Can You Put Paper Towel in an Air Fryer?

With air fryers becoming increasingly common in households, people really want to know more about them, their dos, and dont’s. You might also want to know whether Can You Put Paper Towel In Air Fryer or not. Well, let us cover it all in this detailed post that will surely be your savior, the next time you are about to use paper towel in air fryers.

A straight forward answer to whether can you put paper towel in air fryer would be No. It is not recommended at all to use paper towel in air fryers. In fact, if you do so, it might lead to a fire hazard.

The high temperatures present in an air fryer can quickly cause a paper towel to ignite and start a fire. Not only that, using a paper towel in an air fryer will also lead to decreased cooking performance as the towel will absorb the oil present in the food. This will make your food soggy and not as crispy as you might like it to be.

Contents

Keep reading to know why is that so and if you have other alternatives.

Why Is A Paper Towel Not Recommended For Air Fryer?

There are some reasons why using a paper towel in an air fryer is not recommended at all. Let us look at them one by one in detail:

1. Fire Risk

Air fryers are sensitive and hot devices no matter how safely you operate them. If you use a paper towel in them, it might quickly ignite and start a fire. With no one around to put out the fire, it can easily spread and cause some serious damage.

2. Uneven Cooking

Air fryers have a specific way of cooking that must not be disturbed. Stacking up paper towels in your air fryer basket will surely thicken the bottom and the air inside the fryer would not be able to circulate evenly. This will result in an uneven cooking of your food and it might not be as crispy as you want it to be.

3. Soaking Up The Oil

A paper towel is known for its absorbency. When you use one in your air fryer, it will quickly soak up the oil present in the food. This will make your food soggy and not as crispy as you want it to be.

So, these are the three main reasons why using a paper towel in an air fryer is not recommended. If you still want to use one, then make sure that you do it very carefully and keep a close eye on it.

What Are The Alternatives To Use In Your Air Fryer?

If you don’t want to take the risk of using a paper towel in your air fryer, then what are the alternatives? Well, there are some great alternatives that you can use and they are:

1. Aluminum Foil

Aluminum foil is a great alternative to a paper towel as it does not ignite easily and it also prevents the food from sticking to the basket. It is also a great way to prevent your food from absorbing oil.

2. Silicone Mat

A silicone mat is another great alternative to a paper towel as it does not catch fire and it is also non-stick. This means that your food will not stick to the mat and it will be easy to clean.

3. Baking Sheet

If you don’t have a silicone mat or aluminum foil, then you can also use a baking sheet as an alternative. Just make sure that it is non-stick and that it will fit in your air fryer basket.

4. Parchment Paper

This is by far the most amazing alternative to a paper towel as it is non-stick, it does not catch fire and it is also very easy to clean. It is a great way to prevent your food from sticking to the basket or the pan.

So, these are the four amazing alternatives that you can use in your air fryer instead of a paper towel. Which one will you choose?

How To Use Parchment Papers In Air Fryers?

If you want to use parchment paper in air fryers, then it is very simple to do. Just follow these steps:

  1. Cut the parchment paper into a size that will fit in your air fryer basket.
  2. Place the parchment paper in the basket and make sure that it is flat and smooth.
  3. Add your food to the parchment paper.
  4. Cook your food according to the instructions provided in your air fryer’s manual.
  5. When your food is cooked, remove it from the basket and enjoy!

What Are The Benefits Of Using Parchment Paper In Air Fryer?

You might want to question as to what makes putting something in an air fryer so important. There are many benefits of using parchment paper in air fryers and they are:

1. Prevents Food From Sticking

Parchment paper is a great way to prevent your food from sticking to the basket or the pan. This means that your food will come out clean and it will be very easy to eat.

2. No Messy Clean-Up

Since your food will not stick to the basket or the pan, there will be no messy clean-up afterwards. You can just throw away the parchment paper and you are done!

3. Keeps The Air Fryer Clean

Since the parchment paper will catch all of the food that sticks to the basket or the pan, it will help to keep your air fryer clean. This means that you will not have to spend time cleaning it after each use.

4. Reduces The Amount Of Oil Used

Since the parchment paper will prevent the food from sticking, it will also reduce the amount of oil that is used in the cooking process. This means that your food will be healthier and it will also taste better.

So, these are the four amazing benefits of using parchment paper in air fryers. If you are not currently using it, then you should definitely start using it today!

Why Is Parchment Paper Better Than Paper Towels In Air Fryers?

There are many reasons why parchment paper is better than paper towels in air fryers. Firstly, parchment paper is non-stick, which means that your food will not stick to it. This means that there will be no messy clean-up afterwards and your food will come out clean.

Secondly, parchment paper does not catch fire as easily as paper towels do. This means that you can cook your food without having to worry about the parchment paper catching on fire. Thirdly, parchment paper is easy to clean. You can just throw it away after you are done cooking and there will be no mess left behind.

Lastly, parchment paper is a healthier option than paper towels. Paper towels absorb a lot of oil, which means that your food will be less healthy. Parchment paper does not absorb any oil, which means that your food will be healthier.

So, Do You Have To Entirely Throw Paper Towels Away?

Now that we have gone over some of the benefits of not using paper towels in your air fryer, you might be wondering if you have to entirely throw them away.

The answer is no, you do not have to entirely throw them away. You can still use them for other purposes, one of these being the seasoning of Air fryer basket to keep it cleaner and prevent stickiness.

You can do so by running the air fryer with basket for a few minutes only. Then taking out the basket and rubbing it with a paper towel that has been dipped in the coconut oil or olive oil. Make sure that the paper towel is well saturated. Then, put the basket back in and continue cooking your food. Also, please be aware of the stacking basics for an air fryer.

This will help to season the basket and keep it clean. It will also prevent your food from sticking to the basket. So, if you are looking for a way to keep your air fryer clean and prevent your food from sticking, then this is the method for you!

Conclusion

So, there you have it. You cannot stack paper towels in the air fryers because they will catch on fire, and parchment paper is a much better option because it does not catch fire, it is non-stick, and it is easy to clean. You can, however, use a paper towel to season your air fryer basket and keep it clean. Thanks for reading!

References

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.

Kapnos Taverna Author - Small
About the author

Natalie is a food enthusiast who spends all of her time trying out new recipes, testing out new appliances, and making her kitchen as awesome as possible. She is a professional writer and blogs here about her love of food & kitchen.

Leave a Comment