No, you should not put regular paper towels in an air fryer during cooking, as they are a serious fire hazard, can block airflow, and may touch the heating element, leading to burns or fire; you can, however, use them for cleaning the air fryer after it cools down, or use specially designed air fryer parchment liners (with holes) with caution, always ensuring food weighs them down and they don't cover air vents.
So the verdict is a resounding NO. Please do not use paper towels inside an air fryer.
If you don't have parchment paper, you can use aluminum foil to line your air fryer basket. Or you can leave out the parchment paper completely and just spray your air fryer basket with a little oil to prevent food from sticking.
You can't cook foods with wet batter, liquids, or loose items like leafy greens in an air fryer as they make a mess; also avoid rice, pasta, popcorn, and large roasts that need even liquid-based cooking or have too much drippings, as they won't cook properly or will burn the machine. Essentially, anything requiring boiling, stewing, or a significant amount of liquid, or very delicate items that blow around, should be avoided.
Parchment Paper: Parchment paper is a popular choice for lining the bottom of an air fryer. It can handle the heat inside the air fryer, typically up to 428°F (220°C) (2). You can tear a piece of parchment paper from a roll and cut it to size for your fryer basket.
5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using an Air Fryer
Lining your air fryer basket with a round of parchment paper is the perfect way to keep your air fryer squeaky clean and slash the time it takes to clean up.
Using knives or other sharp utensils inside the air fryer can scratch the non-stick coating, which is crucial for its performance, keeping it undamaged will prolong the life of your appliance.
People are getting rid of air fryers due to small basket sizes limiting family meals, issues with peeling non-stick coatings, difficulty cleaning, safety concerns like melting components, the perception they're just small ovens, limitations on certain foods (like wet batters), and sometimes switching to cheaper, more efficient appliances like halogen ovens. Many find they outgrow basic models, leading to batch cooking, and eventually replace them with larger or different appliances.
Yes, you can put tin foil (aluminum foil) in an air fryer for easier cleanup and to prevent sticking, but you must follow important safety rules: never let it touch the heating element, ensure it's weighed down by food to prevent it from flying around, and avoid using it with acidic foods like tomatoes or citrus to prevent chemical reactions and aluminum leaching. Always check your air fryer's manual and make sure the foil doesn't block the air vents for proper circulation.
The "Air Fryer 20/20 Rule" is a guideline for converting conventional oven recipes, suggesting you reduce the cooking time by 20% and lower the temperature by 20°C (or about 20°F) to account for the air fryer's faster, more intense cooking. While a good starting point, it's essential to monitor your food and potentially shake or flip it halfway through for even cooking, as air fryer models and foods vary, notes this BBC article.
The best things to put on the bottom of an air fryer for easy cleanup are perforated parchment paper liners, silicone mats, or aluminum foil, though parchment is most popular for catching drippings while allowing airflow. Always use perforated liners or punch holes in parchment/foil to ensure air circulation for crispiness, weigh them down with food, or use them under the crisper tray/basket to prevent them from flying up and touching the heating element.
In conclusion, selecting the right bowl materials when using your dual air fryer is essential for safe and efficient cooking. Heat-resistant glass, ceramic, stainless steel, and food-grade silicone are all excellent choices, while regular glass, plastic, and disposable paper bowls should be avoided.
The best air fryer liners depend on your needs: Silicone liners (like Wavelu or Lotteli) are reusable, durable, dishwasher-safe, great for messy foods, but can be trickier to clean the basket. Parchment paper liners (like Vancens or Katbite) are disposable, excellent for preventing sticking, allow for crispier results with perforated designs, but can blow around if not weighed down by food. For overall ease and cleanliness, reusable silicone often wins, while parchment is great for simple cleanup with many foods.
Remove the air fryer crisper tray when… 1️⃣ You want your food to cook in the marinade and juices. 2️⃣ You are cooking foods that can easily fall into the crisper tray holes. For example, rice or small chopped vegetables.
Paper or Cardboard Containers That Aren't Oven Safe
"Can you put cardboard in an air fryer?" The answer is no—cardboard or paper containers will burn or char when exposed to high heat, creating a fire risk and potentially contaminating your food.
Air-frying equipment is not known to cause cancer, but the process of air frying does result in the formation of certain compounds, like acrylamide, that are linked to cancer development. Acrylamide is classified as a probable human carcinogen.
The "air fryer rule of 25" is a handy guideline for converting oven recipes: reduce the oven temperature by 25°F (or 10-20°C) and decrease the cooking time by about 20-25%, checking for doneness earlier. This rule works because air fryers cook faster and more intensely than conventional ovens, circulating hot air efficiently to crisp food quickly, so you often need less time and slightly lower heat.
Air Fryers Reduce Taste Quality
Out of the top three reasons restaurants don't use air fryers, the taste is the leading cause. It has numerous benefits and can cook food efficiently. However, the taste can be subpar compared to other cooking methods available at the commercial level.
In one study, air frying of fish raised the amount of a substance called cholesterol oxidation products (COPs). COPs form when the cholesterol in meat or fish breaks down during cooking. Studies connect these substances to coronary heart disease, hardening of the arteries, cancer, and other diseases.
You can't cook foods with wet batter, liquids, or loose items like leafy greens in an air fryer as they make a mess; also avoid rice, pasta, popcorn, and large roasts that need even liquid-based cooking or have too much drippings, as they won't cook properly or will burn the machine. Essentially, anything requiring boiling, stewing, or a significant amount of liquid, or very delicate items that blow around, should be avoided.
Air fryer liners both have pros and cons. For example single-use air fryer liners are convenient, easy to use and will absorb any excess oil making your meals healthier. However, as they are single-use, they are not cost-effective in the long run and not environmentally friendly.
Air fried foods need airflow to crisp up. Place a foil-lined baking sheet on the rack below your air fry basket in a full-sized oven to help simplify cleanup. Make sure to leave space between the basket and the baking sheet for proper air flow.