Can You Put Parchment Paper In An Air Fryer?

We all know how handy and amazing the air fryer is as an appliance, but this relatively new product comes without a lot of questions. You want to take care of your appliance so that it lasts a long time, while also making sure that cooking and clean-up is a breeze! This leads to a common question, can you put parchment paper in an air fryer? The answer is YES! Here’s how to do it right!

Parchment paper is a handy tool to have on hand whether you’re baking cookies, roasting vegetables like air fryer squash, or preparing any sort of recipe that you want to keep from sticking to your baking pan. It can also be super helpful when you use your air fryer.

In fact, one of the most popular air fryer accessories is pre-cut parchment paper which is made to fit snuggly inside your air fryer basket with small holes to allow for airflow. But do you need this accessory? Or can you use the parchment paper that is in your kitchen drawer?

In this post, I will explain why you want to use parchment paper when you prepare food in the air fryer, how to do so safely, and whether or not you can save your money on fancy air fryer parchment paper accessories.

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What is Parchment Paper?

Parchment paper is used in cooking to prevent food from sticking to your pan. It has a food-safe coating that allows it to easily pull away from baked food. It is used to line cookie sheets to prevent cookies from sticking to the pan. In addition, it is also used to line cake tins, and loaf pans so that baked goods are easily released from the pan. Parchment paper can also be used to line baking sheets while roasting vegetables. It is a heat-resistant paper with a non-stick surface. It is sold everywhere. You can buy it in a role, or in pre-cut sizes. You can also buy sheets that are specifically cut for your air fryer basket.

Can You Put Parchment Paper In An Air Fryer?

Yes, you can put parchment paper in an air fryer. The reason you may be concerned about using parchment paper in an air fryer is that it is lightweight. The hot air that blows in the air fryer can cause something that is lightweight to blow around in your air fryer, which means if you choose to use it you must place foods that are heavy enough to keep down at the bottom of the basket.

There is another challenge when it comes to using parchment paper. The air fryer requires air circulation. Using parchment paper can potentially block the airflow. Also, if you are preparing a greasy recipe, the purpose of the air fryer is to allow the grease to drip and fall, making your recipes healthier. If you use parchment paper, you can impede this process. Instead of using parchment paper sheets, it is recommended to use the kind that is made specifically for the air fryer. These sheets have small holes that allow the grease or fat to drop from your food to the bottom of the basket and also allow air to flow easily.

Benefits of Using Parchment Paper in an Air Fryer

• It makes clean-up a breeze!
• Fewer dishes to do.
• Your food won’t stick to the bottom of your basket.
• You won’t need to use as much oil or fat which makes your recipes healthier.

Expert Tips for Using Parchment Paper in an Air Fryer

Before you jump into using parchment paper in your air fryer, let’s review a few expert tips to ensure you use it safely so that you don’t have any problems.

Don’t Heat Past the Maximum Temperature

While parchment paper is heat-resistant, it still has a temperature limit. Read the instructions on your paper to see what the temperature limit is. Most are around 425 degrees F. Since my air fryer only goes up to a temperature of 400 degrees F, I know that I will never heat my food beyond the point of safety.

Use the Right Paper

There are several different kinds of cooking paper out there including wax paper. Be sure to use cooking-grade parchment paper. Even better, use the precut parchment paper sheets that are made for your air fryer. You can’t go wrong with those!

Measure the Paper and Cut to Fit

If you aren’t using pre-cut parchment paper that is made for your air fryer oven, then you need to measure and cut a piece of parchment paper to fit. You don’t want the paper going up the sides of the air fryer. You want it to lay flat in the basket. If part of the parchment touches the heating element you could cause damage or even a fire in your air fryer.

Make Sure Food is Heavy Enough to Keep the Paper Down

Use parchment paper with foods that are heavy enough to keep it secured to the bottom of the basket. When you turn on the air fryer a lot of air begins to circulate. If you are using food that is very light, for example, popcorn kernels, then the paper can fly around the basket causing damage to your machine and potentially a fire hazard. You also don’t want the paper to get caught in the fans. This can cause your machine to break.

Consult Your Air Fryer Manual

Before adding any sort of accessory to your air fryer, be sure to consult your owner’s manual. It will provide you with everything you need to know to safely air fry your favorite foods.

Air Fryer Parchment Paper vs. Regular Parchment Paper

Air fryer parchment paper consists of several pre-cut air fryer liners with small holes to allow for airflow. Regular parchment paper can come in a long sheet, or in pre-cut sheets. 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 as long as they are cut down to the correct size to fit your machine. The ones made for your air fryer are slightly better to use because they have holes to allow for air flow. You can use a hole puncher to create holes in your regular parchment paper sheets, but this will just take extra time and is another step during the cooking process.

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