Can Paper Towels Go In The Air Fryer? | No-Burn Lining Rules

Paper towels aren’t safe as an air-fryer liner because they can lift into the heater and block airflow; use perforated parchment or a rack instead.

Air fryers make cleanup easy until something greasy starts dripping and you think, “A paper towel would catch that.” The catch is that an air fryer is a small convection oven with a heating element and a fan pushing hot air. Light paper can shift and curl.

This article gives you the straight answer, then shows safer ways to catch drips, cut smoke, and keep food crisp without messing with airflow or putting paper near a heating element.

Can Paper Towels Go In The Air Fryer? What Happens If You Try

Using paper towels during cooking is a bad bet. A sheet can flutter once the fan ramps up, slide into a hotter zone, and start scorching. Even when it doesn’t ignite, it can choke the air stream that makes an air fryer cook evenly, leaving you with pale spots and soggy patches.

Fire safety groups give the same general warning for kitchens: keep things that can burn, including towels, away from heat sources. The National Fire Protection Association calls out towels as items that can catch fire and should be kept away from cooking heat. NFPA cooking safety guidance backs that simple rule.

Some people try paper towels for two reasons: to soak grease and to stop small foods from sticking. Both problems have better fixes that don’t involve loose paper.

Why Paper Towels Misbehave Inside An Air Fryer

• They’re light. The fan can shift them, even if they start flat.
• They’re porous. Hot air flows through, dries them fast, and browns the fibers.
• They can touch the heater. Many baskets sit close to the heating coil. A corner lifting up is all it takes.
• They fight the airflow. A sheet blanketing the base changes how heat moves around the food.

Paper Towels In An Air Fryer Basket: Safer Alternatives For Drips And Sticking

If your goal is cleanup, the safest “liner” is the one designed for heat and airflow. Two options win in most kitchens: perforated parchment made for air fryers and a removable rack or crisper plate that keeps food raised above drips.

Manufacturers often warn against blocking the bottom of the basket because it disrupts airflow. Philips says baking paper or foil isn’t recommended when it blocks the bottom and reduces airflow, which hurts cooking results. Philips guidance on baking paper and foil explains the airflow issue clearly.

That same airflow point is why paper towels are a poor liner. They’re not built for sustained high heat, and they don’t have the cutouts that air-fryer liners use to keep air moving.

Perforated Parchment Liners

These are parchment sheets with holes. The holes let hot air reach the underside of your food while the paper catches sticky drips. Consumer Reports notes that parchment can block airflow and should be used with care. Consumer Reports on parchment paper in air fryers is a good read if you want the “why” behind the warnings.

Silicone Liners And Reusable Mats

Silicone liners can help with saucy foods. Pick styles with ridges so grease can drain away from the food.

Foil With A Purpose

Foil can work for some foods, but it’s easy to overdo it. A tight foil “floor” blocks circulation. If you use foil, keep it small, keep it under food, and leave gaps around the edges so air can move. Never use foil in a way that can touch the heating element.

Paper Towels Where They Belong

Paper towels are still useful with an air fryer, just not as a cooking liner. Use them to:

• Pat raw foods dry before seasoning so the surface crisps instead of steaming.
• Wipe a cool basket after cooking to lift grease before washing.
• Blot fried foods after cooking once they’re on a plate, away from the heating element.

What To Use Instead Of Paper Towels: A Practical Comparison

Use this table as your quick chooser. It’s built around two things that matter most: airflow and staying put once the fan starts.

Item	Safe During Cooking	Best Use Notes
Loose paper towel sheet	No	Can lift into the heater; blocks airflow; use only for cleanup when cool
Paper towel tucked under food	No	Food can shift mid-cook; edges can brown and shed fibers
Perforated parchment liner	Yes	Use with food on top; don’t run the fryer with paper alone
Homemade parchment with holes	Yes	Cut smaller than the basket; punch holes so air still circulates
Small foil sling under food	Sometimes	Leave edge gaps; avoid acidic marinades that can react with foil
Silicone air-fryer basket liner	Yes	Pick ridged styles; expect less browning on the bottom
Wire rack / crisper plate	Yes	Keeps food raised; add a drip tray under if your model supports it
Air-fryer liners with raised sides	Yes	Great for messy foods; check max temp on the package
Nothing at all	Yes	Best airflow; rely on light oiling and proper preheat for sticking

How To Catch Grease Without Smoke Or Soggy Food

Most “paper towel” ideas start with smoke. Smoke usually comes from fat splattering onto hot surfaces, then burning. You can cut it down with small habit changes that keep airflow intact.

Pick The Right Food Position

Keep greasy foods centered on the crisper plate so drips fall where your model expects them. If your basket has a removable plate, clean under it often. Old grease is the main offender for repeat smoke.

Use A Tray Method When Your Model Allows It

Some oven-style air fryers and larger units have a lower drip tray. That’s the cleanest place for grease. If your unit supports it, line the drip tray with foil for easy cleanup, leaving the fan and vents clear.

Weigh Down Liners The Right Way

One of the safest rules is simple: never preheat with loose paper or a liner inside. Put the liner in only when you’re ready to add food, and keep food on top so it can’t lift. Reynolds Brands gives the same idea for air fryer liners: place the liner, then add food so it stays down and away from the heating element. Reynolds air fryer liner instructions spell it out.

Safe Cleanup Steps That Keep The Basket Nonstick Longer

Cleanup is where paper towels shine. Do it right and you won’t feel the urge to line the basket with anything risky next time.

Step-By-Step Cleanup After Cooking

1. Unplug the unit and let the basket cool until it’s warm, not hot.
2. Lift out the crisper plate or rack and shake crumbs into the trash.
3. Wipe pooled grease with a paper towel, then wash with warm water and dish soap.
4. If residue sticks, soak the basket and plate for 10–15 minutes, then use a soft sponge.
5. Dry fully before the next cook so moisture doesn’t bake onto the surface.

What Not To Do

• Don’t use metal scouring pads on nonstick coatings.
• Don’t spray aerosol cooking oil onto the basket while it’s hot; buildup can turn sticky.
• Don’t stack liners or paper under the plate thinking it will stay put.

Fixes For Common Air Fryer Messes And Mishaps

If you’ve already tried paper towels in the basket, you may have seen brown flecks, smoke, or a hot-paper smell. These fixes help you bounce back fast, then cook with less fuss next time.

What You Notice	Most Likely Cause	What To Do Next
Paper smell or light smoke early	Loose paper shifted or dried and scorched	Stop the cook, remove paper, wipe basket, restart with perforated parchment or no liner
Food cooked unevenly	Airflow blocked by paper or a solid liner	Cook without a base layer; use a rack and shake or flip mid-cook
Bottom is soggy, top is crisp	Grease pooled under food	Use a crisper plate, keep pieces spaced, and drain fatty foods once during cooking
Sticky basket after cooking	Old oil film baked on	Soak warm soapy water, then scrub with a soft sponge; avoid aerosol sprays
Small crumbs burning and smoking	Crumbs left under the plate	Clean under the plate each cook; empty and wipe once cooled
Parchment liner lifted	Liner added without food weighing it down	Add liner only when food is ready; place food on top right away
Foil rattling or moving	Foil too big, edges catching airflow	Trim foil smaller, keep it under food, and leave side gaps

Small Habits That Make Lining Less Tempting

If you build a few habits, the air fryer stays clean enough that liners become optional rather than a crutch.

Use The Right Amount Of Oil

A light brush or a refillable pump sprayer gives you control without leaving a sticky layer. If you see smoke and you’re using oil spray, try switching to brushing oil on the food instead of spraying the basket.

Don’t Overcrowd The Basket

Air fryers reward space. Crowding makes food steam and leaves more drips behind. Cook in batches when you can.

Final Checklist Before You Press Start

• No paper towels in the basket during cooking.
• If you use parchment, make it perforated and keep food on top.
• Keep the heater area and vents clear so hot air can circulate.
• Clean under the crisper plate often to stop old grease from smoking.
• If something shifts or smells off, pause the cook and reset.