Can You Put Parchment Paper in an Air Fryer?

Short answer

Yes - perforated, under food

Yes, you can put parchment paper in an air fryer, as long as food is holding it down and it does not touch the heating element. Use perforated air fryer liners rather than a solid sheet, so air can still reach the underside of the food. Never preheat with empty parchment in the basket.

Why parchment paper behaves this way

Parchment is safe at air fryer temperatures - most is rated to around 420-450°F (215-230°C), which covers nearly everything an air fryer does - but heat is not the problem. Weight is. An empty sheet of parchment is even lighter than foil, so if you drop a liner into the basket and hit preheat, the fan will lift it straight up into the element, where it will scorch and can ignite. The rule is simple and absolute: parchment goes in with the food on top of it, never before.

The other half of it is perforation. A solid sheet of parchment seals the base of the basket and stops air reaching the underside of your food, which is where crisping is supposed to happen. Purpose-made air fryer liners are punched with holes for exactly this reason. If you are cutting your own from a roll, cut it smaller than the basket base and punch a few holes in it, or accept that the bottom of whatever you are cooking will come out soft.

The rules

Use perforated air fryer parchment liners, not a solid sheet.
Put the parchment in with the food already on it - never into an empty, preheating basket.
Keep it smaller than the basket base, with clearance from the element above.
Check the temperature rating on the box; most parchment tops out around 420-450°F (215-230°C).

What goes wrong

Unweighted parchment is lifted by the fan into the heating element, where it can scorch or catch fire.
A solid, unperforated sheet blocks airflow to the underside of the food, leaving the base soggy.
Parchment run above its temperature rating will brown, turn brittle and can smoke.

Parchment Paper in an air fryer: FAQ

Can you put parchment paper in an air fryer?

Yes, but only with food on top holding it down, and ideally a perforated liner rather than a solid sheet. Parchment is heat-safe to around 420-450°F (215-230°C); the danger is not the heat but the fan lifting an empty sheet into the element.

Can you preheat an air fryer with parchment paper in it?

No - this is the one thing never to do. An empty basket with a loose liner in it is precisely the situation where the fan blows the parchment into the heating element. Preheat empty, then add the parchment and the food together.

Do you need perforated parchment for an air fryer?

You do not strictly need it, but it works far better. The holes let hot air reach the underside of the food, which is what crisps it. A solid sheet seals the basket base and leaves the bottom of your food pale and soft.

Is parchment paper the same as wax paper?

No, and the difference matters. Wax paper has a wax coating that melts and smokes at air fryer temperatures - it should never go in. Parchment is silicone-coated and heat-rated. Check the box before you use it.

What else can go in an air fryer?

See the full list on what can you put in an air fryer.