Air fryers have risen in popularity recently and have become a kitchen appliance staple in many homes. Air fryers provide endless opportunities for crispy potatoes, succulent veggies, and perfectly fried chicken.
The possibilities with an air fryer are endless! Air fryers work by circulating hot air around the food to create a crispy exterior with much less fat. In fact, air fryers cut calories by 70% to 80% and waste almost no oil.
You place your ingredients on a piece of parchment paper, put it in the air fryer, wait a few minutes, and enjoy. There’s minimal clean-up involved, and it’s a pretty simple process. But what if you have run out of parchment paper?
We’ve done some research to find the best substitutes for parchment paper in an air fryer.
Parchment paper is the best thing to use for air frying, and ultimately, it’s worth buying some if you like to fry a lot.
However, the best alternative solution is a silicone pad. Silicone pads are non-stick, reusable, and fit in any air fryer. But, if you don’t have either of these to hand, you can use aluminum foil, oil, flour, a pizza stone, or an iron skillet.
Keep reading to learn how to use a parchment paper substitute.
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Why Use Parchment Paper?
Parchment paper is coated in non-stick silicone, meaning it is non-stick. Who would’ve guessed? It’s a cellulose-based composite that has been rigorously designed to be grease resistant, heat-proof, and water-resistant.
In addition, parchment paper can withstand temperatures up to 420 degrees Fahrenheit, making it a great addition to the pantry.
The parchment paper allows heat to pass through it and into your food, preventing it from sticking or burning.
You can also buy unbleached, compostable varieties for a more environmentally conscious choice. It’s super handy, but there are some alternatives if you’ve run out or want something reusable.
Check out the link below to re-stock on parchment paper:
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A Reusable Option: Silicone Baking Mats
If you don’t like the wastefulness of parchment paper and want one item you can use again and again, this option might be for you. Silicone baking mats, known as Silpat paper, are a perfect alternative to parchment paper.
Although the baking mats are pretty expensive, they are reusable. Additionally, they can be used for baking in the oven, such as cakes or cookies. Silicone pads are popular with bakers, so I’m sure they will also help you create tasty goodies.
Silicone baking mats can withstand high temperatures and are non-stick. You don’t even need to grease them before use, due to the non-stick surface. Silicone baking mats are easy to use and just as easy to clean.
Silicone pads are also flexible so that you can adjust their size and shape as per your requirements. Silicone pads can last up to 3000 uses if cared for properly, which is excellent for your wallet and the environment.
Check out the link below to buy some silicone baking mats:
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The Easy Option: Use Aluminum Foil
Most people will have some aluminum foil in a drawer because it comes in handy repeatedly. Foil is one of the best and simplest alternatives to the parchment paper as it acts pretty similarly.
As with parchment paper, foil is coated with silicone, which allows it to withstand high temperatures in the oven or air fryer. Although foil isn’t non-stick, you can easily add oil to prevent food mishaps.
Foil is great in the kitchen and is even reusable! One point of note is that aluminum foil will speed up the cooking time, as it conducts heat, so consider setting a shorter timer on the air fryer and check your food.
Check out the link below if you can’t get to a shop to buy some aluminum foil:
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The Tasty Method: Add Fat
You can add oil or butter if you’re out of parchment paper or foil and don’t own any silicone mats. You can add oil or butter to the air fryer basket to stop the food from sticking. If you have an oil spray, it will be even easier.
You can get wild with this method and even use flavored oils such as truffle or chili oil. But be careful not to go overboard, as your food may end up greasy.
Of course, you can only cook solid foods with this method that won’t drip through the gaps in the air frying basket. Such as fries or chicken nuggets.
Oil is a better choice if you’re cooking the item for a long time. It’s less likely to impart flavor or burn in the cooking process. But butter can also work for shorter cook times and can be a welcome additional flavor.
You can also use shortening as a substitute for butter. Shortening is flavorless and unsalted.
Check out the link below to buy a refillable oil sprayer:
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The Baker’s Method: Flour
You can use flour in conjunction with grease for a double-pronged attack to help your food not stick. Grease the food first, if appropriate, then sprinkle some flour onto the air fryer basket and cook the food.
The Chef’s Method: Pizza or Bread Stones.
If you have a pizza or bread stone, then woop! They’re fun little stones made from materials like fireclay and cordierite. They are heavy and pretty cool kitchen implements.
The best thing about these stones is that they can handle extreme heat. Hence, they can give you delicious crispy pizza crusts in minutes.
If it fits, you can use the bread of pizza stone in the air fryer. However, they do absorb a lot of heat and will require longer cooking time.
If you’re in the market for a pizza stone, check out the link below for a small 9 inch one:
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Another Method: Iron Skillets
Iron skillets are also heat-proof and are great heat conductors. They evenly distribute heat over the cooking surface. Although, as with pizza stones, it’s unlikely they will fit inside the air fryer. But if the skillet fits, then you’re in for a good time!
The skillet is also great because you can cook sloppier or liquid food in them, such as brownie batter.
Check out the link to buy yourself a mini iron skillet:
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To Summarize:
Although parchment paper is the perfect material for air fryers, several substitutes can do a good job. Parchment paper is easy to use, cheap and does the job well.
However, if you don’t have any, you can use silicone pads, oil, a pizza stone, an iron skillet, or just some aluminum foil.
Our top option is the silicone pad, which is reusable, non-stick, and easy to clean. Hopefully, you’ve found the perfect solution for you so that you can continue air frying without fretting!