By Sara Ibrahim · Updated 5 August 2026 · Reviewed against FDA and manufacturer guidance
The short answer
Air fryer liners are safe to use — with three conditions. The liner has to be rated for your cooking temperature, it must never go into the basket empty during preheating, and if it is a paper liner it should say unbleached parchment with a silicone coating, not just "non-stick."
Miss any of those three and you have either a fire risk or a chemical question mark sitting under your food. Below: both liner types, what the FDA actually changed about PFAS in food papers, and the two liners we would put in our own air fryers.
Jump to: the real risks · paper vs silicone · choosing the right size · what the FDA changed · our picks · FAQs
The three real risks (and the one that is overblown)
1 Fire from an empty liner
This is the risk that actually sends air fryers to the trash. An air fryer is a convection oven with a violent fan. A paper liner with no food on it lifts straight into the heating element, where it scorches or ignites — even liner manufacturers like Reynolds warn never to preheat with a liner inside and no food on top. Lightweight silicone mats can lift too. The rule is simple: liner goes in, food goes on it immediately, always.
2 PFAS grease-proofing on cheap paper liners
For years, the way to make cheap food paper grease-proof was a fluorinated coating — PFAS, the "forever chemicals." Quality parchment resists grease differently: a thin cured-silicone coating on unbleached paper. If a bargain liner does not say silicone-coated parchment, you do not know what is providing the grease resistance. More on what the FDA did about this below — the story is better than most people think, but not finished. If you want the wider picture on these chemicals in air fryers generally, see our guide to the chemicals in air fryers.
3 Unknown silicone quality
Food-grade silicone itself is stable at air fryer temperatures — we covered the science in our guide to whether silicone is safe for cooking. The catch is that the words "food-grade" on a listing tell you nothing about how the silicone was cured. Platinum-cured silicone is the cleaner, more stable standard; peroxide-cured is cheaper and can leave residues. Almost no liner brand discloses which one you are getting. That is not a reason to panic — it is a reason to buy from brands that state their temperature rating plainly, and to retire any liner that turns cloudy, sticky, or smelly.
The overblown one: "liners release toxins at air fryer heat"
A liner rated to 425–450°F used below its rating is doing exactly what parchment has done in ovens for decades. The material is not the problem; using an unrated liner, or running any liner above its stated limit, is. If your recipe calls for maximum temperature, check the number printed on the box first — ratings commonly range from about 400°F to 450°F and they are not interchangeable.
Paper vs silicone liners, honestly compared
| Parchment paper liners | Silicone liners | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical heat rating | About 425–450°F, varies by brand | About 450°F |
| Reusable | No — single use | Yes, for years |
| Crisping | Good if perforated | Perforated mats: good. Solid cups: noticeably softer bottoms |
| What to check | Unbleached, silicone-coated, PFAS-free stated | Temperature rating printed, food-grade stated, fits your basket |
| Fire rule | Never in an empty or preheating basket | Same rule — lightweight mats can lift |
The crisping row is the one product listings never mention. A solid silicone liner sits between your food and the airflow that makes an air fryer work. Fries and wings come out with softer bottoms unless you flip them. Perforated liners interfere less. And for anything dry — toast, frozen items with no marinade — the crispest result is no liner at all.
Choosing the right size, which matters more than the brand
A liner that is too big is the single most common cause of the fire problem, because the excess edge is exactly what the fan catches. Measure the flat floor of your basket, not the rim, and buy a liner at least half an inch smaller on every side.
Rough guide by air fryer capacity
2–3 quart (small, single person): 6.3 inch round liners
4–5.8 quart (most common basket models): 7.5 to 8 inch round, or 8 inch square
6 quart and up: 8.5 to 9 inch round or square
Dual-basket models: measure each drawer — they are usually rectangular, not round, and round liners waste most of the floor
Square and rectangular liners fit basket-style fryers better than round ones, which leave the corners bare. If you own an oven-style air fryer with a flat tray, a cut-to-size sheet of parchment held down by food works and costs less than pre-cut liners.
What the FDA actually did about PFAS in food papers
On 28 February 2024, the FDA announced that grease-proofing substances containing PFAS are no longer being sold by manufacturers for food contact use in the United States. That completed a voluntary phase-out agreed with manufacturers in 2020.
The FDA noted that existing stock could take up to 18 months to clear the market from the last date of sale — a window that closed around August 2025. So American-made food paper should now be clear of intentionally added PFAS grease-proofing.
The honest caveat
The phase-out covers substances sold into the US market. Air fryer liners on marketplaces ship from everywhere, and a listing claiming "PFAS-free" is the seller's own statement, not a lab certificate. That is why the practical filter is construction, not claims: unbleached parchment with a silicone coating has no need for a fluorinated grease barrier in the first place.
For the deeper background on how these labels differ, see our guide to PFAS-free vs PTFE-free air fryers.
How to use liners safely: the 60-second version
✓ Preheat empty — no liner
✓ Add the liner and put food on it immediately
✓ Keep the liner smaller than the basket — it must never touch the heating element
✓ Use perforated liners when you can, for airflow and crisping
✓ Stay under the printed temperature rating
✓ Retire silicone liners that discolor or hold smells; never reuse a paper liner
The liners we would actually buy
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cupindy earns from qualifying purchases made through the links below, at no extra cost to you.
Or buy nothing
This is the option product roundups skip: for dry foods, no liner gives the best crisping and the fewest unknowns. Liners earn their place with sticky marinades, cheese, and batters — and a basket without a liner takes about two extra minutes to wash. Our air fryer cleaning guide shows the fast way.
And if you are lining the basket because the coating is flaking, the liner is a bandage. See our non-toxic air fryer guide for machines without coatings to worry about, or are air fryers toxic? for the wider question.
Frequently asked questions
Are silicone air fryer liners safe?
Yes, when they are food-grade silicone used below their temperature rating, typically around 450°F. Silicone is stable at those temperatures. The two practical cautions: brands rarely disclose the curing method, and a worn liner that turns cloudy or holds odors should be replaced.
Do air fryer liners need holes?
Perforated liners crisp noticeably better, because an air fryer cooks with moving air and holes let that air reach the underside of the food. Solid liners work for saucy or drippy foods where you want to catch liquid, at the cost of softer bottoms.
Can you use air fryer liners in the oven?
Usually yes — parchment liners are oven-safe up to their printed rating, and most silicone liners are too. The same two rules follow them: stay under the temperature rating, and keep paper away from direct contact with heating elements.
What are air fryer liners made of?
Paper liners are parchment — ideally unbleached wood pulp with a food-grade silicone coating for grease resistance. Reusable liners are molded food-grade silicone. Avoid paper liners that are grease-proof but do not say silicone-coated parchment, because the grease barrier is then unidentified.
Do air fryer liners affect cooking?
Yes. Any liner reduces airflow to the underside of food, and solid liners reduce it most. Expect slightly longer cook times and softer bottoms; flipping food halfway largely compensates. For maximum crisp, cook directly on the basket.
Why can't I preheat my air fryer with a liner in it?
With no food weighing it down, the fan lifts a light liner into the heating element, where paper can scorch or ignite. Liner makers themselves warn against it. Preheat empty, then add the liner with food on top in one step.
Can you reuse air fryer parchment liners?
No. Parchment liners are single use. Heat and grease break down the silicone coating, and a used liner is weaker — which makes it more likely to tear or lift. If you want a reusable option, buy a perforated silicone mat instead.
What size air fryer liner do I need?
Measure the flat floor of your basket and choose a liner at least half an inch smaller on every side. As a rough guide: 6.3 inch for 2–3 quart fryers, 7.5 to 8 inch for 4–5.8 quart, and 8.5 to 9 inch for 6 quart and larger. Square liners suit basket models better than round.
Are air fryer liners worth it?
For sticky marinades, cheese, and battered food, yes — they save real scrubbing. For dry or frozen food, no: you lose crisping and gain nothing. Most people over-use liners out of habit rather than need.
Sources
US Food and Drug Administration, "FDA Announces PFAS Used as Grease-Proofing Agents in Food Packaging No Longer Being Sold in the US," 28 February 2024.
US Food and Drug Administration, "Market Phase-Out of Grease-Proofing Substances Containing PFAS."
Reynolds Brands, "How to Use Air Fryer Liners."
Temperature ratings and material claims for the products above are as stated by their manufacturers on the product packaging and listings, and have not been independently lab-verified by Cupindy.
About the author
Sara Ibrahim writes Cupindy's air fryer safety coverage, including our non-toxic air fryer guide. She tests claims against manufacturer documentation and regulatory sources, and says so plainly when a claim cannot be verified.
