One product has proved to be a game-changer for me (Image: Milky Way via Getty Images)
I’m a big air fryer fan, with my household’s appliance seeing action nearly every day. It’s quick, adaptable, more energy-efficient and considerably easier to juggle multiple tasks with than our compact oven.
The downside? The cleaning. I prepare everything from salmon and sausages to chicken and frozen foods in our air fryer, which means it genuinely requires cleaning after each use. However, like many people, cleaning my air fryer never tops my to-do list, and consequently I’ve been guilty of overlooking it, only to find myself spending even more time giving it a thorough deep clean at the weekend.
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Fortunately, I’ve finally discovered the solution to my dilemma: air fryer liners.
I’ll confess, I might be somewhat behind the curve on this one. Over the years I’ve experimented with countless air fryer cleaning tricks, including soaking the baskets with hot water and a dishwasher tablet, and using a specialist brush to eliminate grease without endless scrubbing.
These methods have all proved effective to varying extents, but it appears prevention truly is superior to cure – particularly when it costs merely 10p per use.
I own a Ninja Foodi Dual Zone air fryer, so I purchased liners to suit. My specific ones are no longer in stock, but BYKITCHEN’s pack of 100 disposable parchment paper air fryer liners are available on Amazon for £9.99 and are remarkably similar.
Additionally, there are numerous alternative options available whatever shape and size your air fryer. It’s not an overstatement to say they’ve been revolutionary, and my culinary experience can be divided into the era before air fryer liners and the era after air fryer liners.
You can find liners for any air fryer online (Image: Talya Honebeek)
Prior to each use, I simply grab a liner and position it in the basket, then ensure all of the food I’m placing into the basket is distributed within the boundaries of the parchment.
I continue with everything else as usual, including giving it a shake midway through and flipping over meat or fish as I consider appropriate.
Once the cooking duration is complete, I can then remove the entire contents of the air fryer by grasping each edge of the liner. I then dispose of the liner directly into the bin, unless it remains in decent condition.
At its worst, this method leaves a few breadcrumbs and a trace of oil from beneath the paper in the cooking basket, which is straightforward enough to sort with a swift rinse and wipe down. But typically, my air fryer is spotless and prepared to use again immediately with no cleaning required.
The only thing to watch out for is that the paper can curl up or be scorched by the heating element unless you weigh all four corners down with food. This hasn’t proved problematic for me, but is worth mentioning before attempting.
There are various types of air fryer liners available, including Bronxic’s 150-pack of circular liners (£6.99, Amazon). You can also choose a silicone liner like Dunelm’s square silicone tray (£4).