Splash guard
Baking paper inserts for hot air fryers: How useful is their use?
A specially cut baking paper is intended to protect the hot air fryer from fat splashes
© Miragest / Getty Images
Hot air fryers are currently experiencing a hype: As the name suggests, food can be prepared in the kitchen appliance without fat. The air fryer still has to be cleaned after each use. The use of special baking paper is intended to reduce the effort. But is it really useful?
In fact, not all dishes in the air fryer can be prepared without any fat at all: To prevent certain foods from sticking or burning, the removable insert of a hot air fryer can be oiled before each use. And so it happens as it must: both the fat and foods that become liquid when heated (such as cheese) drip through the grid. This process can be avoided by using special molds for hot air fryers. Unlike normal baking paper, these do not have to be cut, torn or folded. Nevertheless, you should consider a few important points before use – we have summarized them below.
Baking paper for Airfryer: The advantages and disadvantages
The advantages
The biggest advantage of baking paper for hot air fryers is clearly the reduced cleaning effort: The round, square or rectangular The molds are non-stick, oil-proof and waterproof, so that liquid fat and food are collected in them and do not drip onto the floor. The raised edge also protects the inner walls of the air fryer from splashes of fat. This makes them extremely easy to use.
The disadvantages
As nice as the idea of a clean hot air fryer after every use is, the use of baking paper also has its pitfalls. The fact is that the air in the air fryer cannot circulate as usual through the watertight molds. This in turn reduces the performance of the kitchen appliance – and the preparation of your food takes longer than usual. In addition, the food may not be evenly crispy on all sides. In addition, baking paper is a disposable product that usually ends up in the trash after one use.
Conclusion
For the preparation of very fatty foods or Courts with cheese, which can easily overflow, the use of baking paper for hot air fryers is sometimes a good idea. When it comes to performance, crispiness and sustainability, the cuts are not a sensible solution.
Good alternative: silicone mold for hot air fryers Unlike normal baking paper, a silicone mold for hot air fryers is reusable © turk_stock_photographer / Getty Images
In contrast to ordinary baking paper, heat-resistant silicone inserts for hot air fryers are more sustainable because they can be easily cleaned and then reused. Here too (depending on the size and shape of the air fryer) round, rectangular and square Moulds. When buying, however, make sure that the inserts are free of PVC and BPA – a so-called plasticizer. According to the manufacturer, a corrugated floor also ensure that the air can circulate better under the food, making the food crispy as usual.
And another tip: The silicone inserts for hot air fryers (like the baking paper cut-outs) not only have different shapes, but also sizes. Therefore, it is recommended that you measure the insert of the air fryer first before deciding on a model.
Caution fire hazard: Important safety notice
If you want to use baking paper for your air fryer, you should definitely read this warning beforehand: Never put the mold in the air fryer without weighing it down with food. Not even when preheating. The paper is very light and the air flow generated inside can get into the heating element of the device and catch fire! Before using, also find out whether the manufacturer of your air fryer recommends against using baking paper.
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