Can You Put Wax Paper In An Air Fryer? Is It Safe?
Enjoying low-calorie, guilt-free, air-fried food is delightful, but cleaning the post-cooking mess isn’t.
Cooking papers, like wax paper, can minimize cleanup. However, putting wax paper in an air fryer is debatable.
Here is what you must know about putting wax paper in an air fryer.
No, You cannot put wax paper in an air fryer as it melts due to heat. Your air fryer may start smoking or experience a real fire hazard. It is only suitable to be used at room temperature or below.
Why Can’t You Put Wax Paper In An Air Fryer?
Below, we discuss all the reasons that make wax paper unsuitable for use in an air fryer.
Wax Paper is Heat-Sensitive
Wax paper is highly heat-sensitive due to its wax coating that can ignite quickly.
Not only does wax paper curl up when exposed to heat, but it also turns black, damaging your expensive kitchen appliance.
If not handled properly, a minor mishap with wax paper may cause your air fryer’s heating element to stop working.
You can only use wax paper at room temperature or cold storage to protect food from external stressors.
Wax Can Get Mixed Into the Food
When wax paper is exposed to heat, its wax coating starts melting immediately. This melted wax can seep into the wrapped food.
While the coated wax is technically edible, it can still adversely affect the taste and texture of food.
Cause A Cleaning Emergency
Since wax paper is heat-sensitive, it melts and drips through your air fryer drawer. The mess that melted wax creates is often much more extensive than food residues and grease.
Uses Of Wax Paper In The Kitchen
A wax paper is made with soft paper and is coated with wax. It offers a range of cooking and food storage advantages.
- The primary use of wax paper is wrapping food. Whether wrapping chicken wings for freezing or spreading hot chocolate, the wax paper goes everywhere.
- Due to the layering of wax, it retains moisture to keep your food fresh all day long.
- It also protects the food from moisture or sticking to other stored items.
- It prevents grease from leaking and staining the surface where the food is placed.
Apart from the uses mentioned above, wax paper can be used in many other ways in a kitchen, but cooking is not one of them.
Best Alternative To Wax Paper For Air Fryer
Parchment paper is an excellent alternative to wax paper.
Though it's easy to confuse wax paper with parchment paper, they differ significantly.
As mentioned earlier, wax paper has a low melting point. It cannot survive high temperatures due to its wax coating.
On the other hand, parchment paper is coated with silicone, giving it a heat-proof non-stick surface. Thus, it neither melts nor is sensitive to heat.
This quality makes parchment paper an appropriate lining for ovens, air fryers, or in-paper cooking. You can also use it to wrap food during cooking as well as in refrigerators.
Verdict: Parchment paper is clearly a superior option to wax paper for use in an air fryer. Other than parchment paper, you can put aluminum foil in an air fryer.
FAQs
Will wax paper catch on fire in an air fryer?
Yes, wax paper can causes a fire in an air fryer. Even if the slight edge of wax paper heats up, it starts to melt and can cause fire inside the air fryer.
What is the best substitute wax paper for an air fryer?
Parchment paper is undoubtedly the best substitute for wax paper. Parchment paper has a silicone coating that offers a non-stick surface while cooling food. Also, parchment paper is heat safe and never melts or catches fire. So it never hurts your air fryer or affects the taste and quality of cooked food. Another safe option is to put silicon mat in air fryer's basket.
Which paper can be used in an air fryer?
Parchment paper is the most effective and safe lining for use in an air fryer. It can withstand a maximum temperature of 450°C and which is the most you need for cooking food.
Final Words
We hope this article helps you gather enough reasons why you cannot put wax paper in an air fryer. An air fryer is your everyday cooking partner, so be sure what is allowed inside it before making the final call. For alternatives to wax paper, try using parchment paper or aluminum foil while cooking your favorite recipes in an air fryer. These cooking papers are safe to use and can make cleaning the air fryer effortless.