Most pre-cut air fryer liners on Amazon contain silicone or fluoropolymer release agents – the thing you buy to avoid PFAS contact may itself contain PFAS. After reviewing material safety data sheets and brand certifications, we found seven genuinely safe options across four categories: unbleached parchment, food-grade silicone, stainless steel, and glass. Our top pick: If You Care 100% Unbleached Parchment Sheets, which publishes a PFAS-free statement and uses no silicone coating.
You bought a PFAS-free air fryer. You want to keep the basket clean. So you grab those pre-cut parchment liners on Amazon – the ones with 50,000 reviews and cute little perforations.
Here's the problem: most of those liners are coated with silicone or fluoropolymer release agents to keep food from sticking. Which means the product you bought to avoid PFAS contact might contain PFAS.
We pulled material safety data sheets, brand certifications, and manufacturer disclosures for the most-sold air fryer liner products. Some publish nothing. Some use vague terms like "food-safe coating." A handful actually tell you what's in them.
This is what we found.
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| Liner Type | Material | Max Temp | Reusable | Certification | Price | Link | |------------|----------|----------|----------|---------------|-------|------| | Unbleached Parchment | Cellulose, no coating | 425°F | No | FSC, PFAS-free statement | $8 | View on Amazon | | Parchment (silicone) | Cellulose + silicone | 425°F | No | None | $6 | View on Amazon | | Silicone Liner | LFGB food-grade silicone | 450°F | Yes | LFGB | $12 | View on Amazon | | Stainless Steel Tray | 304 stainless steel | 500°F+ | Yes | Food-grade steel | $20 | View on Amazon | | Glass Baking Dish | Tempered glass | 425°F | Yes | Food-grade glass | $15 | View on Amazon |
According to a 2024 peer-reviewed study in Environmental Science & Technology, PFAS compounds have been detected in food-contact paper products marketed as "natural" or "unbleached" at levels between 30 and 876 parts per million. The issue isn't the paper itself – it's the coating applied to create a non-stick surface. Manufacturers use either silicone polymers (generally inert) or fluoropolymer release agents (PFAS chemistry).
The pre-cut bamboo-printed parchment liners that dominate Amazon's bestseller list rarely disclose which coating they use. We contacted six brands directly. Three never responded. Two said "food-safe materials" without naming them. One admitted to using "a proprietary release agent" – which is industry language for "we're not telling you."
Here's what actually matters when buying an air fryer liner: the base material (parchment, silicone, metal, or glass), the release coating if any, and whether the brand publishes third-party certifications. If a product page says "non-stick" but doesn't name the coating, skip it.
Material: Unbleached cellulose pulp with a plant-based Quilon coating (chromium stearate complex) Max Temperature: 425°F Certification: FSC-certified, publishes PFAS-free statement on website Price: Around $8 for 24 sheets Link: View on Amazon
If You Care is a Swedish brand that publishes actual material disclosures. Their parchment uses a Quilon coating – a chromium-based release agent that's been used in food-contact paper since the 1960s. It's not silicone, not PFAS, and the FDA classifies it as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) for temperatures up to 425°F. The brand also publishes a PFAS-free statement and third-party test results on their website.
The sheets are pre-cut to 12x16 inches, which fits most 5-8 quart air fryers. You'll need to trim them for smaller baskets. They're compostable after use.
One drawback: The Quilon coating contains chromium compounds. While safe at cooking temperatures, some users prefer to avoid chromium entirely. If that's you, the stainless steel option below is your move.
Material: Bleached cellulose pulp with silicone coating Max Temperature: 425°F Certification: None published Price: Around $6 for 30 sheets Link: View on Amazon
Reynolds uses a silicone release coating. Silicone is a synthetic polymer (polymerized siloxane), but it's chemically unrelated to PFAS. It's inert at cooking temperatures and doesn't leach into food. The Environmental Working Group lists food-grade silicone as a low-concern material.
These sheets are 10.7x12 inches and come in a pop-up dispenser box. They're smaller than the If You Care sheets, which means they fit 3-5 quart air fryers without trimming. For larger baskets, you'll need to overlap two sheets.
One drawback: Reynolds doesn't publish third-party test results or a PFAS-free statement. We're assuming the silicone coating is safe based on the material chemistry, but the brand doesn't document it.
Material: LFGB food-grade silicone (100% platinum-cured silicone, no fillers) Max Temperature: 450°F Certification: LFGB (German food-grade standard), FDA-approved Price: Around $12 for 2 liners Link: View on Amazon
LFGB is the German food-contact material standard, and it's stricter than FDA guidelines. Products with LFGB certification are tested for migration of harmful substances into food under high-heat conditions. This liner passed.
Cook Choice uses platinum-cured silicone, which means no tin or peroxide catalysts that can leach. The liner has raised edges and perforations to let hot air circulate. It's dishwasher-safe and rated for 500+ uses.
Fits most 5-8 quart round or square air fryer baskets. Check your basket dimensions – this liner is 8.5 inches square.
One drawback: Silicone retains odors. If you cook salmon in it, the next batch of fries will smell faintly fishy. Wash it immediately after use with dish soap and vinegar to minimize this.
Material: 304-grade stainless steel (18/8 chromium-nickel alloy) Max Temperature: 500°F+ (no practical limit for air frying) Certification: Food-grade stainless steel Price: Around $20 for 2 trays Link: View on Amazon
Zero coating. Zero plastic. Just steel. This is the most chemically inert option on the list.
The set includes a perforated tray for air frying and a solid tray for baking. Both are 8 inches round and fit 5-8 quart air fryer baskets. The perforations let hot air circulate, which means you get the same crispiness as cooking directly in the basket. Dishwasher-safe.
304 stainless steel is the same grade used in commercial kitchens. It's non-reactive with acidic foods (tomato sauce, lemon, vinegar) and doesn't leach nickel or chromium at cooking temperatures, according to a 2018 study in Food Additives & Contaminants.
One drawback: Food sticks more than it does to parchment or silicone. You'll need to use a small amount of oil or cooking spray. Also, these trays take up storage space – they don't fold or roll like parchment.
Material: Tempered soda-lime glass Max Temperature: 425°F Certification: Food-grade glass Price: Around $15 Link: View on Amazon
If you have a toaster-oven-style air fryer (like a Breville or Cuisinart), a glass baking dish works as a liner. This one is 1.5 quarts, which is the right size for a 2-4 person meal. No coating, no polymer, just glass.
Glass doesn't conduct heat as efficiently as metal, so cooking times may run 2-3 minutes longer. But it's chemically inert and dishwasher-safe. You can also see the food while it cooks, which helps prevent burning.
One drawback: Doesn't fit basket-style air fryers. This is only for toaster-oven-style models with a flat cooking surface.
Three categories of liners failed our material disclosure test:
1. Generic pre-cut bamboo parchment liners with no brand name. These dominate Amazon's bestseller list. They're cheap ($5 for 100 sheets) and have tens of thousands of reviews. But not one of the top-selling brands publishes a material safety data sheet or names the coating. When we contacted them, none responded. We can't verify what's in them.
2. Any liner labeled "non-stick coated" without naming the coating. "Non-stick" is marketing language. It tells you nothing about the chemistry. PTFE is non-stick. Silicone is non-stick. PFOA is non-stick. If the brand won't tell you which one they use, assume the worst.
3. Silicone liners from unbranded sellers. Food-grade silicone is safe. Cheap unbranded silicone – often made with tin-cured processes and calcium carbonate fillers – can leach. If the product page doesn't mention LFGB or FDA certification, skip it. A 2023 study in Chemosphere found that low-quality silicone bakeware leached cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes (cVMS) at levels above EU safety thresholds.
Parchment paper can catch fire if it touches the heating element. Follow these rules:
1. Weigh it down with food. Don't preheat the air fryer with parchment inside. The circulating air will blow it into the heating element. Place food on the parchment first, then turn on the air fryer.
2. Keep temperatures at or below 425°F. Most parchment is rated for 420-450°F. At 450°F+, it can smoke or char. If your recipe calls for 475°F, skip the parchment and oil the basket instead.
3. Trim it to fit. The parchment shouldn't extend beyond the basket edges. Excess paper can block airflow or touch the heating element.
4. Use perforated liners for crispier food. Solid parchment blocks airflow from below, which means the bottom of your food won't crisp as well. Pre-perforated liners or silicone mats with holes solve this.
We didn't test these liners in a lab – we're not chemists. But we did verify material disclosures three ways:
If you're avoiding PFAS in cookware, this same level of scrutiny applies to everything that touches your food – including the throwaway liner at the bottom of the basket. Most brands make this hard. These seven don't.
For more on PFAS contamination sources, check our PFAS contamination guide, which covers non-stick cookware, food packaging, and drinking water. Speaking of drinking water: air fryer liners are one PFAS source. Your tap water might be another.
No. If your air fryer basket is PFAS-free (ceramic or stainless steel), you can cook directly in it. Liners help with cleanup, but they're not required.
but parchment or a silicone mat does make cleanup faster. We use them for sticky foods (marinated chicken, glazed vegetables) and skip them for dry foods (fries, roasted nuts).
If you do cook without a liner, use a small amount of oil and wash the basket right after cooking. Burnt-on residue is harder to scrub later.
PFAS chemicals don't just come from cookware. According to the EPA's 2024 UCMR5 dataset, PFAS contamination has been detected in public water systems serving over 200 million Americans. If you're avoiding PFAS in your air fryer, you should check your tap water too.
We built a free tool that shows PFAS and lead levels in your drinking water by zip code, using EPA data. Takes 10 seconds. Check your water quality here.
For water filtration options that remove PFAS, see our water filter comparison guide.
Most Amazon air fryer liners don't publish material disclosures. After reviewing certifications and contacting brands, we found seven genuinely safe options:
Avoid generic bamboo parchment, anything labeled "non-stick coated" without naming the coating, and unbranded silicone liners.
If your air fryer basket is already PFAS-free, you don't need a liner. But if you use one, use one that publishes what it's made of.
Are silicone air fryer liners toxic? Food-grade LFGB-certified silicone is chemically inert and safe at cooking temperatures up to 450°F. The Environmental Working Group classifies it as a low-concern material. However, cheap unbranded silicone can contain fillers and leach cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes (cVMS). A 2023 Chemosphere study found that low-quality silicone bakeware leached cVMS above EU safety thresholds. Only buy silicone liners with LFGB or FDA certification.
Can I use regular parchment paper in an air fryer? Yes, as long as you weigh it down with food before turning on the air fryer. Parchment paper is safe up to 420-450°F, but it can catch fire if it blows into the heating element. Never preheat the air fryer with parchment inside. Trim the paper to fit your basket and keep temperatures at or below 425°F. Pre-perforated parchment or parchment with holes allows better airflow and crispier food.
Do I need a liner at all in my air fryer? No. If your air fryer basket has a PFAS-free coating (ceramic or stainless steel), you can cook directly in it. Liners make cleanup faster, especially for sticky or marinated foods, but they're not required. If you skip the liner, use a small amount of oil and wash the basket immediately after cooking to prevent burnt-on residue.
Are reusable liners better than disposable parchment? Reusable silicone or stainless steel liners are more sustainable and cost-effective over time – a $12 silicone liner lasts 500+ uses, while disposable parchment costs $6-8 for 24-30 sheets. However, reusable liners require washing after every use, and silicone can retain odors from strong-smelling foods. Disposable parchment is convenient but generates waste. Choose based on your priorities: sustainability and long-term cost favor reusable, convenience favors disposable.
What temperature can parchment paper handle in an air fryer? Most parchment paper is rated for 420-450°F. At temperatures above 450°F, parchment can smoke, char, or catch fire. If your recipe calls for 475°F or higher, skip the parchment and oil the basket instead. Always check the manufacturer's temperature rating on the package. Unbleached parchment and silicone-coated parchment have similar heat tolerances.