Only put a layer of foil in the bottom of the air fryer basket where your food sits, not on the bottom of the air fryer itself. 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.
It's also a more sustainable option than lining your air fryer with aluminum foil. Lining your air fryer basket with a round of parchment paper is the perfect way to keep your air fryer squeaky clean and slash the time it takes to clean up. It just got a whole lot easier to make air fryer chicken drumsticks!
"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." In order to minimize food waste, you may want to only use this technique when cooking especially greasy foods (like bacon), and also use bread slices that are stale.
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.
You should only put foil in the basket itself, not under it. If placed in the bottom of the drawer, the foil could make contact with the heating element or high-speed fan. This could damage your air fryer or, worse, cause it to overheat and start a fire. Make sure the food is heavy enough to weigh down the foil.
Line Your Air Fryer Basket With Pre-Cut Parchment
They are best for lining standard air fryer baskets, not air fryers that look like toaster ovens. The holes allow hot air to circulate around the food while still providing a base to trap some of the grease and food bits that usually fall through the basket.
You might also use an aluminum pan to cook in, which is also okay to use in the air fryer. Disposable foil pans can be a great way to reheat food in the air fryer, like lasagna or a casserole.
Not only do they keep your air fryer clean, but they also improve the overall cooking experience by ensuring your food is cooked evenly and doesn't stick to the basket. Plus, with 100 liners in each pack, you'll have plenty to last for weeks or even months of cooking!
Yes, it's easy to make if you only plan on using the liners a few times a year. Just cut regular parchment sheets to the size of your air fryer. Use a hole puncher and punch a bunch of holes in the paper. The more holes, the more air circulation you'll get during cooking!
However, the pre-cut sheets are not made for your air fryer. Instead, they are made for baking sheets. Both are made of the same material. Both are safe to use in your air fryer if they are cut down to the correct size to fit your machine.
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.
Adding a few tablespoons of water to the bottom of the basket in a basket-style air fryer is generally safe and can even be beneficial. It can help prevent excessive smoke when cooking greasy foods and keep your food from drying out.
While generally you can put parchment paper in an air fryer for anything you're cooking, it's not required for any foods. It may make cleaning up easier, but it's not a necessity.
Putting paper towels in an air fryer is not recommended as it can potentially cause a fire hazard. Additionally, the paper towel may not allow proper air circulation within the fryer, resulting in uneven cooking. Using the tray or basket with the air fryer is better for optimal cooking results.
It is safe to use parchment paper in the air fryer, just as it is in the oven. The same precautions should be taken. As an added safety check, never leave the air fryer unattended when using parchment paper in the basket and make sure the paper doesn't touch the heating element.
Yes, you can use parchment paper in the air fryer as long as you: Add the paper to the air fryer basket. Place food on top of the paper to avoid the paper from flying away in the heating element – this can cause a fire, so watch out carefully!
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 It Safe to Use Aluminum Foil In the Air Fryer? An air fryer is simply a small oven that runs on convection heat. The heat is circulated around a tight space by a powerful fan that lies just below or behind the heating element. Just as in a standard oven, it is perfectly safe to use aluminum foil in the air fryer.
Aluminum foil can be used in an air fryer, but it should only go in the basket. Acidic foods react with aluminum, so avoid using foil when air frying tomatoes, peppers, or citrus. Using parchment paper or a bare basket is better because it won't interfere with cooking.
"The air fryer was just 14 minutes and I didn't pre-heat at all." While Gina used a metal lunchbox for her air fryer lasagna, you can also use a glass over dish or even a foil tray.
Is It Safe to Use Aluminum Foil in the Air Fryer? It is absolutely safe to use aluminum foil in your air fryer. In fact, it can make cooking with the air fryer easier.
Many baking recipes for cakes, muffins or quick breads skip the parchment entirely and just call for greasing and flouring the pan to prevent sticking. For roasting or baking savory foods, aluminum foil is a good alternative that allows for a simple clean-up.
Add 1 teaspoon – 1 tablespoon of the oil of your choice to a mister or spray bottle. Open the air fryer basket. Holding the mister or spray bottle a couple of inches away, spritz the inside with a light coating of oil. You can also use a basting brush to apply an even, thin coating of oil onto the bottom of the basket.
Air fryers typically cook from the top down and are paired with a large fan that's located on the top of the appliance. They rarely have any heating elements on the bottom unless they offer more functionality like true toasting or baking.