If you have ever fried up some delicious chicken in a deep fryer then you are familiar with the strong layer of grease inside the machine. But, can this also happen in an air fryer? Is there any way to prevent this from happening?
Although not as bad as a deep fryer, air fryers are susceptible to grease buildup. You can line your machine with any of the following liners:
- Parchment paper
- Aluminum foil
- Ceramic dishes
- Silicone liners
Avoid flammable objects in your machine and any coated in wax. Perforated liners are your best option so the airflow will not be disrupted.
What can you do if you do not have a perforated liner? Is it safe to puncture your liners yourself? What happens if you use a coffee filter as a liner? Keep reading to learn more on all these topics and more!
You Can Line an Air Fryer With Parchment Paper
Parchment paper is one of the preferred options for air fryer enthusiasts. However, some experts warn that parchment paper may cause the grease from certain foods to get trapped. Although harmless, it might cause your food to be excessively greasy and unpleasant.
One common solution for this is to cook less oily foods on parchment paper. Fish, vegetables, and other naturally low-fat foods are a great option. Not to mention, the steam stored in the parchment paper due to the lack of ventilation will keep these foods moist and flavorful.
Another less common solution is to poke holes in your parchment paper or purchase pre-perforated parchment sheets. You can find air fryer parchment sheets on Amazon, such as the Katbite Air fryer Parchment sheets.
If you want to make your own we recommend puncturing 6-7 holes into a parchment sheet. Make sure you cut this sheet to the size of your air fryer tray. You can use scissors or a sewing needle to puncture your parchment sheet, but try not to make them larger than a dime in circumference.
You can Line an Air Fryer With Aluminum Foil
Aluminum foil is a great option if you are in a pinch and want to avoid your air fryer getting sticky and dirty. However, it is not the best option out there since there are several issues associated with this method.
Aluminum foil is perfectly safe and will not spark or risk catching fire as it does in the microwave. Although, it is a reactive metal with acidic foods so you should avoid using it with tomatoes, pineapple, or other acidic dishes.
For the best results, use aluminum foil for chicken beef, and other greasier meats. Poke holes in the foil for the grease and only use this in the basket of the fryer. Do not use foil on the tray if you can help it, but especially avoid using it on the bottom rack.
Air fryers circulate hot air throughout the machine to create a crispy exterior. This air circulation can get caught in the foil and cause it to get dislodged and float about the interior of the machine.
You can Line Your Air Fryer With Silicone Liners
Silicone mats or liners are a wonderful permanent option for air fryers. These mats are made of flame retardant silicone and come in several sizes for different varieties of air fryers. For the best results, find the silicone liner which best suits the size of your machine.
These mats are perforated and designed to maximize the airflow while preventing grease spillage. These holes ensure the meat, veggies, and other goodies you cook get crispy like in a deep fryer.
Silicone sheets are the most versatile of the options. They do not really have any negative effects other than the fact that you will need to pay a little extra upfront and wash after each use. Liners are much easier to clean, however, and do not get food baked onto them like the fryer trays.
Airway Aeromats and Lotteli Kitchen Liners are some of the best varieties available on Amazon. Both of these brands are designed for smaller machines, but Lotelli Kitchen does have two varieties. They are magnetic making them a wind-resistant variety and less likely to blow away in the machine.
You can Line Your Air Fryer With a Ceramic Dish
Although the least common option, ceramic dishes are a great choice for keeping your air fryer clean. The main downside to these dishes is they do not have any aeration holes. They work great for casseroles and air fryer lasagna.
Ceramic, oven-safe dishes are the best option to use in your air fryer. However, you can also use oven-safe disposable foil pans and reusable oven-safe metal trays. Just make sure you get one that fits your air fryer!
Simax Casserole dish is an excellent option and will fit inside most air fryers. We do not recommend using the lid, however, unless you want your food to be tender rather than crisp.
Do You Line the Bottom of an Air Fryer?
You should avoid lining the bottom of your air fryer unless you are cooking on the bottom rack. This is especially true if you are using a liner which will restrict the flow of hot air through the machine. Avoid using aluminum foil or ceramic containers on the bottom if you are also cooking on the top rack.
The way you line your air fryer varies based on the type of machine you have. If you have a cylindrical air fryer with a basket then you can line the basket however you like. However, you should be careful using anything which will restrict the airflow too much.
The best liners for a cylindrical basket fryer are:
- Perforated silicone sheets
- Perforated parchment paper
- Ceramic dish for tender dishes
Foil is not the best choice for basket fryers since they do not permit airflow. Even if you perforate the foil it may still obstruct airflow. To prevent grease from sticking to the tray below the basket, add a little water to the drawer beneath it.
Always check your machine’s manual before adding water to this portion. But, for most machines this should be harmless and helps prevent the grease from sticking and ruining the machine.
For upright air fryer ovens use the following liners:
- Parchment paper
- Silicone sheets
- Aluminum foil
- Ceramic dish
The best option for these machines are parchment and silicone liners. However, aluminum foil works well in these machines as well with certain stipulations.
Why Do Air Fryer Liners Have Holes?
Air fryer liners have holes to prevent the hot air from getting obstructed. Disrupted air flow can mean poorly cooked food and soggy dishes. Proper ventilation ensures every part of your dish is cooked thoroughly while also getting crisp.
Holes in air fryer liners serve two important functions:
- Permits unobstructed airflow
- Prevents the liner from becoming dislodged
Liners can get stuck in the airflow and either break or spill your food. This is very uncommon for silicone liners since they are heavier and usually have magnets holding them to the tray. However, it can happen with parchment liners and foil liners.
Holes allow the air to flow through the sheets without getting stuck and pulling on the sheet. It also guarantees your food gets cooked and crisp. Try to avoid putting the food on top of the holes to ensure everything gets crisp evenly.
Do You Need Liners For an Air Fryer?
Liners are not necessary when using your air fryer. However, you will have to clean your machine thoroughly after every use to prevent grease build-up. Using a liner will help prevent your machine from getting dirty, clogged, and breaking down.
Unless you are very committed to thoroughly cleaning your machine after every use, liners are essential. They catch a lot of the grease while also permitting airflow.
Air fryer liners also prevent your food from sticking to the tray. This means you can use less oil and still get the crispy taste you want without the annoying stickiness to the tray!
What Liners Are Not Safe To Use In an Air Fryer?
There are several types of liners you should avoid using in your air fryer. You should avoid using any liners which are coated in wax or other flammable materials. Additionally, only use liners that are oven safe to avoid any potential fire hazards or damage to your machine.
Air fryers are not microwaves so you do not need to avoid metal objects like you in a microwave. However, you should avoid the following liners:
- Unperforated parchment paper/aluminum foil
- Silicone sheets which are not oven safe
- Wax coated liners
- Wooden liners
- Paper liners which are not oven safe
While parchment paper is oven and air fryer safe wax paper is not. Wax is highly flammable in an air fryer and may drip wax into the basket below the fryer. This wax can clog the fryer and damage the inner lining of the machine.
Wooden liners are also a risky option for lining your machine. Avoid using wooden bowls or bamboo sushi rollers to line your machine. There are some websites that advocate for using bamboo liners, we advise against it unless they are marketed as oven safe.
Never use paper plates or bowls in your air fryer. Paper is highly flammable and can result in a fire in your machine. Some paper plates and bowls also have a wax or plastic coating which increases the likelihood of a fire as well as damage to your machine.
Last, never use paper towels. Remember that air fryers are not at all like a microwave and work completely differently. While paper plates and towels can be safely used in some microwaves, this is not the case for an air fryer.
Can You Use Coffee Filters To Line the Air Fryer?
Coffee filters are not recommended as an air fryer liner, unless they are designed for an air fryer. Although not as flammable as paper plates and towels and can be used to replace parchment paper in baking, they are flammable. They should definitely be avoided for any foods you plan to fry and use oil.
Although somewhat uncommon, some people like to bake their sweets in their air fryer. If you plan on baking some cupcakes, muffins, or other baked goods then using a coffee filter should be fine.
Coffee filters can be used as a replacement for muffin liners and parchment paper. However, you should not use coffee filters when frying greasier foods in your air fryer. The grease can get trapped in the coffee filter and catch fire. Therefore, it’s a great option for baked goods, but not for fried foods.