I can go for weeks without needing to properly clean my air fryer despite using it most days
I’m a huge air fryer enthusiast, with our household’s reliable air fryer receiving almost daily usage. It’s quick, adaptable, more energy-efficient and considerably easier to juggle multiple tasks with than our compact oven.
The sole drawback? The cleaning.
I prepare everything from salmon and sausages to chicken and frozen foods in our air fryer so it requires cleaning after each use. However, like many people, cleaning my air fryer never tops my to-do list, and consequently I’ve been guilty of ignoring it, only to be forced to spend even longer deep cleaning it by the weekend.
Fortunately, I’ve finally discovered the solution to my dilemma: air fryer liners.
I confess, I might be somewhat late to catch on with this one. Throughout the years I’ve tested numerous air fryer cleaning tips, including soaking the baskets with hot water and a dishwasher tablet and employing a specialist brush to eliminate grease without needing to scrub endlessly.
These have all performed with mixed results, but it appears prevention truly is superior to cure – particularly if it costs merely 10p per use.
I own a Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air fryer, so I purchased liners to suit. My exact ones are no longer stocked, but BYKITCHEN’s pack of 100 disposable parchment paper air fryer liners are available on Amazon for £9.99 and are comparable.
Additionally, there are plenty of alternative options available whatever shape and size your air fryer. It’s not an overstatement to say they’ve been revolutionary, and my time in the kitchen 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, then ensure all of the food I’m putting into the basket is spread out within the boundaries of the parchment.
I still carry out everything else as usual, including shaking at the halfway mark and flipping meat or fish as I see fit.
When the cooking duration is finished, I can then lift the entire contents of the air fryer out by gripping each side of the liner. I then dispose of the liner directly into the bin, unless it’s still in decent condition.
At worst, this process leaves a few crumbs and a smear of grease from the underside of the paper in the cooking basket, which is simple enough to fix with a quick rinse and wipe down. But typically, my air fryer is clean and ready for another round immediately with no cleaning required.
The only thing to be aware of is that the paper can fold up or be scorched by the heating element unless you weigh all four corners down with food. This hasn’t been a problem for me, but it’s worth mentioning before attempting.
There are various types of air fryer liners available, including Bronxic’s 150-pack of circular liners (£6.99, Amazon). You can also choose a silicone liner like Dunelm’s square silicone tray (£4).
