An appliance expert has shared the truth about a common mistake many people make when using their air fryers. The much-loved appliance has become a staple in UK households for quick and minimal-fuss cooking while also saving money on energy bills.
Martin Senders, Philips’ in-house air fryer chef, explained that home cooks often use air fryer liners incorrectly. He shared his advice after a TikTok creator recommended air fryer users place liners underneath the tray. Some viewers said that the liners should go above the tray, while others insisted that liners should not be used in air fryers at all.
Martin urged home cooks to never put liners underneath the tray as this can reduce the cooking quality of the machine, and end up making food a lot less crispy than intended.
Martin said: “Liners are handy when you’re cooking sticky or greasy foods – but it’s important to make sure you’re using them correctly. Don’t listen to the latest TikTok trend which is telling people to place the air fryer liner underneath the tray as this will affect cooking quality, reducing the crispiness of your food.
“Liners should sit above the tray so that the air flow isn’t restricted. This allows your air fryer to perform efficiently and still covers the basket for unwanted grease.”
It’s not just about how the liner is placed in the air fryer basket, but also important to make sure the liner is secure enough. Ensuring the air fryer liner is secure is key to avoiding any fire hazards.
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Martin explained: “It’s also important to weigh the liner down with enough food, as loose material can get pulled up into the heating element. Without weighing down materials such as paper or tin foil, they can be sucked into the heating element, start to burn and become a fire hazard.
“Instead, silicone liners designed for air fryers can be useful as they stay in place and allow your Airfryer to work as it’s designed to. It means you get the easy-clean benefits of the liner while the air circulates properly to cook food to that perfectly crisp texture.”
Another benefit to lining air fryers is reducing the amount of washing you’ll need to do after cleaning. Lining the basket will reduce the amount of food getting stuck onto the appliance.
Maintaining your air fryer is important for keeping the appliance in good condition, as stuck-on food could impact the efficiency of the heating element. There are even a number of air fryers which have in-built steam functions, which can help dissolve grease and grime.
He said: “If you have a combination air fryer like the Philips 5000 Series steam Air fryer, you don’t even need a liner for clean-up as it has a built-in steam clean feature, dissolving grease and residue in just 20 minutes for effortless cleaning.”