When you roll out a sheet of baking paper or air-fryer liner, you are likely thinking about an easy clean-up, not toxic chemicals. For decades, we’ve trusted food-grade paper to be a safe barrier between our meals and high heat. However, recent environmental and health studies have revealed a worrying truth: PFAS and microplastics.

Air fryers are more popular than ever. They’re great for cutting down on oil while delivering that crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. But we’ve all been there: After serving up your meal, only to find half of it stuck to the bottom of the basket.