Yes — perforated parchment, cut smaller than the basket, with food on top. Never preheat with it empty: the fan lifts loose paper straight into the heating element.
Why this question exists at all
An air fryer is a fan. A sheet of paper in an empty basket has nothing holding it down and everything pushing it up — toward an element an inch or two away.
The rules that make it safe
- Food on the paper before the machine starts. Always.
- Cut it smaller than the basket floor, with no edges standing up past the rim.
- Perforated, so air still reaches the underside.
- No preheating with paper inside.
- Within its rating, usually 420 to 450 °F — the box says which.
What parchment is good for
Sticky or delicate food: marinated chicken, fish fillets, glazed wings, cookies, anything with cheese that would melt through the holes. Easier cleanup, especially in a basket without a dishwasher-safe coating.
What it gives up
Some crispness underneath. Even perforated paper slows the air under the food. For fries and plain breaded food, the bare crisper plate does better. See why a single layer matters.
Parchment, foil or silicone?
Parchment for sticky and acidic food, single use. Foil for packets and tenting, but not with tomatoes or citrus — see can I use aluminum foil in an air fryer. A silicone liner is reusable, and heavy enough to stay put. For the drawer under the plate, see can I line the drawer instead of the basket.
And the manual
Each manufacturer publishes its own guidance on liners, and it differs between machines. Where your manual says no, the answer is no; where it is silent, follow the rules above. The same paper in a toaster oven has its own limits — see can I use parchment paper in a toaster oven.
Check your own manual before you follow anything here. Temperatures, fill limits and pressure ratings differ from model to model, and the manufacturer’s figures take precedence over anything written on this site. We report what makers publish — an oven’s range in degrees, a cooker’s maximum fill line, whether a part is declared dishwasher-safe — and we never turn those figures into food-safety guidance. Cooking temperatures and holding times for particular foods are set by manufacturers and by your national food safety authority, and this site points you to them rather than restating them.
What readers want to know
Do I need perforated parchment for an air fryer?
It works better. The holes let hot air through to the underside of the food, so it still crisps. A plain sheet blocks the crisper plate and the bottom steams. You can buy pre-cut perforated rounds and squares sized for air fryers, or punch holes in a sheet yourself and trim it smaller than the basket floor.
Can parchment paper catch fire in an air fryer?
Yes, if it reaches the element. A loose or empty sheet is lifted by the fan, and the heating element sits close overhead. Always put the food on before starting, keep the paper below the basket rim, never preheat with paper inside, and stay within its rating — usually 420 to 450 °F.
What is the difference between parchment and wax paper?
Parchment is silicone-coated and made for heat; wax paper is wax-coated and is not. Wax melts and smokes in an air fryer, and can catch fire. Use parchment, a silicone liner or nothing.
Last reviewed 18 October 2026