Can I Put A Paper Towel In The Air Fryer

Okay, so you've just loaded up your beloved air fryer with some crispy fries. The basket looks a tiny bit greasy. You reach for a paper towel — and then you freeze.

Can you actually just toss a paper towel in there? Half of you already have. The other half are literally screaming at their screens right now.

The Big Question: Paper Towel in an Air Fryer

Here's the thing. Paper towels are everywhere in our kitchens. They sop up spills, wipe counters, and rescue you when dinner goes sideways.

So when your air fryer basket ends up swimming in oil, reaching for one feels so natural. But does it actually work? Or are we casually committing a tiny kitchen crime?

The Short Answer

Nope. Put the paper towel down, chef. Do not put a paper towel directly in an air fryer basket while it's cooking.

Here's why — air fryers blast food with superhot rushing air. That breeze can catch a light paper towel and turn it into a tiny, dramatic kite. We're talking chaos.

Why It's a Terrible Idea

Air flows through everything in that little basket. It's like a miniature wind tunnel on steroids. Paper towels don't stand a chance against that kind of airflow.

The towel can blow right onto the heating element above. And that is how you go from "making mozzarella sticks" to "calling the fire department."

Honestly? Tihs is how kitchen fires start. Is it worth the risk for a slightly cleaner basket? Absolutely not.

Can Paper Towels Go In The Air Fryer at Robert Connors blog

Most paper towels also have a little polyethylene coating to keep them absorbent. Heat that coating up, and you're basically lining your food with something you definitely don't want to breathe in.

But What About the Parchment Paper Trick?

Now, parchment paper is a completely different animal. Many air fryer aficionados swear by it. It can work if you use it right.

Parchment paper is designed to handle heat way better than a flimsy paper towel. It won't blow around as easily if you weigh it down with food.

But even then — use caution. Make sure nothing is poking up toward the element. And never use it empty. An uncovered sheet in a hot air fryer is basically a dare.

So What Should You Do Instead?

Simple solution: let the basket cool down first. Then take it out and wipe it clean like the responsible adult you are.

Or — and hear me out — you could place a paper towel underneath your food. Wait, what?

Can You Put Paper Towels in Air Fryer? Read Before You Try – The Giro

Yes! Some people pop a paper towel inside the basket beneath the food, as an oil-catching liner. It stays put because everything is pinned down by weight.

The trick is that it never moves. It's at the bottom, covered with food, and kept flat. So it can't fly up and cause mayhem.

Is That Actually Safe Though?

It's safer than tossing one in mid-cook with nothing on top. But still — lots of experts would rather you just use parchment paper.

Parchment won't burn as easily. It won't release questionable fumes. And comes pre-cut rounds designed specifically for air fryers.

If you're going the paper towel route under food, check on it partway through. Make sure it hasn't shifted or gotten too close to the element.

Air Fryer Hacks People Swear By

While we're here — here's a quirky fact. People put so many wild things in air fryers. Bread, whole cakes, even leftover pizza.

Can I Put A Paper Towel In An Air Fryer at Johnny Moe blog

A few brave souls have tried parchment paper as a grease filter. Others dunk food in oil before air frying just to cut the mess.

The best hack? Line the basket with foil that has holes poked in it. Yes, foil in an air fryer works — as long as air can flow.

The Bottom Line

Paper towels in an air fryer? Risky business. The hot air will toss it around like confetti at a very dangerous party.

Don't fight the airflow. It will win every single time. And you don't want a charred kitchen over dinner.

Stick with parchment paper, foil liners, or just clean it after. Your air fryer — and your eyebrows — will thank you.

So next time that basket gets greasy, take a deep breath. Grab a wipe. Keep the paper towel far, far away from the heat.

Easy. Safe. No tiny indoor tornado required.