Paper towel is light enough for the fan to pick up and it ignites at around 450F, which is inside the range an air fryer element reaches. This is the most common cause of air fryer fires.
People use paper towel to catch grease, which is sensible in an oven and dangerous in a convection machine. The fan is the problem. Nothing that light should ever be loose in a running air fryer, and a greasy paper towel against a heating element is a fire that starts in seconds.
| Short answer | Never while it is cooking |
|---|---|
| Why | Light enough to lift, ignites around 450F |
| Worse with | Grease, which makes it burn faster and hotter |
| Acceptable use | Wiping the cold basket out, machine off |
| Correct liner | Perforated parchment or a silicone liner |
What happens when you get it wrong
- It lifts into the element and ignites. Seconds, not minutes, and usually while you are in another room.
- Grease accelerates it. An oily towel burns hotter and faster than a dry one.
- Smoke and smell. Even if it does not catch, scorched paper taints the next few things you cook.
- It blocks airflow. Flat on the basket floor it stops the air moving and your food steams.
Perforated parchment rounds, which are designed for the airflow and weighted down by food.
A silicone liner, reusable and heavy enough to stay put.
To drain grease after cooking, lift the food out onto paper towel on a plate, outside the machine.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put paper towels in an air fryer?
No. Paper towel is light enough for the fan to lift into the heating element and ignites at around 450F. It is one of the most common causes of air fryer fires.
Can you use paper towel to soak up grease?
Not inside the machine. Drain the food on paper towel on a plate after cooking instead.
What if the paper towel is weighted down by food?
Still no. Paper towel is far more flammable than parchment and offers no benefit over a liner designed for the job.
Can you use paper towel to clean an air fryer?
Yes, with the machine off and cool. Wipe the basket and drawer out, then make sure no fragments are left behind before the next cook.
What is the safest air fryer liner?
Perforated parchment rounds or a silicone liner. Both allow the airflow the machine needs and neither is light enough to fly up when food is on top.