You cook chicken in your air fryer. The breading looks perfect. But when you try to remove it, half the coating tears off and sticks to the basket.
Frustrating, right? Food sticking ruins presentation and makes cleanup harder.
Here’s how to keep food from sticking.
Why Food Sticks
Air fryer baskets have nonstick coatings, but they’re not magic. Food can still stick for several reasons:
Dry food with no oil: Without any fat, food bonds directly to the basket surface. A tiny amount of oil creates a barrier between food and basket.
Wet or moist surfaces: If you put wet chicken or unwashed vegetables directly in the basket, moisture creates steam. Steam makes food stick.
Damaged nonstick coating: If you used metal utensils or abrasive scrubbers, you scratched the coating. Damaged nonstick surfaces don’t release food well.
Food touching the basket bottom too long: When food sits in one spot for the entire cook time, it bonds to the surface. Flipping helps prevent this.
Sources:
- How to Prevent Food from Sticking to Your Air Fryer Basket, America’s Test Kitchen, May 18, 2023, https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/3188-how-to-prevent-food-from-sticking-to-your-air-fryer
The Three-Step Prevention Method
Follow these three steps for most foods:
Step 1: Pat Food Dry
Before adding any oil or seasonings, pat your food dry with paper towels.
This is especially important for meat, poultry, fish, and washed vegetables. Excess moisture creates steam, which makes food stick and prevents crisping.
Dry chicken sears and browns. Wet chicken steams and sticks.
Take 30 seconds to pat things dry. It makes a huge difference.
Step 2: Add a Light Coating of Oil
Rub or spray a thin layer of oil on your food. You don’t need much. A light coating is enough to create a barrier between food and basket.
For chicken or meat, rub oil all over the surface before adding seasonings or breading.
For vegetables, toss them in a bowl with 1-2 teaspoons of oil until lightly coated.
Oil promotes browning and prevents sticking. It’s a double win.
Step 3: Spray the Basket
Lightly spray your air fryer basket with oil before adding food. Use a propellant-free oil spray or brush oil on with a pastry brush.
This extra layer of protection helps, especially for foods prone to sticking like breaded chicken, fish, or anything with a coating.
Don’t skip this step for delicate foods like fish fillets or foods with wet coatings.
Sources:
- How to Prevent Food from Sticking to Your Air Fryer Basket, America’s Test Kitchen, May 18, 2023, https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/3188-how-to-prevent-food-from-sticking-to-your-air-fryer
For Extra-Sticky Foods: Use a Foil Sling
Some foods stick no matter what. Fish fillets, delicate foods, and anything with cheese benefit from a foil sling.
Here’s how to make one:
- Cut a piece of aluminum foil about 12 inches long
- Fold it lengthwise until it’s about 4 inches wide
- Place the folded foil in your basket, creating a sling with the ends sticking up
- Place your food on top of the foil
- Cook as directed
- When done, lift the food out using the foil ends as handles
The foil creates a barrier between food and basket. Nothing sticks. Cleanup is easy.
The foil has holes from the basket underneath, so air still circulates. Your food will still crisp up.
Use this method for fish, mini meatloaves, or anything fragile that might break apart when you try to remove it.
Sources:
- How to Prevent Food from Sticking to Your Air Fryer Basket, America’s Test Kitchen, May 18, 2023, https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/3188-how-to-prevent-food-from-sticking-to-your-air-fryer
Parchment Liners
Pre-cut parchment liners with holes work well for preventing sticking. Place one in your basket before adding food.
The liner catches drips and creates a nonstick surface. When cooking is done, lift out the liner with the food on top.
Buy liners sized for your air fryer basket. Make sure they have holes punched throughout for air circulation.
Never add parchment during preheating. Add it right before you add food. The food weight keeps it in place.
Liners help most with sticky or messy foods. You don’t need them for everything. Save them for situations where you know sticking is likely.
Silicone Mats
Reusable silicone mats work like parchment liners but you can wash and reuse them. They have holes for airflow and create a nonstick surface.
Buy mats sized for your basket. Place the mat in the basket, add food, and cook.
After cooking, wash the mat with soap and water. Let it dry completely before storing.
Silicone mats save money if you cook frequently. They also reduce waste compared to disposable parchment.
Sources:
- Prevent Sticky Food in Your Air Fryer Oven: Tips & Solutions, HYSapientia, November 22, 2024, https://hysa.store/blogs/news/prevent-sticky-food-in-your-air-fryer-oven-tips-solutions
Preheat Your Air Fryer
A preheated air fryer helps prevent sticking. When food hits a hot basket, the exterior sears quickly. This creates a crust that releases more easily.
Food added to a cold basket heats up gradually. It has more time to bond with the surface before it starts cooking.
Preheat for 3-5 minutes before adding food, especially for proteins or anything prone to sticking.
Sources:
- Prevent Sticky Food in Your Air Fryer Oven: Tips & Solutions, HYSapientia, November 22, 2024, https://hysa.store/blogs/news/prevent-sticky-food-in-your-air-fryer-oven-tips-solutions
Don’t Overcrowd
Overcrowded food releases moisture. That moisture has nowhere to go, so it surrounds your food and makes it stick.
Give food space. Use the single-layer rule. Cook in batches if needed.
Proper spacing prevents both sticking and soggy results.
Press Breading Firmly
If you’re cooking breaded foods, press the breading onto the food firmly before cooking. Pat it down. Make sure it adheres well.
Loose breading falls off during cooking and sticks to the basket.
After breading, spray the coating lightly with oil. This helps it stick to the food and creates a barrier against the basket.
Sources:
- Why Is My Typhur Air Fryer Smoking? Causes & Fixes, Typhur, June 17, 2025, https://explore.typhur.com/typhur-air-fryer-smoking-fix
Flip Food Halfway Through
Flipping food halfway through cooking prevents it from sitting in one spot too long. Food that moves around is less likely to bond permanently with the basket.
For chicken, burgers, or fish, flip once at the halfway point.
For vegetables or fries, shake the basket to redistribute everything.
This simple step prevents sticking and promotes even cooking.
What Not to Do
Don’t use metal utensils: Metal spatulas or forks scratch the nonstick coating. Once scratched, food sticks more easily. Use silicone or wooden utensils only.
Don’t use abrasive scrubbers: Steel wool or rough scouring pads damage the coating. Stick to soft sponges.
Don’t use aerosol cooking sprays: Products like PAM contain chemicals that build up on the coating and make it sticky over time. Use propellant-free sprays or brush on oil.
Don’t skip oil entirely: Some oil is necessary. “Oil-free” cooking sounds appealing, but food will stick and won’t crisp properly.
Sources:
- You can restore your air fryer’s non stick coating, Tom’s Guide, February 21, 2025, https://www.tomsguide.com/home/air-fryers/you-can-restore-your-air-fryers-non-stick-coating-heres-how
If Food Already Stuck
Sometimes food sticks despite your best efforts. Here’s how to clean it:
- Let the basket cool completely
- Fill the basket with warm, soapy water
- Let it soak for 20-30 minutes
- Use a soft sponge or brush to gently scrub
- For stubborn bits, make a paste of baking soda and water
- Apply the paste to stuck areas
- Let sit 15 minutes
- Scrub gently and rinse
Never scrub hard with abrasive materials. You’ll damage the coating and make sticking worse in the future.
Sources:
- Prevent Sticky Food in Your Air Fryer Oven: Tips & Solutions, HYSapientia, November 22, 2024, https://hysa.store/blogs/news/prevent-sticky-food-in-your-air-fryer-oven-tips-solutions
Quick Prevention Checklist
Before cooking:
- Pat food dry
- Rub or spray food with oil
- Spray basket with oil
- Preheat the air fryer
- Press breading firmly
During cooking:
- Don’t overcrowd
- Flip or shake halfway through
After cooking:
- Clean promptly
- Use soft sponges only
- Never use metal utensils
Follow these steps and food sticking will rarely be a problem.
Next steps: You know how to prevent sticking. Now let’s learn when to shake and when to flip your food for the best results. That’s the next post.