Should Air Fryer Liners Have Holes? Expert Advice & Tips

Introduction

Air fryers have completely transformed the way people cook at home. They deliver crispy, golden results with a fraction of the oil needed for traditional frying, and they do it in a fraction of the time. But as convenient as they are, air fryers come with one minor annoyance: cleanup. Cheese drips, breading flakes, and greasy residue can stick to the basket and make washing it a chore.

That’s where air fryer liners come in. These disposable or reusable sheets sit inside the basket and catch all the mess, keeping your appliance cleaner and your cooking easier. If you’ve ever shopped for them, you’ve probably noticed something: some liners are solid, and some have holes. That raises a real question that many home cooks ask: should air fryer liners have holes?

The answer isn’t a simple yes or no. It depends on what you’re cooking, what type of liner you’re using, and what your priorities are. In this in-depth guide, we’ll explore the pros and cons of holed liners, compare them to solid versions, and give you expert advice on which option works best for different situations. By the end, you’ll know exactly which liner is right for your kitchen.

Table of Contents

• What Are Air Fryer Liners?
• Why Holes Matter in Air Fryer Liners
• Should Air Fryer Liners Have Holes? The Short Answer
• Benefits of Liners With Holes
• Drawbacks of Liners With Holes
• Benefits of Solid Liners
• Drawbacks of Solid Liners
• Types of Air Fryer Liners Explained
• Holed vs. Solid Liner Comparison Table
• How to Use Holed Liners: Step-by-Step
• DIY Air Fryer Liners: Parchment vs. Perforated
• Safety Tips for Using Any Air Fryer Liner
• Best Practices From Professional Chefs
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Conclusion

What Are Air Fryer Liners?

Air fryer liners are heat-resistant sheets or baskets designed to sit inside the cooking chamber of an air fryer. Their primary purpose is to act as a barrier between your food and the basket, catching drips, crumbs, and grease that would otherwise bake onto the surface.

Most liners are made from one of three materials:

• Parchment paper – Disposable, affordable, and widely available. Pre-cut parchment liners are extremely common.
• Silicone – Reusable, flexible, and dishwasher-safe. Silicone mats often have a raised pattern or small holes.
• Aluminum foil – Cheap and effective, but requires careful handling because it conducts heat rapidly.

Liners come in two main physical designs: solid sheets with no openings, and perforated sheets with a pattern of small holes punched throughout. Some silicone mats include both a solid base and a mesh-like top for improved airflow.

Choosing between these designs is more than a matter of preference. The structure of a liner directly affects how air circulates, how food crisps, and how safe the liner is during cooking.

Why Holes Matter in Air Fryer Liners

Air fryers cook by circulating hot air rapidly around the food. A powerful fan and heating element work together to mimic the effect of deep-frying, creating a Maillard reaction on the surface of the food. This produces the signature crispiness that makes air fryers so popular.

For this process to work properly, air must be able to reach the bottom of the food. If a liner is completely solid, it can block airflow and trap steam underneath the food. The result is often a softer, sometimes soggy texture — the exact opposite of what an air fryer is supposed to deliver.

Holes in a liner allow hot air to pass through and reach all surfaces of the food. This keeps the bottom crispy, ensures even cooking, and prevents moisture from pooling. The size, pattern, and number of holes all play a role in how effective the liner is.

So when you ask, “should air fryer liners have holes?” you’re really asking whether unrestricted airflow is more important than maximum mess containment. And as we’ll see, the answer depends on what you’re cooking.

Should Air Fryer Liners Have Holes? The Short Answer

Yes, in most cases, air fryer liners should have holes. Airflow is the defining feature of an air fryer, and a solid liner works against that principle. Holes preserve the convection cooking that makes air fryers effective, while still providing a barrier that catches grease and crumbs.

However, there are exceptions. Some recipes — particularly those involving wet batters, delicate foods, or small items that might fall through perforations — can benefit from solid liners. Reusable silicone mats are also often solid or only lightly textured, since they’re designed to be flipped or used for baking-style recipes.

Think of holed liners as the default choice, and solid liners as a specialized tool for specific situations. Keep reading to understand when each one makes sense.

Benefits of Liners With Holes

Holed air fryer liners — sometimes called perforated liners — are the most popular choice among home cooks and culinary professionals. Here’s why:

Better Air Circulation

The number one reason to choose holed liners is airflow. Tiny holes allow hot air to move up through the liner and around the food, which is essential for even browning and crisping. Without these openings, the bottom of your food can become soft or unevenly cooked.

Crispier Results

Because air can move freely, the bottoms of fries, chicken tenders, and roasted vegetables come out noticeably crispier. This is the texture most air fryer users want, and it’s something solid liners struggle to deliver.

Reduced Steam Buildup

Moisture that can’t escape becomes steam, and steam is the enemy of crispiness. Holes let water vapor escape from underneath the food, keeping the cooking environment dry and hot.

Less Smoke

When grease drips onto the bottom of an air fryer basket, it can burn and produce smoke. Holed liners let some of that grease drain through to the drip tray below, rather than pooling on the liner itself.

More Even Cooking

Air flowing from multiple directions means there are fewer cold spots. This is especially important when cooking larger batches that need consistent results across the entire basket.

Drawbacks of Liners With Holes

Despite their advantages, holed liners aren’t perfect. Here are some situations where they can fall short:

Small Foods Can Fall Through

Tiny ingredients like diced vegetables, chopped nuts, or small shrimp can slip through the perforations and end up in the drip tray. This is wasteful and makes cleanup a bit messier.

Wet Batters Don’t Hold

If you’re air frying something with a liquid batter — like onion rings or beer-battered fish — a holed liner won’t contain it. The batter will run through the holes and create a mess.

Less Grease Containment

Holes allow some grease to pass through, which is great for reducing smoke, but it also means more grease ends up in the drip tray. If you’re trying to minimize how much fat your food absorbs, this may not be ideal.

Can Be Flimsy

Thin parchment liners with holes can tear easily, especially if the food is heavy or you’re flipping it during cooking. Lower-quality liners are particularly prone to this problem.

Benefits of Solid Liners

Solid liners also have their place in the kitchen. Here are the main advantages of choosing a liner without holes:

Maximum Containment

Solid liners catch every drop, crumb, and piece of food. Nothing falls through, which makes them ideal for messy recipes with sauces, cheese, or wet batters.

Better for Small or Delicate Foods

Tiny ingredients stay put on a solid liner. This is helpful when cooking small fish, chopped vegetables, or anything that might otherwise slip through perforations.

Great for Baking-Style Recipes

If you’re using your air fryer to bake small cakes, quiches, or custards, a solid liner is essentially a baking sheet. It holds liquid batter and prevents leaks.

Reusable Silicone Options

Many reusable silicone mats are solid. They’re easy to wash, durable, and environmentally friendly. For cooks who want to reduce waste, solid silicone mats are a popular choice.

Drawbacks of Solid Liners

Solid liners have some notable downsides, especially when used incorrectly:

Reduced Airflow

The biggest issue is that solid liners restrict airflow. The bottom of your food may not crisp properly, and cooking times might be longer than expected.

Risk of Overheating

If a solid liner covers the entire bottom of the basket and touches the heating element, it can scorch or even catch fire. This is a real safety hazard and one of the most common causes of air fryer accidents.

Soggier Results

Trapped steam beneath a solid liner can leave food with a soft, damp underside. For items like fries or chicken wings, this defeats the purpose of using an air fryer.

Cheese and Sauces Can Pool

Liquid ingredients can collect on a solid liner instead of draining. This can lead to a greasy puddle that may burn and smoke.

Types of Air Fryer Liners Explained

Not all liners are created equal. Here’s a closer look at the most common types and how they perform.

Perforated Parchment Liners

These are the most widely sold air fryer liners. They’re made from food-grade parchment paper with dozens of small holes. They come in pre-cut round or square shapes designed to fit specific basket sizes. They’re disposable, affordable, and offer excellent airflow.

Solid Parchment Liners

Less common but still available, these have no holes. They’re best used for baking applications or recipes where liquid containment is essential.

Silicone Mats

Reusable silicone mats are typically solid or have a textured surface. Some have small bumps or ridges that elevate food slightly, allowing air to circulate underneath. They’re durable, dishwasher-safe, and eco-friendly.

Silicone Baskets

A newer option, these are silicone inserts shaped like a basket with a mesh-like bottom. They combine the reusability of silicone with the airflow of holed parchment liners.

Aluminum Foil

You can punch holes in aluminum foil to create a DIY perforated liner. It conducts heat well, but you need to be careful about weight distribution and ensure it doesn’t touch the heating element.

Holed vs. Solid Liner Comparison Table

Here’s a side-by-side comparison to help you decide which type of liner is right for your cooking style.

How to Use Holed Liners: Step-by-Step

Using a holed liner is simple, but following a few best practices will give you the best results.

Step 1: Choose the Right Size

Select a liner that matches the diameter or shape of your air fryer basket. Most manufacturers sell liners in standard sizes for popular models, or you can buy universal packs with multiple sizes.

Step 2: Preheat the Air Fryer

Always preheat your air fryer before placing the liner inside. Putting parchment paper into a cold air fryer and then turning it on can cause the paper to fly up into the heating element.

Step 3: Place the Liner After Preheating

Once the air fryer is hot, open it and quickly place the liner in the basket. The heat helps weigh the paper down immediately. Some cooks also place a small amount of food on the liner right away to hold it in place.

Step 4: Add Food With Sufficient Weight

Parchment liners should never be used empty. Always place food on the liner before turning the air fryer on. The weight of the food keeps the liner from being sucked up by the fan.

Step 5: Avoid Overcrowding

Spread food out in a single layer with space between pieces. Air needs to circulate, and overcrowding will result in uneven cooking, even with a holed liner.

Step 6: Check the Liner During Cooking

For longer cook times, occasionally check that the liner is still in place and hasn’t shifted. If it has, simply reposition it using tongs.

Step 7: Remove and Discard

Once cooking is complete, lift the liner out using tongs or a spatula and discard it. The basket should be mostly clean, with only a quick wipe-down required.

DIY Air Fryer Liners: Parchment vs. Perforated

If you don’t have pre-cut liners on hand, you can make your own. Here’s how to do it safely.

Making a Perforated Parchment Liner

1. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the bottom of your air fryer basket.
2. Use a hole punch to make 10–20 small holes across the surface.
3. Place the parchment in the basket after the air fryer has preheated.
4. Add food immediately to weigh the parchment down.

Making a Solid Parchment Liner

1. Cut parchment paper to fit the basket, leaving a slight gap around the edges for airflow.
2. Do not cover the entire bottom — leave space for air to escape.
3. Use only for baking-style recipes where containment is more important than airflow.

Making a DIY Foil Liner

1. Tear off a sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil.
2. Fold the edges up to create a shallow tray that fits inside the basket.
3. Punch several holes in the bottom for airflow.
4. Make sure no part of the foil is touching the heating element above.

Important safety note: Never use wax paper, plastic wrap, or any non-heat-resistant material in an air fryer. The temperatures inside can exceed 400°F (200°C), which will melt or ignite these materials.

Safety Tips