Can You Put Parchment Paper in an Air Fryer? Your Questions Answered
In 2018, the global air fryer market made $894.3 million. Air fryers have only grown in popularity since then which is why experts expect the market to grow to $1.5 billion in the next five years.
Air fryers are basically small convection ovens that make food taste deep fried with very little oil. Simply put, it’s nothing short of miraculous. No wonder they’ve taken the world by storm.
That said, air fryers take some getting used to so it’s normal to have questions. For example, you might wonder ‘can you put parchment paper in an air fryer’?
If those are your questions, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to learn if you can use parchment paper so you can safely use your air fryer and enjoy some delicious food.
How Do Air Fryers Work?
Before we get into cooking dos and don’ts it’s important to understand how air fryers work.
Despite their name, they don’t actually fry anything. Instead, the appliance blows hot air around the food which creates convection. The air temp sits at least 320 degrees F and that’s what gives the food its crispy coating.
A key aspect of an air fryer is its perforated basket. Air blows through and around the holes and cooks the food without making it soggy.
The holes also mean you can’t cook any food with a wet batter. You need to stick to foods that are frozen or have dry seasoning. If you break this rule, batter will drip through the holes and make a mess in the drawer.
What is Parchment Paper?
Parchment paper is a popular kitchen tool for home cooks as well as professional bakers. It protects your bakeware and makes cakes and other foods a breeze to remove from their pans.
Parchment paper is a type of paper that’s been coated in silicone. That silicone layer is what makes it heat safe, which means you can put it in the oven.
That said, you should never confuse wax paper with parchment paper. Wax paper has a paraffin wax coating which will burn or melt if you put it in the oven.
If you’re wondering can paper be used for baking, the answer is yes, but only if it’s parchment paper.
So, Can You Put Parchment Paper in an Air Fryer?
Now that you understand how parchment paper and air fryers work, we can learn if you can use them together.
The short answer is yes. That’s right, you can use parchment paper in an air fryer.
Using parchment paper in your air fryer will make clean-up a breeze. Plus, it can keep food from sticking to the basket. It can also prevent some of the oil from draining into the drawer, which makes cleaning easier.
How to Safely Use Parchment Paper in an Air Fryer
While it is safe to use parchment paper in an air fryer, you need to follow some guidelines. As long as you follow these rules, you’ll get to enjoy delicious food while keeping yourself and your kitchen safe.
- Only Use Perforated Parchment Paper
As we talked about earlier, your air fryer needs proper air flow in order to work. That’s why it’s so important to use perforated parchment paper.
You can buy pre-made perforated parchment paper that’s designed for air fryers. Look for liners that match the shape and dimensions of your particular model.
If you can’t find these liners in the store, you can make your own. Simply take a piece of parchment paper, cut it to fit inside your basket, and use a hole punch to put holes in it.
Making your own perforated parchment paper is a great way to save a little money. Plus, you can use the paper for other things like lining baking sheets or cake pans.
- Only Use Paper in the Food Basket
All air fryers have a basket for food and a drawer to catch drips of grease. While both parts can be tough to clean, it’s only safe to put parchment paper in the basket.
In some models, you can line the grease drawer with aluminum foil for easier clean-up. But sometimes this can disrupt the air flow and cause uneven cooking. Make sure to read your owner’s manual before lining the drawer with foil.
- Don’t Put Loose Paper in Your Air Fryer
Air fryers have a fan and heating element that circulates hot air from above the food. Unfortunately, that means anything lightweight can get sucked into the blower and touch the heating element.
That’s why it’s critical to never put loose paper in your air fryer basket. If you preheat your fryer, don’t put the paper in the basket until you add the food.
Before you turn on your machine, set the paper in the basket and put an even layer of food on top of the paper. This will weigh the paper down and ensure even cooking. Plus, you’ll be avoiding any potential fire hazards.
- Don’t Completely Cover the Basket with Paper
When you use parchment paper, don’t worry about covering the entire basket with paper. In fact, if your liner doesn’t reach all the way to the edges of your basket, that’s actually a good thing. Remember that good air flow helps the air fryer cook more evenly.
Whether you use store-bought liners or homemade ones, remember to make plenty of holes.
- Spray the Basket and the Paper with Cooking Spray
While parchment paper is non-stick, it can still stick to your basket. This can be an issue if you have some stuck-on food from previous air frying sessions.
The easiest solution is to spray your basket with a little non-stick cooking spray. Then add the paper and give that a quick spray too. This will keep your food from sticking to the paper.
Start Using Your Air Fryer Today
Air fryers let you enjoy the taste of deep fried foods with less oil. But, they can be frustrating to clean. Luckily, parchment paper can make all the difference.
So if you’ve been wondering ‘can you put parchment paper in an air fryer’, the short answer is yes!
For more tips on cooking, keep scrolling through our blog.
