Can You Put Parchment Paper in an Air Fryer? Check the Manual First
Use parchment only when the exact air-fryer manual permits it. Keep it smaller than the basket, preserve airflow, place food on top before starting, and never allow loose paper to preheat where the fan can pull it into the heating element.
What to know
- Some manufacturers do not recommend parchment at all, so generic internet advice cannot override the manual.
- Paper that covers the basket or pan can reduce airflow and cooking performance.
- Loose parchment can lift into the heating element and burn, especially during empty preheating.
Parchment paper is heat resistant within its rated temperature, but an air fryer adds strong moving air and a nearby heating element. A liner that stays flat in an oven can lift, curl, block vents, or touch the heater in an air fryer.
Read the exact model manual
Start with the manufacturer and model number. Search the owner’s manual and official support page for baking paper, parchment, liners, or accessories.
Philips states that baking paper and foil are not recommended in the covered Airfryer models because they can reduce airflow, disrupt cooking, and be pulled into the heating element when not weighted by food. [1]
Other manufacturers may permit perforated parchment under particular conditions. The model-specific rule wins.
Never preheat loose paper
Do not place parchment in an empty basket during preheating. The fan can lift it before food is added. Paper that reaches the hot element can scorch or ignite.
Prepare the food first, place the liner in the basket only when permitted, and immediately set enough food on it to hold every edge down. A single light item may not provide enough weight.
Stop the machine if paper curls, flutters, smokes, or smells burned.
Keep airflow open
Air fryers cook by circulating hot air around the food. A solid sheet covering the entire basket can reduce airflow beneath the food and around the sides. That can produce uneven browning, longer cooking time, and grease accumulation.
Use a liner smaller than the cooking surface, leave the manufacturer’s required clearances, and choose perforated paper when the manual recommends it. Do not cover intake or exhaust openings.
Parchment placed in the lower grease pan can be especially disruptive because it may block the intended circulation path.
Stay below the paper’s temperature rating
Check the parchment package for its maximum rated temperature. Use the lower of the paper rating and the air-fryer recipe temperature. Do not substitute wax paper, which has a wax coating and is not intended for this use.
Paper can darken or become brittle near its limit. Discard burned or heavily grease-soaked liners after cooking.
Cut the sheet safely
Trace the basket outside the appliance and cut the parchment on a work surface. Round corners that could lift. Never cut paper inside the basket where a knife can damage the coating.
Do not let the sheet extend above the food or over the basket edge. Avoid homemade tabs that can reach the heater.
Consider whether parchment is necessary
Parchment can reduce sticking for delicate food or sticky marinades, but it also reduces direct airflow and may limit crisping. A light coating of cooking oil on the food or basket, when permitted by the manual, may work better.
Reusable silicone liners are not automatically safer or better. They also change airflow and must be approved for the model and temperature.
Handle grease and high-fat foods carefully
Parchment can hold rendered fat close to food instead of allowing it to drain. Excess grease may smoke or increase splatter. Do not use paper as a way to ignore the manufacturer’s grease-management instructions.
For bacon, sausages, cheese, marinades, and breading, monitor the first batch closely. Stop for smoke that is not ordinary cooking vapor.
What if the paper touches the heater?
Turn the air fryer off and unplug it if safe. Allow it to cool completely before removing debris. Do not reach into a hot appliance or pour water into it.
Inspect the heater area using the manufacturer cleaning procedure. If paper burned, smoke entered controls, or the coating was damaged, contact the manufacturer before further use.
Practical rule
Parchment is not a universal air-fryer accessory. Use it only with explicit model permission, within its temperature rating, smaller than the basket, weighted by food, and never during empty preheating. If any one of those conditions cannot be met, cook without it.
Limits and cautions
- Airflow, heater position, maximum temperature, basket geometry, accessories, and parchment approval vary by air-fryer model.
Source notes
- Can I use baking paper/tin foil in my Philips Airfryer?Philips Support
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