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Usually yes, with conditions: paper cut to fit the basket, added after the air fryer has preheated, with food on top before the fan starts. Makers do not agree, though. Philips’s US support page allows parchment, and its Canadian page advises against it.
Here is what each maker says about parchment paper in an air fryer, how to use it safely, and when to leave it out.
What Air Fryer Makers Say About Parchment Paper
Guidance differs by brand, by region and sometimes by model, so it is worth checking the table before you buy liners. Each row comes from the maker’s own page or manual; where a maker says nothing about paper, the table says so.
| Maker and source | What it says | What to take from it |
|---|---|---|
| Philips, US support page | Parchment paper may be used if it is cut to fit the basket so it does not touch the heating element. Philips prefers it to foil because it allows better airflow around the food. | Allowed, with a fit rule. |
| Philips, Canadian support page | Baking paper and foil are not recommended. Covering the basket floor cuts airflow, paper where grease collects disrupts it further, and paper with no food on it can be sucked into the heating element and burn. | Same fire mechanism, stricter conclusion. |
| COSORI, UK site | Yes, with precautions: add paper only after preheating, always weigh it down with food, and expect less crisping and a slightly longer cook. COSORI sells pre-cut liners sized to basket capacity. | Allowed, with the trade-offs spelled out. |
| Reynolds, liner maker | Its air fryer liners are rated to 400°F on the air fryer setting, are for round and square baskets only, must never go in alone or during preheating, and are single-use. It advises against ordinary parchment sheets and says not to use liners if your air fryer maker prohibits them. | The strictest of the paper makers. |
| Ninja, AF100 owner’s guide | No mention of parchment or liners. It notes that the fan can blow lightweight food around, and recommends three minutes of preheating. Its top temperature is 400°F. | Silent: neither permission nor a ban. |
| Instant Pot, Vortex Plus 10 Quart manual | Lists paper among the combustible materials not to put in the cooking chamber, yet also says the drip pan can optionally be lined with foil or parchment paper for cleaning. | Reads both ways inside one manual. |
The pattern is consistent. Nobody endorses a sheet laid across the basket with nothing on it, and everyone who allows paper attaches the same two conditions: food on top, and no paper in during preheating. Your own manual outranks any article, this one included.
Why Parchment Paper Can Go Wrong in an Air Fryer
Both problems come from the fan. Loose paper lifts: a light sheet can be pushed up into the heating element, which is why Philips Canada and Reynolds both say never to run the fryer with paper in an empty basket.
Paper also covers the floor of the basket, and that floor is where air passes. Larry Ciufo, a test engineer at Consumer Reports, says parchment has the “potential to block 99 percent of the fryer’s airflow.” The cooks quoted there add that the penalty matters less for dough-based dishes than for foods whose grease needs to drain away.
That airflow loss is why food on paper browns less. If your results are coming out pale, why air fryer food is not crispy lists the other causes worth ruling out.
How to Use Parchment Paper in an Air Fryer Safely
- Check your manual first. If your maker prohibits paper, stop here.
- Match the shape to the basket. Use a pre-cut liner for a round or square basket, or trim ordinary parchment so nothing overhangs the edge.
- Preheat with the basket empty. COSORI and Reynolds both say paper stays out during preheating. Do you need to preheat an air fryer covers how long.
- Lay the paper flat and add food at once. The weight of the food is what holds it down.
- Keep paper clear of the heating element. Philips’s US page ties its approval to the paper not touching it.
- Watch very light food. A slice of bread can still blow around; Ninja’s guide suggests securing light items with toothpicks.
- Allow a little extra time. COSORI says restricted airflow can lengthen the cook, so check the food early the first few times.
- Throw the paper away afterwards. Reynolds says its liners are single-use.
Which Kind of Paper to Use
Perforated liners are the usual choice. COSORI calls perforated paper a good compromise between cleanliness and crispiness, and one cookbook author quoted by Consumer Reports recommends paper made for air fryers, with holes. Reynolds says ordinary sheets can work if cut to fit and weighed down, but are not its recommendation.
Check the temperature rating on the box. COSORI’s UK blog puts most standard parchment at about 200°C (392°F), just under the 400°F top setting of many basket models, and the Ninja AF100 tops out at 400°F. Reynolds rates its air fryer liners to 400°F on the air fryer setting only, while the Amazon listing for its ordinary baking sheets says 425°F, so do not assume an oven rating carries over.
Wax paper is a different product, and none of the sources above suggest it for hot air. I would keep it out of the basket.
If you want pre-cut paper, the Reynolds Kitchens liners are the ones whose maker publishes clear rules: 9 in. x 9 in., sized for most round and square baskets, rated to 400°F on the air fryer setting, and 50 to a pack. They are not for rectangular or toaster-oven-style models. Check Price on Amazon
Does Parchment Paper Change How Food Cooks?
It does, slightly. COSORI says paper reduces air circulation, so crisp foods such as chips and wings usually turn out better without it, and very greasy foods such as bacon or fatty chicken can sit in the fat the paper traps. Where it earns its place is sticky or delicate food: fish, pastries, and marinated or saucy dishes that would otherwise weld themselves to the basket.
Consumer Reports quotes one cookbook author who uses paper for fish cooked in a parcel, where trapping steam is the point. If your basket still smokes with paper in it, why an air fryer smokes covers grease, sugary glazes and a dirty element.
Common Mistakes With Parchment Paper in an Air Fryer
Most trouble traces back to a handful of habits:
- Leaving paper in during preheat. COSORI says airflow is strongest then, which is when an empty sheet is most likely to be lifted.
- Cutting it too large. COSORI says nothing should overhang the edge, and Philips ties its approval to a cut-to-fit sheet.
- Using a solid sheet across the whole floor and then wondering why food is pale.
- Using liners in a rectangular or toaster-oven-style model. Reynolds says its liners are not for those.
- Reusing a greasy liner. Reynolds says to discard its liners after use.
The disagreement is real. COSORI describes a cautious camp, which points to fire risk and lost crispness, and a practical camp, which values clean-up and non-stick results. This page sticks to the conditions both sides share rather than picking a winner.
Oven-Style and Rectangular Air Fryers
The advice above is written for basket models. Reynolds excludes rectangular and toaster-oven-style air fryers from its liner guidance, and the Instant Pot oven-style manual lists paper as a combustible material for the cooking chamber while allowing it on the drip pan. On an oven-style unit I would use paper only where the manual names it, such as lining a tray, and keep it well away from the top element.
What to Use Instead of Parchment Paper
A reusable silicone liner is the alternative Consumer Reports suggests when you are not baking or steaming. Foil is the other option, with its own rules: can you put aluminium foil in an air fryer explains where it works and why acidic food is a problem. Philips’s US page recommends parchment over foil for airflow, and its Canadian page discourages both.
If cleaning is the only reason you line the basket, a model with a dishwasher-safe basket removes most of the need. The best air fryers guide covers the options, and the complete air fryer guide covers everyday use.
How This Page Was Put Together
This page is based on maker support pages and manuals, not on testing; I do not own or test air fryers. The sources are the Philips US and Canadian support pages, COSORI UK’s baking-paper guide, the Reynolds FAQ and liner listing, Consumer Reports, and the Ninja AF100 and Instant Pot Vortex Plus 10 Quart manuals. Maker pages change, so treat your own manual as the final word.
What I could not establish: a Ninja or Instant Pot statement on liners for their basket models, since none of the pages and manuals I read gave one, and how often paper actually ignites in a home air fryer. Nobody publishes failure statistics.
The Verdict
Parchment paper is fine in most basket air fryers if you follow the two rules every maker that allows it shares: paper goes in after preheating, and food goes on it at once. Skip it for wings, fries and bacon, and skip it entirely if your manual says no. For more on the appliance itself, the air fryer hub links every guide and review on the site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put parchment paper in an air fryer without holes?
You can, if your manual allows paper, but solid sheets block more airflow. Trim it to sit inside the basket, add it after preheating and keep food on top of it. Perforated liners are the usual compromise because the holes let air pass through.
Can parchment paper catch fire in an air fryer?
It can if loose paper is pulled against the heating element. Philips and Reynolds both warn about this. Keeping food on the paper, adding it only after preheating and cutting it to fit inside the basket removes most of the risk.
Do you put parchment paper in before or after preheating?
After. COSORI and Reynolds both say to preheat with the basket empty, because airflow is strongest then and can lift an empty sheet. Once the basket is hot, lay the paper in flat, add the food straight away, and then start the cook.
What temperature can parchment paper handle in an air fryer?
It depends on the paper. Reynolds rates its air fryer liners to 400°F on the air fryer setting only, and COSORI’s UK blog puts most standard parchment near 200°C (392°F). Read the box and compare it with your fryer’s top temperature.
Can you reuse parchment paper in an air fryer?
Reynolds says to discard its air fryer liners after use, and none of the other sources above suggest reusing paper. A sheet that has soaked up grease or browned at the edges has done its job, so I would bin it rather than risk a second cook.
Why did my parchment paper burn or turn brown in the air fryer?
Scorching usually means the paper touched the heating element or went past its temperature rating. Turn the fryer off, unplug it and let it cool before removing the paper. Next time, trim it to fit, add the food straight away and check the rating on the box.
Is parchment paper or foil better in an air fryer?
For most foods, parchment, which Philips’s US page recommends over foil for airflow. Foil copes better with saucy, wet food, but acidic ingredients such as tomatoes and citrus can react with aluminium. Both need food on top and neither belongs in an empty preheating basket.
I'm Glenn, and I started Kitchenware Compare to cut through conflicting product reviews and help readers pick kitchen gear with confidence. I don't own or test the products I write about — these guides are built from verified-purchase reviews, manufacturer specifications, and independent testing where it exists, with the reasoning shown, not just a rating.
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