I’ve been using my air fryer for years, but it’s only recently that I’ve discovered the magic of air fryer liners – and I’m never going back
As a fervent air fryer user, my household’s reliable appliance sees almost daily use. It’s quick, adaptable, more energy-efficient and far simpler to juggle with than our compact oven.
The only issue? The cleaning.
Our air fryer is used for everything from salmon and sausages to chicken and frozen foods, so it really needs a clean after each use. However, like many others, cleaning my air fryer isn’t always at the top of my to-do list, leading me to occasionally neglect it and subsequently spend longer deep cleaning it at the end of the week.
Fortunately, I’ve discovered the solution to my problem: air fryer liners, reports the Express.
I confess, I may be a bit behind the curve on this one. Over the years, I’ve tried numerous air fryer cleaning hacks, such as soaking the baskets in hot water with a dishwasher tablet and using a special brush to remove grease without endless scrubbing.
While these methods have had varying levels of success, it turns out that prevention truly is better than cure – especially when it costs just 10p per use.
I own a Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air fryer, so I purchased matching liners. My exact ones are no longer available, but BYKITCHEN’s pack of 100 disposable parchment paper air fryer liners, which are very similar, can be found on Amazon for £9.99.
Plus, there are plenty of other options available to suit any shape and size of air fryer.
It’s not an overstatement to say they’ve been revolutionary, and my kitchen time can be divided into life before air fryer liners and life after air fryer liners.
Before each use, I simply grab a liner and position it in the basket, ensuring all the food I’m adding is evenly distributed within the parchment boundaries.
I continue with the usual routine, including shaking halfway through and flipping meat or fish as needed.
Once the cooking time concludes, I can easily lift out the entire contents of the air fryer by grasping each side of the liner. I then dispose of the liner directly into the bin, unless it’s still in decent shape.
At worst, this method leaves a few crumbs and a trace of grease from the paper’s underside in the cooking basket, which is quickly remedied with a swift rinse and wipe. But typically, my air fryer is clean and ready for immediate reuse without any cleaning required.
The only caveat is that the paper can fold up or get scorched by the heating element unless you anchor all four corners with food. This hasn’t posed a problem for me, but it’s worth bearing in mind before giving it a go.
There’s a variety of air fryer liners on offer, including Bronxic’s 150-pack of circular liners (£7.39, Amazon). Alternatively, you could choose a silicone liner like Dunelm’s square silicone tray (£4).
