Quick answer: Yes, you can use parchment paper in an air fryer, as long as food sits on top of it, it is cut smaller than the basket (or perforated) and you never preheat with paper alone. Check the box: most parchment is rated to about 215–230°C (420–450°F), which covers normal air frying. Wax paper is not safe — its wax coating melts and smokes.
Parchment is the most useful liner you can own for an air fryer: it stops marinades sticking, catches crumbs and is fine with acidic foods that shouldn’t touch aluminium foil. Here’s how to use it properly. This page is part of our how to use an air fryer guide.
Can you put parchment paper in an air fryer?
Yes. Baking parchment is paper coated with silicone, which makes it non-stick and heat-resistant. The two things to manage are temperature and airflow:
- Temperature: most brands are rated somewhere between 215°C and 230°C. Most air fryers run 80–200°C, and some reach 230°C on a max or broil setting. If you cook at the top of your machine’s range, check that the paper’s rating is higher.
- Airflow: an air fryer’s fan is strong enough to lift a light sheet. Paper that blows up into the heating element can scorch or catch fire. That is why the paper must always be weighed down with food.
How to use parchment paper in an air fryer (step by step)
- Preheat without the paper. Run the air fryer empty for 3–5 minutes (see how to preheat an air fryer).
- Cut or choose the right size. The sheet should be smaller than the basket floor, leaving a gap of about 1 cm around the edge. Ready-cut perforated air fryer sheets do this for you.
- Poke holes if it’s plain paper. A few holes with a skewer let air reach the underside of the food.
- Add the paper and food together. Place the sheet, then put the food on top straight away so it holds the paper flat.
- Remove the paper with the food. Don’t leave a used sheet in the basket for the next preheat.
Parchment vs wax paper vs butter paper
| Paper | Coating | Air fryer safe? |
|---|---|---|
| Parchment / baking paper | Silicone | Yes, within the temperature on the box |
| Perforated air fryer liners | Silicone | Yes — designed for air fryers |
| Wax paper | Paraffin or soybean wax | No — the wax melts, smokes and can ignite |
| “Butter paper” (India) | Varies by brand | Only if the pack says it is oven-safe or baking paper. Some butter paper is uncoated or wax-coated and meant only for wrapping food. |
The butter paper point catches out a lot of Indian kitchens: the same name is used for oven-safe baking paper and for thin wrapping paper used by sweet shops. If the pack doesn’t mention baking or an oven temperature, don’t use it in the air fryer.
When to use parchment (and when not to)
Use it for
- Marinated tikkas and fish: curd, lemon and masala marinades stick badly to bare baskets, and they are acidic, so foil isn’t ideal.
- Baking: cookies, small cakes and brownies — see our eggless air fryer cake and cookies.
- Cheesy or crumbly foods: cheese nuggets, bread pizza and cutlets that would otherwise drip through the holes.
Skip it for
- Foods you want crisp underneath: fries, wedges and pakoras crisp best directly on the basket.
- Cooking at your machine’s maximum temperature for long periods, unless the paper is rated higher.
- Preheating — ever.
Parchment, foil or silicone: which liner to pick
| Situation | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Acidic marinade (curd, lemon, tomato, tamarind) | Parchment |
| Sealed packet or heat shield | Foil |
| Everyday use, less waste | Reusable silicone liner |
| Maximum crispness | No liner |
For more on foil, read can you put aluminium foil in an air fryer. For silicone, see can silicone moulds be used in an air fryer.
Frequently asked questions
Can parchment paper catch fire in an air fryer?
It can if it blows into the heating element, which is why you should never run the air fryer with a loose sheet and no food on it. Weighed down with food and kept within its temperature rating, it is safe.
Can I preheat my air fryer with parchment paper inside?
No. Preheat empty, then add the paper and food together.
Does parchment paper make food less crispy?
Slightly, on the underside, because it partly blocks airflow. Perforated sheets reduce this. For the crispest result, cook directly on the basket.
Can you put wax paper in an air fryer?
No. Wax paper is not heat-resistant; the wax melts and smokes. Use parchment instead.
Do parchment liners make the air fryer easier to clean?
Yes, they catch marinade and cheese drips. Grease still reaches the drawer, so give it a quick wash after cooking — see how to clean an air fryer.