When preparing to cook food with an air fryer, the first essential thing you should do is to bring all the requirements near you. One of them is parchment paper. The last thing you want is to realize you don’t have the paper when it is already late.
If you are in this state, worry not. There are many parchment paper substitutes you can use. But this is dependent on what you are cooking.
A parchment paper is a silicon-coated paper available in the unbleached or bleached form. It is heat-resistant, water-resistant, and non-stick paper used in cooking and baking to help reduce browning and prevent your dish from sticking.
10 Alternatives For Air Fryer Parchment Paper:
This paper is safe for air fryers because it can withstand high temperatures. What to use instead of parchment paper in air fryer if you realize you don’t have it? So, here are some of the possible substitutes you can use in its place include:
- Aluminum foil
- Iron skillets
- Oil
- Butter
- Flour
- Silicone baking mats
- Glass baking sheet
- Non-stick baking sheets
- Bread/pizza stones
- Cooking spray
1. Aluminum foil
This is one of the best parchment paper alternatives because it features similar characteristics. One of them is that it is coated with silicon, which helps withstand high temperatures used during the baking process. Even though it is not non-stick, you have to add some oil to it to prevent your food from sticking.
You can use aluminum foil for lining pans and dishes to prevent them from getting dirty and enhance easy clean-up. Furthermore, you can use it to steam foods like chicken, fish, and veggies in your oven.
Note: Aluminum foil enables your food to cook fast. Hence, be cautious to avoid your food overcooking.
2. Iron skillets
If you don’t have parchment paper but have iron skillets, you don’t have a reason not to cook your preferred foods with your air fryer. You can use them provided they fit in there. Because they are good heat conductors, they can evenly distribute heat over the cooking surface.
This is advantageous as it helps contain foods that might create a slushy mess in the appliance, like fresh cheeses and anything else that might have sauces.
3. Oil
When using your air fryer for cooking eggs or tasty meat slabs, oil your pan if you do not have parchment paper. Oil is advantageous as, besides adding flavor to your food, it prevents it from sticking.
Luckily, you can use all oil types for this case. The most popular one is canola oil because it does not change your food flavor. But, if you wish to have a flavor, the best we recommend you to use is coconut oil.
4. Butter
If you don’t have parchment paper but have butter, you can apply it comfortably to the air fryer basket. It is a bit critical to choose a greasing agent. The chances of detecting a slight saltiness in your butter are higher. Besides, it will give your food an exterior.
Use shortening if you are not fond of butter saltiness. In general, shortening is a substitute for flavorless butter. But remember not to confuse it with unsalted butter. In addition to not retaining the saltiness, the unsalted butter does not yield a golden brown color on your dish.
5. Flour
Greasing your cake or baking pan helps to concentrate on two layers for the perfect non-stick effect. If you want to use your air fryer for baking and don’t have parchment paper, a perfect alternative you can consider is to sprinkle little flour on the air fryer basket to guarantee excellent adhesion to the grease.
If your greasing agent is the butter, the flour will be drawn to it. Do not apply a thick coat unless the recipe specifies so.
6. Silicone baking mats
The common name for this in the market is Silpat paper. From the name, you can tell it is good for baking. Even though it is more costly, it is a perfect alternative to parchment paper. Most commercial bakers and households prefer it more than parchment paper because it is more durable.
The ability of the silicone mat to withstand high temperatures makes it ideal for use in an air fryer because high temperature is required. You don’t have to grease it before use because it features a nonstick surface. Hence, it saves you plenty of cash on ingredients like butter, oil, and flour.
Furthermore, you can use Silpat paper as many times as you wish. Clean it after use with a mild household cleaner and water.
7. Glass baking sheet
As the name suggests, this sheet is made of highly durable, sustainable glass. It is an ideal alternative for parchment paper in the air fryer cooking process. We love this most because it can serve a number of purposes.
A good example of this is serving dishes directly from an oven. A glass baking sheet is cost-effective, withstands high temperatures, is light, and is easy to clean. The only issue is that it cannot keep your food hot for a long time.
8. Non-stick baking sheets
These are baking sheets that are non-stick in nature. When roasting or baking, you can use them as a parchment alternative for your air fryer. To use it, place it in your air fryer basket. Its non-stick nature makes it easy to clean.
9. Pizza/Bread Stones
These are stones made from materials like fireclay and cordierite. Unlike other substitutes, there are heavy. The good thing about these stones is that they can bear high temperatures. And because they get hot after consuming a little higher heat, you can be assured they lower your cooking rate.
10. Cooking spray
If you lack parchment paper, use cooking spray for excellent outcomes. We love it because it offers a gentle oil mist and is easily applicable. Besides, it does not require manual spreading. This makes it a simple and fast solution for replacing parchment paper during a baking process with an air fryer.
What Can I Use Instead Of Parchment Paper In Air Fryer?
There are several household items you can use in an air fryer. The common ones include bakeware and aluminum foil. You can also use silicone liners or pots. Nevertheless, there are items you should never use, like wax paper or paper towels.
Final Thought On Substitute For Air Fryer Parchment Paper
Even though parchment paper is one of the perfect materials to use when cooking with an air fryer, there comes a time when you cannot access it. This does not mean you will keep your cooking process on hold.
Luckily, this article has outlined the 10 best substitutes for air fryer parchment paper. Hopefully, you have found what is available in your home from the list. Now, it is upon you to learn how best to use them for excellent outcomes.
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