Yes, you can put parchment paper in an air fryer, but only if you use it correctly and follow a few safety rules to avoid burning or blocking airflow.

Quick Scoop: Is It Safe?

  • Most standard parchment paper is heat-resistant up to about 420–450°F (215–232°C), which matches the max temperature of many air fryers (often 390–400°F).
  • It’s considered safe in air fryers as long as it is weighed down by food and not touching the heating element, which helps prevent it from flying up and potentially catching fire.
  • Never confuse parchment paper with wax paper; wax paper coatings can melt and are not safe for air fryers or ovens.

How to Use Parchment Paper in an Air Fryer (Step-by-Step)

  1. Check the temperature limit
    • Look at the box for the maximum temperature (often 420–450°F).
    • Make sure your air fryer temperature stays at or below that range.
  1. Cut it to fit (no overhangs)
    • Cut the parchment so it fits flat in the basket or tray, with no big edges sticking up the sides.
    • Overhanging edges are more likely to get too close to the heating element and scorch or burn.
  1. Add parchment only with food on top
    • Place the parchment in the basket at the same time as the food , so the food weighs it down.
    • Do not preheat with an empty sheet inside; loose paper can blow around and hit the element.
  1. Avoid blocking airflow
    • If possible, use perforated (hole-punched) air-fryer parchment so hot air can circulate and you still get crisp results.
 * If you make your own holes, use a simple pattern of small holes across the sheet.
  1. Keep it below the heating element
    • Make sure the paper lies flat at the bottom of the basket and does not curl up near the top.
    • If it touches or gets too close to the heating element, it’s more likely to burn or ignite.

When Parchment Paper Is a Good Idea

You’ll get the biggest benefit when:

  • Cooking sticky or saucy foods : marinated chicken, honey-garlic wings, teriyaki tofu, etc. The parchment helps reduce sticking and mess.
  • Cooking breaded foods : homemade nuggets, schnitzel, or breaded veggies; it stops breading from fusing to the basket.
  • Wanting easier cleanup : especially if you use your air fryer daily and hate scrubbing off baked-on bits.

A simple example:
If you’re air-frying salmon with a sticky glaze, placing it on parchment prevents the skin and glaze from welding to the basket while still allowing it to crisp on the edges if you use perforated paper and don’t fully cover all vents.

When You Should NOT Use Parchment Paper

Even though it’s usually safe, there are moments to skip it:

  • Very high-temperature cooking
    • If your air fryer goes above 450°F or if you’re using a parchment brand rated lower than your cooking temp, don’t use it; it can darken, become brittle, and be a fire risk.
  • Empty or for preheating
    • Do not run the air fryer with just parchment and no food to hold it down. It can blow into the heating element.
  • Very light foods
    • Foods that are extremely light (like a few small chips or kale leaves) might not weigh down the parchment enough. In that case, consider using a perforated metal tray or lightly greasing the basket instead.
  • Using the wrong paper
    • Wax paper or thin paper not designed for high heat is unsafe; the coating can melt or burn.

What People Are Saying Online (Trending & Forums)

Recent guides and test-kitchen writeups from 2024–2025 lean strongly pro- parchment , with big caveats around temperature and airflow.

On forums and social platforms, you’ll see a few recurring themes:

  • Many home cooks line their air fryers regularly with parchment to keep them clean and say they’ve had no issues when they keep temps in range and weigh it down with food.
  • Some viral “parchment liner hacks” involve folding and punching lots of holes; these work, but testers sometimes call them more effort than they’re worth compared to buying pre-cut perforated liners.
  • A minority report a “burnt paper” smell or browned parchment, usually when it was placed too close to the element or used at higher temps than recommended.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Here’s a quick look at the practical trade-offs:

[9][3][5][1][7] [3][5][9] [8][9][3] [5][3][8] [9][1][7][8] [8][9]
Aspect Using parchment paper
Safety (used correctly) Generally safe under 420–450°F with food weighing it down and no contact with the heating element.
Cleanup Much easier; basket stays cleaner and many liners are compostable.
Crispiness Good if using perforated parchment; slightly less crisp if air circulation is blocked.
Best for Sticky, saucy, or breaded foods and mess-prone recipes.
Worst for Very high heat, preheating empty, extremely light foods that won’t hold paper down.
Alternatives Light oil spray on the basket, reusable silicone liners, or bare basket when sticking isn’t an issue.

Final Takeaway

You can put parchment paper in an air fryer and it’s often a smart move for less mess, as long as you:

  • Stay at or below the parchment’s rated temperature.
  • Cut it to fit the basket.
  • Only use it with food on top so it doesn’t blow into the heating element.

Used this way, it’s a helpful, low-risk tool for everyday air frying.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.