Kitchen · Liners & Air Fryers
Can I Use Parchment Paper in an Air Fryer?
Something else…
What else can go in an air fryer?
YES, WITH LIMITS
Safe only under specific conditions. The conditions are the answer.
Yes, but only when your exact air fryer manual allows parchment. A perforated air-fryer liner is the better choice; regular parchment must be trimmed to fit and fully held down by food. If you preheat, do it with no parchment inside, then add the paper and food together. If the manual bans paper liners, use the bare basket or an approved accessory.
Compatibility summary
- Can I use them together?Only under conditions
- Main riskFire
- What gets damagedThe air fryer
- InsteadBare basket or approved accessory
The conditions
Fine to do
- Check the manual for your exact model and use parchment only when it permits liners or paper.
- Choose a perforated liner sized for the basket and approved for that style of air fryer.
- With regular parchment, cut the sheet no larger than the food holding it down and leave basket openings exposed around it.
- If preheating is needed, heat the fryer first, then place the paper and food inside together.
Never do
- Never preheat with parchment in the basket or run the appliance with a loose, unweighted sheet.
- Never use any parchment when the air fryer manual prohibits paper liners.
- Never let the paper extend upward toward the heating element or leave broad corners uncovered by food.
- Never line the grease-collection pan or seal off the basket’s airflow holes with a solid sheet.
- Never cook above the paper’s labeled heat limit or use a liner in an unapproved fryer style.
Why those conditions exist
Fan lift
The fan can pull an unsecured sheet upward. If it reaches the heating element, the paper can scorch or ignite.
Blocked airflow
Hot air needs open paths through and around the basket. Solid parchment covers more openings than a perforated liner, which can reduce browning and cause uneven cooking.
Why advice conflicts
Parchment is common on oven pans, so it looks interchangeable with an air-fryer liner. A basket air fryer sends fast-moving air around a very light sheet. During preheating, there is no food to keep the paper down.
Official directions differ by product. Some air fryer manufacturers prohibit parchment, while liner manufacturers allow perforated liners under specific conditions. Regular parchment blocks more of the basket than a perforated liner, so fit, airflow, and your model’s instructions all matter.
Sources
- Reynolds Brands — Can I Put Parchment Paper in the Air Fryer?
- Philips — Can I use baking paper/tin foil in my Philips Airfryer?
- Instant Pot — Frequently Asked Questions
- Cuisinart — Air Fryer Guide
Reviewed 1 September 2026 · Reviewed September 1, 2026, against official Philips, Instant Pot, Cuisinart, and Reynolds guidance on parchment, airflow, heat ratings, and preheating.