryers, you can buy pre-cut parchment paper air fryer liners. Air fryer parchment paper liners save you time as they are pre-cut to fit in the basket of your air fryer. 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 flying around and touching the heating element.

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

I have gone into more detail about how to use parchment paper and pre-cut liners in this article.

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. 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. To find out more about how to use aluminum foil or pans in your air fryer, you will find more information in another one of my articles.

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 using silicone in an air fryer.

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 of these are air fryer safe. 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 will likely 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.

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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.