I Tested the Best Air Fryer Liners in Silicone, Paper, and Ceramic to Find the Ones Worth Buying (and Which to Skip)

If you’re tired of scrubbing your air fryer basket after every use, you’ve come to the right place. As a trained cook and air fryer obsessive, I’ve tested the best on the market, and now I’ve turned my attention to the accessories that make these handy small kitchen appliances easier to use and clean.

The right air fryer liners not only protect your best non-toxic air fryer and increase its longevity, but also catch residual oil and crumbs, making cleanup faster and less frustrating. In my testing, I tried the most common types of liners, silicone baskets, paper sheets, ceramic, and perforated options, using French fries and other notoriously messy dishes, such as sticky marinades and melted cheese.

Below is a quick list of the ones that performed best. You’ll find options to fit a variety of air fryer sizes, so you can choose the perfect fit for your cooking style and appliance.

The Best Air Fryer Liners at a Glance: My One-Minute Verdict

Of all the air fryer liners I tested, I loved the Pintaur Silicone Air Fryer Liners from Amazon the best for everyday cooking, offering quick and easy clean up and the crispiest results. They are available in rectangular, square, and circular shapes to fit most of the best air fryers on the market.

For single-serve dishes and baking, the Staub 6 Piece Macaron Cocotte Set cam our on top for perfect results and fryer-to-table presentation.

Finally, non-perforated paper liners such as the COSORI paper liners, from Amazon, are ideal for really messy dishes where you don't want to scrub sticky messes from reusable dishes and trays.

Best Silicone Air Fryer Liners (Top for Ninja and Cosori)

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I was genuinely impressed with how much I enjoyed using silicone liners. I gravitated toward designs with raised grooves because they delivered ultra-crispy fries and made it effortless to drain away collected cooking oil.

The handles are very convenient, though they do get hot immediately after cooking, so you need to wait a couple of minutes to let them cool enough to handle safely. After lifting the liner, the crisper plate underneath was consistently spotless.

Cleaning is straightforward: They’re dishwasher-safe, and even by hand, it’s easy, though you’ll want to scrub between the grooves. For sticky marinades or melting chocolate, I still prefer paper liners, which handle those messes more effectively.

These silicone air fryer liners are ideal for fries, fish cakes, nuggets, or any crispy breaded foods. Just be sure to measure your appliance trays beforehand to select the correct size. Below, I’ve included my top recommended options:

Best Disposable Paper Air Fryer Liners

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Paper air fryer basket liners are undeniably convenient because they’re disposable, making clean up almost effortless for foods like cheesy fries, air fryer s’mores, or cookies. I always opt for food-safe, unbleached paper, which you can simply discard after use.

That said, they do have limitations. Lifting them out when filled can be tricky, and they aren’t ideal for small portions, as lightweight baskets can float around in the hot air, potentially coming close to the heating element, which creates a fire hazard. They also lack perforations or raised grooves to enhance airflow and crispiness. In my tests, I noticed paper baskets underperformed for fries and breaded foods, though the texture difference wasn’t dramatic in every case.

If you want to reduce mess without sacrificing crispiness, here’s a useful hack: Place a paper basket underneath your crisper plate. You still get the benefit of the plate’s airflow, while the basket catches drips and crumbs, saving clean up on the tray itself. Otherwise, I usually reach for silicone liners for most air-frying tasks.

Finally, because paper baskets aren’t reusable, the costs can add up over time. My recommendation is to maintain a mixture of silicone liners, paper baskets, and small ramekin containers. Use paper only for particularly messy meals, and rely on silicone or ramekins for everyday cooking.

I reach for these for cookies, doughs, sticky marinades, and melting air fryer s’mores. Just be sure to measure your air fryer first, so you pick the correct size.

Best Air Fryer-Safe Ceramic Ramekins and Baking Molds

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For single-serve desserts such as molten lava cakes, crème brûlée, baked eggs, or smaller portions of dishes such as mini casseroles or soufflés, a reliable set of air fryer–safe ramekins is essential. Their individual size makes portion control simple, and they’re also excellent for meal prep.

I tested porcelain, ceramic, and silicone options. Porcelain and ceramic ramekins handle high heat well and distribute it evenly, ensuring your dishes are air-baked to perfection. Just be sure to check each ramekin’s maximum temperature against your recipe to guarantee safe use, and don’t forget oven gloves when removing them from the fryer.

My personal favorite was the STAUB cocotte dishes from Zwilling. I used them to bake eggs, which made an elegant presentation for guests. I lightly oiled the dish, cracked in the eggs with a sprinkle of salt, pepper, and parmesan, and they were perfectly cooked in under 10 minutes.

I also loved the OXO Good Grips Silicone Baking Cups from Amazon. They were ideal for egg bites and muffins, effortlessly releasing from their non-stick surfaces. I didn’t worry about fragility or breakage in the air fryer, and cleanup was a breeze thanks to its dishwasher-safe design.

Silicone vs. Paper vs. Ceramic: Which is Best for You?

The type of air fryer liner you choose ultimately comes down to personal preference and the foods you’re cooking. To make the decision easier, I’ve compared the key factors for each option:

Air Fryer Liners to Avoid

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Perforated air fryer liners are often marketed as a way to maintain airflow and improve crispiness, but in my side-by-side tests, they didn’t perform anywhere near as well as the more considered silicone liners with raised grooves. In practice, I saw little difference in how evenly the food crisped, which made the disposable option feel unnecessary.

Any style of flat paper liners was also the most problematic in my testing. Because they’re so lightweight, they can easily shift during cooking if they aren’t anchored by heavier food. On a few occasions, I found them lifting toward the heating element or folding over the food itself, both of which reduce crisping and, in the worst case, pose a fire risk. They also did little to contain the mess. Marinades, crumbs, and oil frequently seeped through to the basket, which meant I still had to wash the air fryer after every use.

To be fair, paper liners do allow excess oil to drain away, which may appeal if you’re trying to reduce oil intake. That said, I’ve found a more reliable approach is to use a fine-mist oil sprayer, such as the Flairosol from Amazon, and cook directly on the air fryer’s crisper plate so any excess oil can collect beneath it. If clean up is the priority, lining the bottom of the basket with a simple paper liner to catch drips works far better than cooking directly on one.

All things considered, I don't believe they are worth the hassle. My top suggestion is to invest in a mixture of grooved silicone and paper baskets, using the hack I have suggested above to create crispy food and easy maintenance on all occasions.

Common Questions About Air Fryer Liners

Are Air Fryer Liners a Fire Hazard?

If used correctly, air fryer liners are safe to use. Parchment paper liners specifically designed for air fryers are made to handle high temperatures. To ensure safe use, always check that the paper liner’s heat resistance matches your air fryer’s maximum temperature – most are safe up to 425°F (218°C).

Since paper liners are lightweight, you need to place enough food on top to prevent the liner from flying up and contacting the heating element. Never use them while your air fryer is preheating, as this can pose a fire hazard.

Can You Use Aluminum Foil In An Air fryer?

For the most part, yes, you can use aluminum foil in an air fryer. Some air fryer manufacturers warn against it, however, so check your brand's manual first. When placed correctly at the bottom of the air fryer basket, foil can collect grease and breadcrumbs to be disposed of later. However, if not used correctly and placed too close to the heating element, it may pose a fire risk.

Where's The Best Place to Buy Air Fryer Liners?

Amazon, Target, and Walmart have some of the largest collections of air fryer liner types to choose from, making them some of our first ports of call. Plus, they have most of the air fryer accessories I wouldn't be without, such as tongs, spray bottles, and more to improve your cooking experience.

Even when using a liner, it is good practice to clean your air fryer regularly to keep it hygienic, cooking at its best, and to avoid fire risks from oil or debris buildup. When doing so, avoid the most common air fryer cleaning mistakes to get the most out of your machine.

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