What To Put Under Air Fryer

Understanding the Air Fryer's Interior: More Than Just a Basket

The air fryer has revolutionized home cooking, offering a healthier, faster, and more convenient way to achieve crispy, delicious results reminiscent of deep-frying. At its core, an air fryer operates as a powerful countertop convection oven, circulating super-heated air around food to cook it evenly and rapidly. Understanding the internal design of your air fryer—typically comprising a removable basket or tray with a perforated bottom and often a separate crisping plate—is fundamental to maximizing its performance and longevity. While the air fryer's non-stick surfaces are designed for direct food contact, a common question arises among users: what, if anything, should be placed under the food?

This comprehensive guide delves into the various options available for lining your air fryer basket or tray, from simple disposable solutions to specialized reusable accessories. We will explore the benefits and drawbacks of each, offering insights into how these additions can enhance cooking outcomes, simplify cleanup, and even expand your culinary repertoire. Far from being an unnecessary step, strategically placing appropriate materials or accessories under your food can significantly improve your air frying experience, ensuring optimal performance and maintaining the appliance's condition for years to come.

The Core Purpose: Why Put Anything Under Your Food?

While an air fryer is designed for food to be placed directly into its basket, there are several compelling reasons why users often choose to utilize liners or specialized accessories. These additions serve multiple purposes, ranging from practical cleanup solutions to enhancing cooking performance and protecting the appliance's internal components.

Enhancing Hygiene and Simplifying Cleanup

One of the most immediate and appreciated benefits of using a liner is the dramatic reduction in post-cooking cleanup. Food residues, oils, and marinades can stick to the basket and crisping plate, requiring diligent scrubbing. A well-chosen liner acts as a barrier, catching drips and preventing food from adhering directly to the non-stick surfaces. This not only makes washing up quicker and easier but also helps to preserve the integrity of the air fryer's non-stick coating over time, as less aggressive cleaning is required.

Promoting Non-Stick Properties and Preventing Sticking

Even with advanced non-stick coatings, certain foods, especially those with sugary glazes or sticky sauces, can still adhere to the basket. Liners provide an additional layer of non-stick surface, ensuring that delicate items or those prone to sticking can be removed effortlessly. This is particularly beneficial for baked goods, marinated meats, or items coated in cheese, where direct contact with the metal basket might result in parts of the food tearing or sticking stubbornly.

Improving Even Cooking and Airflow Management

While the air fryer's design prioritizes optimal airflow, certain liners or accessories can subtly influence how heat circulates. Perforated liners, for example, are designed to allow hot air to reach all sides of the food, preventing soggy bottoms and promoting even crisping. Accessories like racks elevate food, ensuring greater exposure to circulating air and preventing contact with accumulated drippings, which can lead to steaming rather than crisping. Understanding how different materials interact with airflow is crucial for achieving consistent and desirable cooking results.

Protecting the Air Fryer's Non-Stick Coating

The non-stick coating on air fryer baskets and trays is durable but not indestructible. Repeated scrubbing, the use of abrasive utensils, or even high heat exposure from certain foods can degrade the coating over time. Using a protective liner minimizes direct contact with food acids and oils, reduces the need for harsh cleaning, and generally extends the life of the non-stick surface. This small preventative measure can save you the cost and inconvenience of premature wear and tear on your appliance.

Common and Recommended Liners: A Detailed Look

The market offers a variety of liners, each with distinct properties suited for different cooking needs. Choosing the right one depends on your priorities: convenience, reusability, or specific cooking requirements.

Parchment Paper: The Disposable Workhorse

Parchment paper is a widely accessible and popular choice for air fryer lining. It's affordable, convenient, and offers excellent non-stick properties. When selecting parchment paper for air frying, it's crucial to use sheets specifically designed for cooking, which are typically oven-safe up to 400-450°F (204-232°C). Some manufacturers even offer pre-cut, perforated parchment liners designed to fit air fryer baskets, often with slightly raised edges to contain food and liquids.

Pros: Excellent non-stick properties, easy cleanup (just discard after use), prevents food from sticking, helps keep the basket cleaner, relatively inexpensive. Perforated versions maintain good airflow.
Cons: Disposable (not eco-friendly in the long run), can impede airflow if not perforated, can blow around if not weighted down by food (a fire hazard if it touches the heating element). Not suitable for very wet or saucy dishes as liquids can seep through or over the edges.
Best Use Cases: Roasting vegetables, cooking pre-made frozen foods (like fries, nuggets), baking delicate items (cookies, pastries), and for any food where sticking is a concern. Always ensure the paper is weighted down by food to prevent it from flying up to the heating element.

Silicone Liners: The Reusable Eco-Friendly Option

Silicone liners have gained immense popularity due to their reusability and heat resistance. These are typically flexible silicone mats or basket-shaped inserts, often with ridges or perforations to mimic the air fryer basket's design. They come in various sizes and shapes to fit different air fryer models.

Pros: Reusable and eco-friendly, excellent non-stick properties, easy to clean (dishwasher safe often), durable, can handle higher temperatures than parchment paper (typically up to 450-500°F/232-260°C), some designs offer integrated handles for easy food removal. They prevent food from touching the basket, extending its life.
Cons: Can be more expensive upfront, may sometimes slightly alter cooking time due to reduced direct heat transfer, some designs might impede airflow if not sufficiently perforated or ridged, can be bulky to store.
Best Use Cases: Versatile for almost all air frying tasks, especially for sticky foods, baked goods, or anything you want to keep completely separate from the basket. Ideal for users seeking a sustainable and long-term solution.

Aluminum Foil: The Accessible but Cautious Choice

Aluminum foil is a common household item, and while it can be used in an air fryer, it comes with significant caveats and requires careful application. Foil is good for covering surfaces to prevent sticking or to contain certain foods, but its use needs to be mindful of airflow and safety.

Pros: Readily available, provides a non-stick surface, contains liquids/fats, and makes cleanup easier for certain dishes. Good for wrapping food to steam or keep moist.
Cons: Can severely impede airflow if it blocks the basket's perforations, leading to uneven cooking. Can be a fire hazard if it's too light and flies up into the heating element. Acids in food (e.g., tomatoes, citrus) can react with aluminum foil, potentially leaching into food. Not suitable for foods that need crisping on all sides. Can damage the non-stick coating if used improperly or with sharp edges.
Best Use Cases: Only use foil to line small portions of the basket or to wrap food tightly, ensuring it is always weighted down by food and does not block more than 50% of the basket's bottom. Never use it empty or loosely. Best for foods that you want to steam or keep moist, rather than crisp. Always consult your air fryer's manual, as some manufacturers advise against aluminum foil altogether.

Special Air Fryer Liners (Perforated and Reusable)

Beyond general parchment and silicone, there are dedicated air fryer liners designed with specific features to optimize performance. These often combine the best aspects of other liners.

Pros: Specifically engineered for air fryers, featuring optimal perforation patterns for airflow, often made from durable, food-grade materials that withstand high temperatures. Some are designed with raised edges to prevent spills. Many are reusable, making them an eco-friendlier choice than standard parchment.
Cons: Can be more expensive than generic options, and availability might vary depending on your air fryer model and size.
Best Use Cases: Ideal for anyone who uses their air fryer frequently and wants a tailored solution that maximizes both cooking performance and cleanup convenience. Excellent for all types of air frying, from snacks to full meals.

Essential Accessories for Enhanced Cooking

Beyond basic liners, a range of specialized accessories can be placed under or around your food to unlock new cooking possibilities and improve existing techniques. These items are designed to complement the air fryer's capabilities, allowing for greater versatility and precision in your culinary creations.

Air Fryer Racks and Skewers: Elevating and Rotating

Many air fryers come with, or have available as an add-on, multi-layer racks or skewer sets. These accessories are game-changers for maximizing basket capacity and ensuring even cooking, especially for certain types of food.

Purpose: Racks elevate food, allowing air to circulate more effectively around all surfaces, promoting crisping and browning. They also enable cooking multiple layers of food simultaneously, increasing the batch size without overcrowding. Skewers are perfect for kebabs or smaller pieces of meat and vegetables, keeping them organized and allowing for easy rotation for even cooking.
Benefits: Improved airflow results in crispier textures, particularly for items like chicken wings or fries. Increased capacity means less batch cooking. Skewers ensure small pieces cook uniformly and are easy to handle. Prevents delicate foods from sticking to the main basket.
Considerations: Ensure racks and skewers are made of food-grade stainless steel or other heat-resistant, non-toxic materials. Check compatibility with your specific air fryer model and size. Overcrowding even with a rack can still impede airflow on lower levels.
Best Use Cases: Cooking multiple servings of wings, fries, spring rolls, or veggies. Preparing meat or vegetable skewers for even grilling. Dehydrating fruit slices (using specialized dehydrator racks).

Mini Baking Pans and Muffin Cups: Expanding Culinary Horizons

The air fryer is not just for "frying"; its convection heat makes it excellent for baking small portions. Mini baking pans and silicone muffin cups are perfectly suited for this.

Purpose: These accessories allow you to bake items like small cakes, brownies, casseroles, quiches, or individual muffins and cupcakes directly in your air fryer. They contain batters and wet ingredients, preventing spills and ensuring even cooking for softer items.
Benefits: Expands the air fryer's utility beyond savory dishes to include desserts and breakfast items. Ideal for single servings or small batches, reducing energy consumption compared to a full-sized oven. Provides a non-stick surface for easy removal of baked goods.
Considerations: Use heat-safe materials such as silicone, ceramic, or oven-safe metal. Ensure the pan or cups fit comfortably within your air fryer basket, leaving enough room for air circulation around them. Avoid overfilling to prevent spillage and ensure proper cooking.
Best Use Cases: Baking individual lava cakes, mini quiches, cornbread muffins, small gratins, or reheating leftovers that benefit from contained cooking.

Pizza Pans and Dehydrator Racks: Specialty Uses

For specific culinary ambitions, specialized accessories can transform your air fryer into an even more versatile appliance.

Pizza Pans: Small, round metal pans are designed for making individual pizzas or reheating slices. They provide a flat, even surface for crust development and easy transfer. Ensure the pan is oven-safe and fits your air fryer.
Dehydrator Racks: Some air fryers come with multi-tiered racks specifically for dehydrating. These allow you to dry fruits, vegetables, or make jerky at lower temperatures over longer periods, leveraging the air fryer's consistent airflow.
Benefits: Enables specific cooking functions beyond standard air frying, creating diverse meals and snacks.
Considerations: These are often model-specific; check compatibility. Dehydration cycles can be lengthy, so ensure your air fryer supports the necessary temperature range.
Best Use Cases: Making crispy mini pizzas, reheating pizza slices without sogginess, creating homemade fruit leather, dried herbs, or beef jerky.

Tools for Protection and Maintenance

Beyond enhancing cooking, certain items placed under your food or within the air fryer basket primarily serve to protect the appliance itself. These tools play a crucial role in maintaining cleanliness and preserving the non-stick coating and overall integrity of your air fryer over time.

Silicone Mats and Drip Trays: Catching Messes

Accidental spills, excessive drippings, or bubbling sauces are inevitable when cooking. Silicone mats and dedicated drip trays are designed to intercept these messes before they reach the air fryer's main heating element or become baked onto the basket, making cleanup significantly easier.

Purpose: A silicone mat placed on the bottom of the outer collection pan (underneath the air fryer basket) or a small, heat-resistant drip tray positioned directly under the food within the basket serves as a catch-all for grease, marinades, and food debris.
Benefits: Protects the outer basket from sticky residues and baked-on grime, which can be challenging to remove without damaging the finish. Prevents excessive smoke caused by drippings burning on the heating element. Simplifies cleanup as the mat or tray can be easily removed and washed (often dishwasher safe). Some perforated silicone mats can also be placed directly in the food basket to serve as a non-stick surface for cooking while allowing fat to drain.
Considerations: Ensure mats/trays are made from food-grade, high-heat resistant silicone or other suitable materials. If placing within the food basket, ensure it has sufficient perforations to allow air circulation if crisping is desired. For mats placed in the outer basket, make sure they don't interfere with the fit of the main food basket.
Best Use Cases: Cooking fatty meats (bacon, sausages, chicken with skin), heavily marinated dishes, or anything prone to significant drippage. Also useful for reheating saucy leftovers to contain spills.

Protective Coatings and Their Care: Maintaining Non-Stick Surfaces

Many air fryer baskets and crisping plates come with a factory-applied non-stick coating. While not something you "put under" the food, understanding its nature and how external liners protect it is vital for longevity.

Purpose: The non-stick coating is designed to prevent food from sticking directly to the metal, making cooking and cleanup easier. However, this coating is susceptible to damage from abrasive scrubbing, metal utensils, and high heat exposure from certain types of food.
Benefits of Liners: Using parchment paper, silicone liners, or mini baking pans reduces direct contact between food and the non-stick surface. This minimizes the risk of scratching (e.g., from removing stubborn food bits) and reduces exposure to acidic foods or high-sugar items that can be particularly corrosive or adherent. By absorbing much of the wear and tear, liners significantly extend the life and effectiveness of the air fryer's non-stick properties.
Care Tips: Always use non-abrasive sponges and mild dish soap for cleaning. Avoid metal utensils; opt for silicone or plastic. Do not stack other metal items inside the basket during storage, as this can cause scratches. Adhering to manufacturer guidelines for cleaning and use is paramount.
Best Practices: Regular use of appropriate liners is the best preventative measure to maintain the non-stick coating. If you notice any flaking or deterioration, consider replacing the basket or using liners consistently to prevent further degradation and potential food contact with the underlying metal.

Safety First: What NOT to Put Under Your Air Fryer Food

While various liners and accessories can enhance your air frying experience, certain items should never be placed in an air fryer. Misuse can lead to poor cooking results, damage to the appliance, or, more critically, safety hazards like fire.

Avoiding Fire Hazards: Lightweight Items and Flammables

The powerful fan inside an air fryer circulates hot air at high speeds. This strong airflow, combined with high temperatures, makes certain materials highly risky.

Lightweight Paper Products:
Examples: Standard paper towels, paper plates, coffee filters, or unweighted parchment paper (especially if it extends too far up the sides of the basket).
Danger: These items are too light and can easily be lifted by the circulating air into the heating element, catching fire. Only use parchment paper specifically designed for air fryers, ensure it is perforated, and always weigh it down with food to prevent it from flying up. Never use it in an empty or nearly empty basket.
Plastic Containers and Wraps:
Examples: Plastic storage containers, plastic wrap (Saran Wrap, cling film), plastic bags.
Danger: Most plastics are not heat-resistant enough for the high temperatures of an air fryer. They will melt, potentially fusing to your food or the appliance, releasing toxic fumes, and creating a significant fire hazard. Only use plastics explicitly labeled as oven-safe and rated for temperatures exceeding the air fryer's maximum setting, which is exceedingly rare for typical plastics.
Flammable Materials:
Examples: Wax paper, highly absorbent kitchen cloths.
Danger: Wax paper has a low melting point and can catch fire. Any material that is not explicitly rated for high-heat cooking and labeled as oven-safe or air fryer-safe should be avoided due to the risk of ignition.

Material Incompatibilities: Plastics and Certain Metals

Beyond fire risks, some materials are simply not compatible with the air fryer's environment, leading to damage or health concerns.

Non-Heat-Resistant Glassware:
Examples: Drinking glasses, everyday glass bowls not explicitly labeled as oven-safe or tempered.
Danger: While some tempered glass (like Pyrex or borosilicate glass) is oven-safe, not all glass can withstand the rapid temperature changes and high heat of an air fryer. Untempered glass can shatter, creating a hazardous situation. Always ensure glass bakeware is clearly marked as oven-safe up to the air fryer's maximum temperature.
Uncoated Cast Iron:
Examples: Bare cast iron pans without proper seasoning.
Danger: While seasoned cast iron is generally oven-safe, its heavy weight can be cumbersome in an air fryer basket and may lead to scratching of the non-stick coating. Also, the high heat can sometimes affect the seasoning if not properly maintained. Consider lighter, non-stick alternatives for ease of use and protection of your air fryer.
Empty Vessels:
Examples: Placing an empty baking pan, ramekin, or even an empty air fryer basket (without the crisping plate) for extended periods.
Danger: While not a direct fire hazard, running an air fryer with empty accessories or without the proper components can lead to inefficient operation, potential overheating of specific parts, and unnecessary wear and tear. Always ensure there's food to absorb the heat and to weigh down any liners.

Managing Liquids and Sauces: Overfilling and Splatter

While air fryers can handle some liquids, there are limits to what they can safely contain.

Excessive Liquids:
Examples: Placing bowls full of soup, large amounts of watery stew, or overly saucy dishes directly in the air fryer basket.
Danger: The air fryer basket is designed for airflow and often has perforations. Excessive liquid can spill through, drip onto the heating element, cause smoke, damage the appliance, or create a hazardous mess. Use appropriate containers (like a mini baking pan or ramekin) for wet foods, ensuring they do not overfill.
Loose Dry Rubs and Fine Powders:
Examples: Applying a very thick layer of dry seasoning or fine flour directly to food without ensuring it adheres properly.
Danger: Excess dry rub or flour can become airborne during air frying, coating the inside of the air fryer, including the heating element and fan. This can lead to burning, smoke, and difficult cleaning. Ensure coatings are well-adhered or use a light touch.

Always consult your air fryer's user manual for specific recommendations and warnings regarding materials and accessories. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and opt for materials explicitly labeled as safe for air fryer or high-temperature oven use.

Optimizing Airflow and Cooking Performance

The air fryer's magic lies in its ability to circulate hot air rapidly, creating a convection effect that crisps food to perfection. Understanding and maintaining optimal airflow is paramount to achieving consistent, delicious results. What you place under your food, and how you place it, significantly impacts this critical process.

Understanding the Heating Mechanism: Convection at Work

An air fryer is essentially a compact convection oven. It has a heating element (usually at the top) and a powerful fan that forces hot air to circulate quickly and evenly around the food. This uniform heat distribution is what cooks food faster and creates a crispy exterior by promoting the Maillard reaction. Any item that obstructs this airflow can compromise the air fryer's core functionality, leading to uneven cooking, longer cook times, and unsatisfactory textures.

The perforated design of the air fryer basket and crisping plate is intentional; it allows hot air to reach the bottom and sides of the food, preventing sogginess. When considering liners or accessories, their design should ideally complement, not hinder, this airflow. A solid liner will block air from circulating underneath, while a well-perforated one will allow for proper heat distribution.

Strategic Placement for Even Browning

The way food is arranged within the air fryer basket, and how any liners or accessories are utilized, directly affects browning and crispness. Strategic placement ensures every piece gets its fair share of hot air exposure.

Single Layer is Key: For maximum crispiness, especially for items like fries, chicken wings, or breaded cutlets, arrange food in a single layer. This ensures that hot air can fully envelop each piece, promoting even browning on all sides. When a liner is used, ensure it is not so large that it forces food to pile up.
Don't Overlap Liners: If using parchment paper or silicone mats, ensure they lie flat and don't overlap excessively, as this can create air pockets or block too many perforations. For pre-cut liners, select the correct size for your basket.
Utilize Racks for Elevation: As discussed, racks elevate food, improving airflow around the bottom surface and preventing items from sitting in pooled grease, which can lead to steaming rather than crisping. This is particularly useful for achieving a uniform crisp on all sides of larger items or for cooking multiple layers.
Turn and Shake: Regardless of liners or accessories, frequently shaking the basket or turning individual food pieces is often necessary to ensure all surfaces are exposed to the direct hot air. Liners can make this process easier by preventing sticking.

Avoiding Overcrowding and Stacking

One of the most common mistakes in air frying is overcrowding the basket. While liners can simplify cleanup, they cannot compensate for poor loading practices. Overcrowding, even with the best liners, will inevitably lead to subpar results.

Impact of Overcrowding: When the basket is packed too tightly or food is stacked, hot air cannot circulate effectively around every surface. This results in some pieces being crispy and golden, while others remain pale, soft, or even undercooked. It creates a steaming environment rather than a frying one.
Liners and Overcrowding: While liners don't directly cause overcrowding, choosing an improperly sized liner that reduces the usable surface area can indirectly contribute to it if users try to fit too much food on the available space. Ensure your liner size allows for ample space around the food.
Solutions: Cook in batches if necessary. It's better to air fry two smaller batches that come out perfectly crispy than one large batch that is unevenly cooked. Utilize multi-layer racks if your air fryer supports them, but still respect the maximum capacity for airflow between layers.

By consciously managing airflow through strategic food placement, appropriate liner choices, and avoiding overcrowding, you can consistently achieve the crispy, evenly cooked results that make air frying such a popular cooking method.

Cleaning and Longevity: The Benefits of Proper Lining

Beyond enhancing cooking performance and expanding culinary options, the strategic use of liners and protective accessories plays a crucial role in maintaining your air fryer. These simple additions can dramatically streamline your post-cooking routine and significantly extend the lifespan of your appliance.

Streamlining Post-Cooking Cleanup

One of the most immediate and appreciated benefits of using an appropriate liner is the ease of cleanup. The non-stick coating on air fryer baskets, while effective, can still accumulate baked-on food residue, grease, and sauces, especially after cooking particularly sticky or fatty foods. Cleaning these can be time-consuming and often requires more effort than a quick rinse.

Reduced Direct Contact: Liners like parchment paper, silicone inserts, or mini baking pans create a barrier between the food and the air fryer basket. This prevents food particles, oils, and marinades from adhering directly to the basket's surface or seeping into its perforations.
Easier Disposal/Washing: Disposable liners (parchment, foil) can simply be removed and discarded after use, leaving a largely clean basket behind. Reusable silicone liners can often be rinsed under the tap or placed directly into the dishwasher, making their cleaning far simpler than scrubbing the entire air fryer basket.
Less Scrubbing Required: With liners taking the brunt of the mess, the air fryer basket typically only requires a light wipe-down or a gentle wash, minimizing the need for abrasive scrubbing which can damage non-stick surfaces.
Prevents Baked-On Messes: Liners catch drippings before they can burn onto the bottom of the outer collection pan or the crisping plate, preventing stubborn, hard-to-remove residues that often lead to smoke during subsequent uses.

Preserving the Non-Stick Coating and Basket Integrity

The non-stick coating of an air fryer basket is a key feature, but it is also the most vulnerable component to wear and tear. Proper lining acts as a protective shield, significantly contributing to the coating's longevity.

Minimizing Abrasion: Every time you scrape food off the basket or scrub it clean, there's a risk of microscopic damage to the non-stick coating. Liners reduce the need for direct interaction between food, utensils, and the basket's surface, thus minimizing abrasive actions.
Protection from Acids and Sugars: Certain foods, particularly those with high acid content (e.g., tomatoes, citrus) or high sugar content (e.g., glazed meats, sticky sauces), can be particularly harsh on non-stick surfaces. Acids can degrade the coating over time, while sugars can caramelize and bond stubbornly, requiring more aggressive cleaning. Liners act as a buffer, absorbing the direct impact of these ingredients.
Preventing Discoloration: While not harmful to performance, consistent exposure to certain foods or cooking at very high temperatures can sometimes lead to discoloration or staining of the non-stick coating. Liners help to prevent this, keeping your air fryer basket looking newer for longer.
Reduced Metal Utensil Risk: Although generally advised against, accidental use of metal utensils is less likely to damage the underlying non-stick coating if a protective liner is in place.

Extending the Lifespan of Your Appliance

Ultimately, all these benefits—easier cleanup, preserved non-stick coating, and reduced wear and tear—contribute to extending the overall lifespan of your air fryer. A well-maintained air fryer performs better, is safer to use, and eliminates the need for premature replacement of baskets or even the entire unit.

Consistent Performance: A clean air fryer with an intact non-stick coating will continue to cook food effectively and efficiently. When the coating degrades, food sticks more, cooking can become uneven, and the overall experience diminishes.
Less Maintenance Hassle: An air fryer that's easy to clean is one you're more likely to use regularly. If cleaning becomes a chore, the appliance might sit unused, defeating its purpose.
Cost Savings: Replacing a damaged air fryer basket or the entire appliance can be costly. Investing in and regularly using affordable liners or accessories is a small preventative measure that can lead to significant long-term savings and greater satisfaction with your purchase.

By integrating proper lining and maintenance practices into your air frying routine, you not only make cooking more enjoyable but also ensure that your appliance remains in excellent working condition for years to come.

Conclusion: Making Informed Choices for Your Air Fryer

The air fryer has undoubtedly earned its place as a staple in modern kitchens, offering unparalleled convenience and delicious results. However, the true potential and longevity of this appliance are often unlocked by understanding and implementing best practices, particularly concerning what you place under your food.

As we have explored, the decision to use a liner or an accessory under your air fryer food is not merely about personal preference; it's a strategic choice that impacts cooking performance, cleanup efficiency, and the long-term health of your appliance. From the humble convenience of parchment paper to the sustainable versatility of silicone liners and the specialized functions of various racks and pans, each option offers distinct advantages.

By selecting appropriate liners, you can significantly reduce the effort required for post-cooking cleanup, preventing stubborn food residues and baked-on grease. More importantly, these protective layers act as a shield for your air fryer's delicate non-stick coating, preserving its integrity against abrasion, corrosive foods, and high heat exposure, thereby extending the overall lifespan of your basket and crisping plate.

Furthermore, the right accessories can transform your air fryer into a more versatile cooking tool, allowing you to bake, dehydrate, or cook multiple items simultaneously, pushing the boundaries of what you thought your appliance could do. However, this versatility comes with the crucial caveat of safety. Always prioritize materials explicitly designed for high-heat cooking, ensuring they are weighted down and do not impede the vital airflow that defines air frying. Never introduce lightweight, flammable, or non-heat-resistant items into your air fryer, as this poses a significant risk to both your appliance and your safety.

In essence, making informed choices about what to put under your air fryer food is an investment in a better cooking experience. It's about optimizing airflow for perfectly crispy results, simplifying the less glamorous task of cleanup, and safeguarding your appliance for years of continued enjoyment. By embracing these best practices, you can fully harness the power of your air fryer, turning everyday meals into healthier, more convenient, and consistently delicious culinary successes.