Can You Put Foil in an Air Fryer? Yes, and Here's How

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Everything you need to know to line your air fryer basket for less mess

Co-authored by Bertha Isabel Crombet, PhD

Last Updated: January 8, 2025 Fact Checked

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Is it safe to use aluminum foil in an air fryer?

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How to Use Foil in an Air Fryer

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When Not to Use Foil

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Can you use parchment paper?

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Air fryers have taken the world by storm in recent years. They offer all the benefits of an oven with the added convenience of a small, portable size, and easy clean-up–but is it safe to line your air fryer basket with aluminum foil? We'll explain exactly how to use foil and other liners, like parchment paper, safely.

Can you use aluminum foil in an air fryer?

Yes, you can use aluminum foil in an air fryer. Line the basket with foil, but weigh it down with food so it doesn't fly around and don't let it touch the heat source, which could damage your appliance. Also, don't use foil for acidic foods, as the acid can break down the aluminum and cause it to leach into your food.

Section 1 of 4:

Is it safe to use aluminum foil in an air fryer?

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Yes, you can use aluminum foil in an air fryer as long as it doesn't touch the heat source. You can use aluminum foil in an air fryer to contain messes and separate foods, so long as the foil doesn't make contact with the heating element.^{[1]
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Research source} However, the foil can disrupt the flow of heat distribution to the food, potentially leading to unevenly cooked or undercooked food. So, you may have to adjust cooking times when using foil to achieve best results.^{[2]
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- Your air fryer functions as a portable, countertop convection oven, evenly circulating the heat to cook foods at speedy rates.
- In a basket-style air fryer, which focuses on “frying” versus baking, use aluminum to line the basket that holds the food.
- In an oven-style air fryer, which focuses on “baking,” use aluminum foil to line the basket, the bottom of the air fryer to collect drippings, or both.
- Note that microwave technology is what causes aluminum-based products to spark in the microwave, but don’t worry—air fryers do not use microwave technology.

Section 2 of 4:

How to Use Aluminum Foil in an Air Fryer

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To prevent the foil from flying around in the air fryer and potentially coming into contact with the heating element, weigh it down. If you have a basket-style air fryer, you may also fully remove the basket from the air fryer, wrap the foil around the basket, and reinsert it.^{[3]
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Divide the basket into sections using foil. One of the main perks of using foil is being able to divide the contents inside the basket, allowing you to cook all sorts of foods at once. You can make sections out of the foil, which is perfect if you don’t want different ingredients to touch!
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Use foil to cook food in batches. Because all you have to do is remove the foil holding one batch of food in exchange for another, cooking in batches is easy when using foil in an air fryer.
- For example, if you want to crisp up a large batch of broccoli, make a bundle of foil for each portion and swap them out once they're done.
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Use foil to contain saucy foods. Foods like chicken wings and cauliflower curry work well with aluminum, as the foil does away with the need to scrub burnt patches of sauce from the basket. The foil acts as a barrier between your appliance and the sauce– while also optimizing the flavor and cook of your food!^{[4]
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Secure foods that may roll around with foil. Aluminum foil can safely secure foods that tend to move around in the air fryer, like fingerling potatoes or whole eggs. You can mold the foil into "slings," nests, or other shapes in order to hold the food, depending on what it is. You can even create ridges in the foil to mimic the surface of a grill, for increased crispiness.
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Use foil to cook delicate and/or difficult foods. Certain foods may benefit from the added security of being cooked in a little foil parcel, like eggs in purgatory, facilitating transfer and clean-up. You can use a basket-shaped section of foil to safely take the dish out of the air fryer, with minimal risk of cracking the yolk preemptively.
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Reheat leftovers packed in foil. If you have leftovers that are already parceled in foil, simply unfold them and place them in the air fryer, then heat them up to restore them to their former crispy and yummy glory. This works on anything from meat to burritos to cookie dough.

Section 3 of 4:

When Not to Use Aluminum Foil

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Don’t use aluminum foil if it’s not totally necessary. Your trusty air fryer works by circulating heat in an enclosed space, which is why almost all air fryers are equipped with holed baskets. The aluminum foil may hinder the intended level of heat circulation, so opt out of using foil if it’s not absolutely necessary, as it could lead to slower, less evenly cooked food. Additionally, although consuming aluminum in trace amounts is not considered harmful, here are some things to think about before prepping for an air fryer feast.^{[5]
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- Sticky foods cooked at temperatures of 400 °F (204 °C) or over may cause more absorption of the metal into the food, and therefore, in your body.
- Small quantities of aluminum can be expected to quickly leave your body via urine or your digestive tract.
- Aluminum is naturally found all around us, including in water, soil, cosmetic products, and deodorants. These negligible amounts don’t appear to pose any real health threats.
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Don’t use aluminum foil to cook acidic foods. Citrus fruits like oranges and tomatoes, along foods marinated in vinegar, for example, don’t work well with aluminum foil. The high concentration of acid in these foods causes the foil to break down and consequently leach onto the food, resulting in more significant amounts of metal consumption, which should be avoided.^{[6]
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- A 2012 study monitored the effects of cooking high-acid foods in aluminum and determined that leaching was further increased when adding salt and spices.
- The results concluded that cooking acidic foods on aluminum foil contributed significantly to the absorption of the metal and are therefore not recommended due to health concerns.

Section 4 of 4:

Can you use parchment paper in an air fryer?

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Yes, as long as it’s weighed down and not touching the heat source. Parchment paper is even lighter than aluminum foil, so secure it with the food you're cooking so it doesn't fly around. It’s also important that it does not come into contact with the heating element, as this can damage the appliance, the parchment paper, and worst of all, the food.^{[7]
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- You can cut parchment paper to best fit the shape of your air fryer basket or even invest in pre-trimmed parchment paper with holes in it to catalyze even cooking.
- Parchment paper is not the best option for wet foods as it is less stable than aluminum.
- Do not use wax paper as it is not heatproof enough and may catch on fire.