Air fryer liners tested: silicone vs paper vs reusable sheets

Air fryer liners are designed to line the bottom of your appliance's basket, preventing food from sticking – and helping to make cleaning quicker and easier.

You might consider one when cooking particularly messy foods such as greasy meats or pretty much anything covered in batter.

But are they really necessary and do they make a difference ? Keep reading to find out what we learned in our hands-on trial.

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Silicone vs paper vs reusable sheets

In our test, we put three of the most common types of air fryer liners – silicone, paper and reusable sheets – through their paces by cooking batches of cheesy chips. 

We then evaluated all three products on build quality (subjective), cleanliness after cooking and the effort needed for any additional cleaning. 

Want to know which air fryers are the easiest to clean? Check the test results of each of our air fryer reviews and find one that scores four or more stars for 'ease of cleaning'.

Our pick: Silicone basket liner

This is the best option if you want to keep your air fryer clean as well as prevent food from sticking to the bottom of the basket while it cooks.

Silicone liners are usually covered in non-stick coating, so they're quick and easy to clean.

Pros

• They're reusable.
• Simple to clean by hand or in the dishwasher. 
• Prevent mess and food from sticking.
• Not all basket liners have them, but handles can make it easier to remove the liner straight after cooking.

Cons

• No major cons, but make sure they don’t cover any heating elements.

If you choose this type of liner, you'll need to double check the dimensions to make sure it fits in your air fryer, as you can't adjust their size as you can with some reusable sheet liners. 

We found that while the bowl-like shapes of silicone basket liners are great for preventing mess, they don't allow for optimal air circulation. This means you need to keep an eye on your food and stir it regularly to ensure it's evenly cooked. But this is standard practice when it comes to air fryer cooking anyway.

If you can, opt for one with handles. These make it very easy to remove the basket or tray after cooking and you won't have to wait for the air fryer to cool down first.

Paper basket liner

These are usually made from parchment paper, so they’re very thin.

Grease quickly seeps through, which means they're not the most reliable option if your goal is zero-to-minimal mess in your air fryer basket. However, they are the most hassle-free, as you can simply bin them when you’re done.

Pros

• Prevent food from sticking.
• Keep the basket mostly clean.

Cons

• Single-use only, so you'll have to keep repurchasing them.
• Some grease does seep through so a little cleaning is still needed.

If you choose this type of liner, you won't be able to cook foods in sauces (such as meatballs in tomato sauce) as they're too thin to manage liquid properly. We found that if you'd like some extra protection from mess you can use multiple layers of paper liners, but this still won't be enough to keep the basket completely clean.

As with choosing any type of air fryer liner, don't forget to check the dimensions. Some retailers, such as Amazon, state which air fryer models the liners are suitable for – but always double check to avoid wasting money on liners that don't fit in your air fryer's basket.

Reusable sheet liner

Much like other types of liners, reusable sheet liners provide a non-stick surface and make the cleaning up process simpler. They're generally covered in silicone or other non-stick material.

Many have perforations to allow for better air circulation, but we didn’t find this made a big difference to the cooking results. 

Pros

• Sturdy and reusable. 
• Prevent food from sticking to the basket.
• Some can be cut down to size.

Cons

• Particularly messy foods seep through perforations.
• No handles mean you need to wait for the air fryer to cool down before removing. 
• A lot of additional cleaning is still required

Some sheet liners, such as the one we used in our test, can be cut down and shaped. So even if you own an air fryer that doesn't have a traditional rectangular shape – think Tefal's Actifry range – you should be able to make use of this type of liner.

The air fryer basket will be extremely hot after cooking, so be careful when removing your food. Wait for it to cool down before touching the liner.

Keep your appliance in top condition for as long as possible with our tips on how to clean an air fryer.

Do air fryer liners need holes?

Not necessarily. Manufacturers claim the perforations allow hot air to circulate evenly around the basket, but we didn't notice a big difference in the quality of food we cooked in our test when we used liners without holes.

It's more important your air fryer isn't overfilled, and that you keep stirring the food or shaking the air fryer basket, whatever type of liner you're using. 

Can I make my own air fryer liners?

Yes. You can make your own liner using a silicone baking mat, baking paper or even aluminum foil.

While it isn't the case for all types, the advantage of most air fryer liners is that they're conveniently cut to size and should fit comfortably in your air fryer – providing you bought the right size for the model you own.

When making your own air fryer liner, you'll have to cut it down to the size of your air fryer basket or tray. Be mindful not to cover any heating elements and ensure you properly weigh down the liner with food.

Get a great price on a new air fryer with our best air fryer deals.

Are air fryer liners safe?

If used correctly, air fryer lines are safe to use but you should still be careful – especially if you're making your own.

Only use appropriate materials that are designed to withstand high temperatures and check in on the condition of the liner regularly.

Homemade and store-bought paper liners are very light, so you'll have to weigh them down with enough food to keep them from being blown around the basket – a potential safety hazard.

See air fryer vs oven to see find out how the two compare on costs, energy usage and cooking results.

Where to buy air fryer liners

Some air fryer manufacturers sell air fryer accessories including air fryer liners, but you can usually buy them at online retailers such as Amazon.

• Amazon – sells a variety of air fryer liners from different brands.
• Dunelm – stocks a selection of round and square paper air fryer liners.
• Lakeland – find different types of liners and other air fryer accessories such as cake moulds, trays, racks and more.
• Tower – the choice is slightly more limited, but you can pick up sheet liners and other air fryer accessories from Tower.

Find out more about the most popular air fryer brands: Ninja Foodi vs Tower air fryer vs Tefal ActiFry.