Nearly two-thirds of Americans have an air fryer, and roughly half of them use an air fryer at least once per week. Most air fryers are easy to use, they cook food quickly, you can cook with less fat or oil than you would when deep frying, and you'll make less of a mess than if you'd used a frying pan or traditional oven.
Still, using an air fryer can be even easier, and air fryer liners are a great way to make cooking that much more convenient.
Whether you're new to air fryers or have had one for years, knowing how to use air fryer liners can be the difference between burnt chicken wings and delicious chicken wings. Let's talk more about it and talk about considerations to keep in mind to make your air frying even better.
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Air Fryer Liners Make the Cooking Experience Better
Anything that makes cooking simpler is a win in my book! When it comes to using your air fryer, which is already an easy and convenient way to cook, using liners can make it an even better experience.
Here are some of the benefits you can expect when you start using silicone, aluminum, or paper liners in your air fryer.
- Air fryer liners provide a non-stick surface that prevents food from sticking.
- Cleaning up is super simple. Just peel off the liner and either wash it (if it's a reusable air fryer liner) or throw it away/recycle it.
- You can use less oil, or even no oil, thanks to the non-stick properties of most air fryer liners. Note that air fryer baskets are often non-stick as it is, but a liner will make it even easier to keep your fryer basket in great condition.
- They can protect your air fryer baskets by minimizing scratches, stains, and grease buildup. You won't need to scrub it, which will extend its lifespan.
- Ready-made air fryer liners come in various sizes to fit your particular machine. You can also often trim them to fit better.
- If you have allergies in your family, an air fryer liner can prevent contamination of the basket (though it should always still be washed well after cooking an allergen that affects your household).
Finding The Right Liners for Your Air Fryer Basket
I tried out a bunch of different air fryer liners to see which was best. Here are some of the different kinds you might consider, based on what you're cooking, whether you prefer disposable or reusable options, cost, and other factors.
Parchment Paper Liners
Air Fryer Disposable Paper Liner on Amazon- Parchment paper liners are a widely available choice. They're convenient and available in pre-cut sizes, so all you need to do is pull one out and stick it in the fryer.
Parchment paper can also be cut to fit; you can just pull some from the roll(or pull out one sheet) and cut it so it's the right size for your air fryer basket. This will likely result in some wrinkling and can be ill-fitting, though, so be aware of that limitation.
The drawback here is that while parchment paper liners are cost-effective, they're also disposable and might not be very environmentally friendly if you're using them frequently and throwing them away.
Silicone Air Fryer Liners
Lecfon Air Fryer Silicone Liner on Amazon- If you're looking for a reusable and eco-friendly option, silicone air fryer liners might be the right choice. These are made from food-grade silicone and they can withstand the high temperatures you're likely to use in your air fryer.
Air fryer silicone mats and silicone baskets are other options to consider.
Since they're reusable, you'll just wash them in warm, soapy water; most are also dishwasher safe, so you can also just pop them in there for super simple cleanup.
One potential drawback is that silicone liners can stain if you're using them when cooking darkly colored foods, so keep that in mind.
Aluminum Foil and Pans
Aluminum foil or disposable liners made from foil are versatile and easy. You can either mold aluminum foil to fit the air fryer or you can slide a disposable aluminum pan into the fryer.
You will want to ensure the pan you choose fits the fryer well. Look for one that's a similar shape to your air fryer, and make sure it isn't stopping the hot air circulation. As you can see, I chose one that's slightly smaller than my air fryer basket to promote good airflow.
If you want to avoid air fryer disposable liners, foil might not be the best option, though they can be recycled if you rinse or wipe out the food residue. Also, it's possible to reuse them if you are cooking something relatively non-messy.
Related: Can You Put Metal in an Air Fryer?
Perforated Liners
HOFHTD Perforated Air Fryer Liner on Amazon - Some air fryer liners are specifically made to help you make crispy food by promoting more airflow. These have perforations, allowing air to circulate through the air fryer while it's cooking.
The tiny pre-cut holes do a great job keeping food crisp, but they also let food particles through the holes onto the basket and below it into the tray. This means you'll need to clean up a bit more than you would if you were using a non-perforated liner. You'll need to decide which result is worth the tradeoff!
Should You Trim or Perforate Your Air Fryer Paper Liners?
If you want your air fryer to work at its most efficiently, trimming and perforating your liner will help, particularly if your liners don't fit your fryer perfectly.
First, trim your disposable liner to make sure it fits well in the air fryer basket. If there's anything sticking up, it can slow down the cooking process by blocking some of the hot air flow. You want the liner to lie flat.
Perforated parchment paper liners and silicone liners with small holes boost the amount of air that circulates around your food, increasing its crispy texture and making for more even heat distribution.
You can buy perforated paper liners, or you can use a fork or butter knife to create small punctures. (Don't do this while the paper is in the air fryer; that's a burn risk and also an electrocution risk!)
Keep in mind that perforations can trap crumbs, so if you hate cleaning,k you might opt not to try this.
Being Safe With Your Air Fryer Liner
While cooking food in an air fryer is overall very safe, there are a few things you can do when using liners in your fryer to increase safety even further.
First, only use materials that are made to be heat resistant. Don't use plastic, wax paper, cardboard, or materials that aren't food-safe.
Silicone liners, parchment paper liners, and tin foil liners are going to be the safest options.
Make sure the liner isn't going to fly up to hit the heating element. Remember, there's a fan inside of the air fryer for better air circulation, and that will lift your liner if it's not weighed down. Spread out your food so it's holding down all sides of the paper liner.
Make sure you have good ventilation and airflow within the air fryer. Air fryer paper liners can bunch up or move, so check that they're staying in place and not blocking the vents or covering the food.
Troubleshooting Common Issues With Air Fryer Liners
There are a few issues you might find that come up when using air fryer paper liners in air fryers. Here are some troubleshooting tips to keep in mind:
- Spritz the liner with cooking spray if food sticks. While disposable liners and food grade silicone liners are nonstick, a little oil or cooking spray will make sure nothing sticks.
- Use a material suitable for high temperatures to prevent burning. Make sure your parchment paper liners are made for the temperature you're using, and don't use wax paper, plastic, or other unsafe materials.
- Use heavy-duty foil in place of thin foil. This will help prevent tearing.
- Weigh down your liner so it won't slip around as much. If your food isn't heavy enough to weigh it down, use pie crust weights or baking beans in the corners around the edges. Ceramic won't melt.
- Make sure your air fryer liners fit properly. An overly large liner can block air flow, and a too-small one can slip out of place. Trim your parchment paper so it fits well.
Final Tips and Recommendations
If you're using air fryer silicone mats or reusable liners, make sure you're cleaning them promptly and properly.
Only use food-grade materials in your air fryer. Any product you buy commercially that's sold for air fryers will be safe to use.
Remember that the best air fryer liners are the ones that fit your machine. Note the shape of your air fryer basket and buy liners to fit that. Alternatively, cut foil or parchment paper to size, making sure it's able to be tucked down into place so it won't fly around.
If this is your first time experimenting with air fryer liners, enjoy this new adventure in air fryer cooking. Don't be afraid to try different recipes and techniques; you just might find some new foods that work well with liners that you hadn't expected to enjoy making in your air fryer!
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Serg Bonica
I am new to Air Fryers and happy to learn
Thanks