Air fryers are incredibly useful appliances, but even convenient tools sometimes present inconvenient problems. Case and point: Nobody likes scrubbing a greasy air fryer basket with baked-on food bits. Disposable parchment paper liners exist, but those create waste and can even burn at higher temperatures.
Fortunately there’s an easy (and eco-friendly) solution here: silicone liners. These are highly heat-resistant, can trap grease and oil, and are usually dishwasher-safe. From round and flat mats to square-shaped pots with handles, silicone liners come in many handy forms.
Best Overall
Wavelu Extra Strong Air Fryer Silicone Pot Liner
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- Ridges improve air circulation and drains oil
- Easy-grip handles
- Thick and sturdy
- Won’t fit smaller fryers
Air fryers cook through the circulation of air. If you’re worried about a silicone liner blocking that circulation, don’t be. This particular silicone liner allows airflow through the pot, thanks to the raised ridges along the bottom, which allows hot air to travel beneath food. It’s extra thick and durable enough to hold loads of chicken without buckling.
When it’s time to clean the liner, you can turn it inside out to easily scrub with warm water and soap, or you can just toss it in the dishwasher. The large 7.68-inch pot fits in 3- to 5-quart air fryers, whether round or square.
Liner Size: 7.68 inches | Air Fryer Size: 3 to 5 quarts | Heat Resistance: Up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit
Best Large
Outxe 2-Pack Silicone Air Fryer Liner
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- Handles
- Fits round or square fryer baskets
- Works in fryer, oven, microwave, or fridge
- Recommended wash before use
There are liners for even the largest air fryers out there. Outxe’s 9.5-inch silicone liner is designed for 6- to 9-quart air fryers but can still be used in even larger models, as well. This set comes with a pack of two, so you can use one in the air fryer while the other is in the dishwasher.
You can also use these liners in your oven, microwave, or to hold food in the fridge. They’re shaped a little like cupcake wrappers in order to help circulate air. They also have convenient handles for pulling it out of the basket, but we recommend letting things cool down before doing so. Please note that it is recommended that you wash it before using.
Liner Size: 9.5 inches | Air Fryer Size: 6 to 9 quarts | Heat Resistance: Up to 446 degrees Fahrenheit
Best Small
Wang Bao Air Fryer Silicone Pot
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- High heat resistance
- Easy to clean
- Recyclable
- Liner gets hot
For those who need to save on space, or are only making single-serving meals, a small air fryer is the way to go. Luckily there are also smaller air fryer liners to fit the tiny appliances. This one is available in three sizes, the smallest of which fits a 1-quart basket.
The wavy ridges of the pot help circulate air, cook food evenly, and drain grease away from the food. The liner is heat-resistant up to a whopping 470 degrees Fahrenheit (which is higher than many others on this list!) and won’t warp beneath that intense temp.
Liner Size: 6.3 inches | Air Fryer Size: 1 to 2 quarts | Heat Resistance: Up to 470 degrees Fahrenheit
Best Square Mat
Lotteli Kitchen 3-Piece Reusable Silicone Square Air Fryer Liners
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- Many sizes and shapes available
- Easy to store
- Doubles as hot pad
- Holes will let some grease through
Not all silicone liners have walls like a bowl or bucket. In fact, this square-shaped mat from Lotteli Kitchen sits on the bottom of the air fryer basket. It’s perforated with holes, ensuring smooth and even airflow ideal for cooking. While it will let a bit of grease through the holes to the basket below, it still cuts down on the need to clean so frequently.
It can also double as a hot pad on your countertop. In addition to this midsize set of three, the brand also has larger and smaller sets, round sets, rectangular sets, and a few basket-style options.
Liner Size: 8.5 inches | Air Fryer Size: 5 to 6 quarts | Heat Resistance: 450 degrees Fahrenheit
Best Round Mat
Linda’s Essentials 3-Pack Reusable Silicone Round Air Fryer Liners
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- Comes with recipe e-book and timer sheet
- Cooks evenly
- Can cut to size
- Will let some oil through
One benefit of round liners is that they fit both round and square air fryers. This set of circular silicone mats is meant for 5- to 6-quart air fryers. That said, if you find them to be a little too big, you can actually cut them to size with some kitchen shears.
There’s no need to use cooking oil because the silicone liners are nonstick. In addition to the three different colored circles, this bundle also comes with a free e-book of air fryer recipes and a digital cook timer sheet.
Liner Size: 8 inches | Air Fryer Size: 5 to 6 quarts | Heat Resistance: 446 degrees Fahrenheit
Best Pot
J.Y. Memorize 2-Pack Air Fryer Silicone Pot Bowl
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- Higher walls
- Recyclable
- Can used in microwave and oven
- Tricky to remove while hot
Sometimes it’s nice for liners to have high walls in order to keep all the food inside, especially if you’re heating up something goopy like cheesy lasagna or a slice of blueberry pie. In addition to protecting the base of the air fryer basket, pot-style liners protect the walls, too.
This two-pack is meant for smaller air fryers, though they do have a larger set available. The liner set—one red, one blue—are designed to keep oil trapped in the base while still ensuring air flows smoothly. When you’re finished, pop the liners in the dishwasher and walk away.
Liner Size: 6.5 inches | Air Fryer Size: 1 to 3.5 quarts | Heat Resistance: 464 degrees Fahrenheit
Best Heavy-Duty
Simple Lyfe Premium Air Fryer Silicone Pot Liner
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- Extra thick
- Prevents grease buildup
- Use in oven, microwave, and fridge
- Only comes in gray
Cooking up a big family meal or roasting a whole chicken? You’ll need a sturdy and dependable liner for the task. This premium pot-style liner is incredibly thick, but it doesn’t sacrifice airflow. The slightly sloped bottom allows oil to drain off the food and into deep grooves.
Each one has handles for easily lifting the pot out of the air fryer basket. The silicone liner is dishwasher-, oven-, and microwave-safe, but we do wish it came in other colors besides gray.
Liner Size: 8.6 inches | Air Fryer Size: 5.3 quarts or larger | Heat Resistance: 440 degrees Fahrenheit
Final verdict
Thanks to its deep grooves, convenient handles, and thick silicone, the extra strong pot-style silicone liner by Wavelu is our top choice. If you’re interested in a simple mat that cuts down on messes while keeping the hot air flowing, we’d recommend the circular silicone mats by Linda’s Essentials.
What to Look for in a Silicone Air Fryer Liner
Size
The phrase “measure twice, cut once” applies to more than just DIY house projects. Before you purchase any liner, measure your air fryer. How many quarts is the basket? Once you know, check the size of the liner you’re interested in. Most listings will explicitly state what size air fryer the liners fit. Typically, it’s shown in a range, like 5- to 6-quarts, or 1- to 3-quarts. Some flat mat-style liners can even be cut to size if it’s a bit too big. Still, it’s better to get the right size the first time.
Shape
There are three main types of air fryer basket shapes: round, square, and rectangular. For the best fit, we recommend finding a silicone liner that matches up with the shape of your fryer, though round liners can be used in square fryer baskets. If you find a liner, but it’s not the same shape, check the manufacturer’s shop; they often have various sizes and shapes available.
Circulation
These fryers cook using circulated hot air. Though it may seem like silicone liners prevent that circulation, they have several different methods to encourage air flow. Some are perforated with holes, others have raised ridges that elevate food and let the air flow beneath it.
Features
An air fryer liner may seem like a relatively straightforward tool, but there are different models with varying features. Common (and helpful) features may include handles, oil reservoirs, ridges, and waves for improved airflow, or even accompanying silicone mitts.
FAQs
Are silicone air fryer liners safe?
The FDA released a statement in 1979 that silicone is safe to use while cooking. Since then, the material has taken off in popularity as a flexible, durable, long-lasting, and heat-resistant tool. There are silicone baking pans, silicone baking mats, silicone cake pop molds, and of course, silicone air fryer liners.
That said, make sure to pay attention to the guidelines included with your product. If the liner says it’s heat-resistant up to 450 degrees, do not exceed that temperature. Only buy liners that are labeled food-grade for the highest quality.
Another concern people have with silicone air fryer liners is that they might block the air vents. However, these liners are designed to encourage as much airflow as possible, either via holes or deep ridges.
Should you use parchment liners in an air fryer?
Like with ovens, parchment paper is a great way to cut down on messes while cooking, but there are some drawbacks. The hot air can blow the paper around (if it isn’t securely and evenly weighed down), leading to annoying sounds or messy baskets. And at higher temperatures, or when exposed to heat for extended periods of time, it can even burn. Most brands have a heat resistance of around 420 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Can you use cooking spray in an air fryer?
You should not use cooking spray in an air fryer, and here’s why: Cooking sprays, including Pam, often feature soy lecithin in the ingredients list. The emulsifier is less stable than high smoke-point oils and will deteriorate at temperatures used in air frying. This can cause gunk to cake up on your air fryer tray or basket and ultimately ruin the surface (similar to how it would a nonstick pan). Spray oils can also cause discoloration and produce a slightly off flavor in your food.
Why do air fryer liners have holes?
Not all air fryer liners have holes, but many do, especially flat mat-style liners. These holes allow the air to circulate through the basket for even cooking.
