Air Fryer Cooking Paper: When to Use and NOT to Use

Placement Options for Air Fryer Parchment Paper

The debate over where to place air fryer cooking paper divides users into two distinct camps. Some place the parchment paper on top of the grill plate, while others position it underneath. Each method offers different benefits depending on your cooking priorities and cleanup preferences.

Parchment Paper on Top of the Grill Plate

Most air fryer users place their parchment paper directly on top of the grill plate. This method serves as the standard approach for several reasons:

Primary uses include:

• Preventing fish from sticking to the grill plate
• Stopping delicate foods like crab cakes from breaking apart
• Catching sugary glazes that can damage the air fryer finish
• Making cleanup of both the basket and grill plate easier

One user notes: “The only time I use parchment paper is on top of the grill plate when I make fish. I’ve found that without it, the fish will stick to the plate.” This becomes especially important with foods like crab cakes, where you’d otherwise spend 15 minutes picking crab off the grill plate.

Trade-offs of top placement:

• Reduced air circulation around food
• Potential for liquid pooling on the bottom
• May require adding an extra minute to cooking time
• Needs food to weigh down the corners to prevent the paper from blowing around

Parchment Paper Under the Grill Plate

125Pcs Parchment Paper

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Rectangle Air Fryer Liner

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Placing air fryer cooking paper underneath the grill plate offers a different set of advantages. This method catches drips and bits while maintaining optimal airflow around your food.

Benefits of bottom placement:

• Maintains full air circulation through the grill plate
• Prevents liquid pooling that interferes with crisping
• Catches food particles that fall through the holes
• Simplifies cleaning the basket (the hardest part to clean)
• The grill plate remains easy to wash or run through the dishwasher

Users who prefer this method point out that cleaning the grill plate requires minimal effort compared to scrubbing the entire basket. You can simply take the grill to the sink or throw it in the dishwasher. The parchment catches everything that would normally burn onto the bottom of the basket.

Types of Air Fryer Cooking Paper

Standard Parchment Paper Sheets

You can buy parchment paper that comes in sheets rather than rolls. Some users cut their own squares from rolls, creating pieces roughly 7×7 inches. Dollar Tree sells precut 6×6 squares of parchment at budget-friendly prices.

One practical approach: “I take a good length, a couple of feet, and cut it from the roll. Then I cut my off-cut in half. Then cut each strip into roughly 7 x 7 squares. Perfect. I roll them back together and store them in the drawer under the fryer.”

Perforated Parchment Liners

Perforated parchment paper features pre-punched holes designed to maintain airflow. These liners attempt to balance convenience with cooking performance. The holes allow hot air to circulate while still protecting surfaces from sticky foods and heavy grease buildup.

Bowl-Shaped Parchment Liners

Some parchment liners come shaped like shallow bowls. These eliminate heavy grease buildup on the grill plate but may restrict airflow more than flat perforated versions.

Silicone Liners

Reusable silicone liners offer an economical alternative to disposable parchment. However, user experiences vary:

Potential issues:

• Some silicone liners warp within minutes at high heat
• Food can become mushy on the underside where it contacts the liner
• The underside may stay wet rather than crisping properly
• You need to find storage space for the liners
• Cleaning silicone adds another item to wash

One user found that silicone liners “warped the first time within a few minutes” and made the underside of chicken tenders “wettish and mushy.”

Impact on Cooking Performance

Airflow Considerations

The fundamental principle behind air fryers involves blowing hot air on both sides of food simultaneously. Any barrier can affect this process.

When you place parchment under the grill plate, the legs or feet of the grill keep the paper down and maintain an air gap. This preserves air circulation. However, not all air fryers have legs or racks on their baskets. You can buy wire basket inserts with legs on Amazon for around $10, or place a ramekin under the wire basket to create the necessary gap.

Placing parchment on top of the grill plate does reduce airflow, though many users report this doesn’t make an appreciable negative effect on cooking efficiency. You might need to add an extra minute and flip or shake food one more time than usual.

Cooking Time Differences

Testing shows that parchment paper can extend cooking times. Frozen sausages that take 10 minutes in a standard air fryer may take 15 minutes when using parchment on top. This adds roughly a third more time to the cooking process.

Food Texture Results

Without parchment paper:

• Maximum crispiness on all sides
• No liquid pooling
• Optimal air circulation

With parchment on top:

• Slightly less crispy results
• Risk of liquid pooling affecting bottom crispiness
• May produce drier food if you increase time to compensate for reduced crispiness

With parchment underneath:

• Maintains crispy texture
• No effect on the crisping caused by direct contact with the hot grill grate
• Zero impact on airflow to the food itself

Cleanup Considerations

Washing the Basket vs. Grill Plate

The air fryer basket presents more cleaning challenges than the grill plate. The basket is large, deep, and difficult to maneuver in the sink. Burnt-on food in the bottom of the basket requires significant scrubbing.

The grill plate, by contrast, is small and flat. You can easily throw it in the dishwasher or quickly hand wash it at the sink.

Pre-Cleaning with Paper Towels

Many users wipe out the basket and grill plate with paper towels first to remove most grease before washing. This prevents greasing up your sponge. Some users actually cook with paper towels on the bottom of the basket for easy cleanup, though this method hasn’t been widely tested for safety.

Frequency of Cleaning

When you use parchment under the grill plate, you may not need to wash the basket every time. One user reports: “I wash the top of the big basket out once in a while but nowhere near every time.” The grill plate still requires washing after each use, but this takes minimal effort.

Best Practices for Using Air Fryer Cooking Paper

When to Use Parchment on Top

Ideal situations:

• Cooking fish or seafood
• Preparing delicate items like crab cakes
• Using sugary glazes or marinades
• Making foods that tend to stick

When to Use Parchment Underneath

Best applications:

• Regular everyday cooking
• Foods that release small particles
• When you want maximum crispiness
• Cooking items that release liquid you want to drain away

When to Skip Parchment Entirely

Some situations work better without any liner:

• Cooking sausages or other foods that release significant liquid (the liquid pools on parchment instead of draining)
• When you want absolute maximum crispiness
• Foods that need the shortest possible cooking time
• When following manufacturer recommendations (some brands like Cuisinart don’t recommend using parchment, foil, or any liners)

Safety Considerations

Always weigh down parchment paper with food to prevent it from blowing around. Users have posted photos of parchment paper catching fire when not properly secured. The hot air circulation in an air fryer can lift unsecured paper into the heating element.

Never preheat your air fryer with parchment paper inside unless it’s weighted down with food.

Cost-Effective Solutions

DIY Parchment Squares

Buying parchment paper in rolls and cutting your own squares costs less than purchasing pre-cut air fryer liners. You can cut multiple squares at once and store them rolled together in a drawer.

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Alternative Methods

Wire Basket Inserts

Some users prefer wire basket or grill inserts with legs instead of the standard perforated metal plate. These provide better airflow and easier cleaning. You place parchment on the bottom of the basket and set the wire rack on top. The legs maintain airflow while the parchment catches drips.

Aluminum Trays

Small aluminum trays work well for fish and other delicate foods. These offer similar benefits to parchment on top but provide more structure.

Just Cleaning

Some users simply clean their air fryer after each use without any liners. One person notes: “I clean my pots and pans every time I cook with them, so I’m just going to apply that same mindset to the air fryer.” This approach avoids any potential impact on cooking performance and ensures no flavor transfer between different foods.

User Preferences and Experiences

The “Under the Plate” Camp

Users who place parchment under the grill plate prioritize cooking performance. They don’t mind washing the easy-to-clean grill plate and prefer avoiding reduced airflow and liquid pooling. One experienced user who cooks with their air fryer 2-3 times daily states: “I have likely used my air fryer more than most people in this sub, and I say it’s better to use the paper underneath.”

The “On Top” Camp

Users who place parchment on top of the grill plate prioritize maximum convenience. They want to remove the food, throw away the liner, and minimize all washing. These users find that any minor impact on cooking quality is worth the trade-off for easier cleanup.

The “No Liner” Camp

Some users find liners more trouble than they’re worth. They’d rather throw the basket in the dishwasher than deal with buying, storing, and managing parchment sheets or silicone liners.

Final Recommendations

Your ideal approach to air fryer cooking paper depends on what you value most:

Choose parchment under the grill plate if you:

• Want maximum crispiness
• Don’t mind washing the grill plate
• Cook foods that release particles through the holes
• Prefer optimal air circulation

Choose parchment on top of the grill plate if you:

• Cook sticky foods like fish frequently
• Want to minimize all washing
• Don’t notice significant texture differences
• Prioritize convenience over performance

Skip parchment entirely if you:

• Don’t mind cleaning your air fryer basket
• Want the absolute best cooking results
• Cook foods that release lots of liquid
• Follow manufacturer guidelines strictly

The air fryer cooking paper debate doesn’t have a single right answer. Both methods work, and both have loyal users who swear by their preferred approach. Test both methods with your favorite foods and decide which trade-offs matter most for your cooking style.