Essential Air Fryer Accessories

A stainless steel rack is the highest-impact accessory for most air fryer cooks. It elevates food off the basket floor so hot air circulates underneath — giving you crispy bottoms on chicken, bacon, and breaded items instead of a pale, slightly soggy underside. The same rack used as a divider or second tier allows you to cook two items simultaneously in a 5+ qt basket. Racks are cheap (typically $10–15), fit most common basket sizes, and are dishwasher safe. Get one before anything else. If your model comes with one, make sure you know how to use it — many new owners leave the rack in the box.

Perforated parchment rounds (or squares for square baskets) sit in the basket, keep food from sticking, and make cleanup near-instant — no scrubbing greasy baskets. The holes maintain airflow so results are nearly as crispy as cooking directly on the basket. Buy the size that fits your basket (measure the basket interior diameter, not the outer dimensions). Pre-cut rounds in packs of 50–100 are inexpensive. The key rule: always place food on the parchment before starting the air fryer — do not preheat with bare parchment, as the fan can lift it into the heating element.

An instant-read thermometer is not technically an air fryer accessory but it is the most important tool for using an air fryer safely and getting consistent results. Cooking times in recipes are estimates — the same recipe can vary by 3–6 minutes depending on the starting temperature of the food, the actual calibration of your model, and the exact size of the cut. Checking internal temperature tells you definitively whether food is safe and done to your preference. A basic instant-read thermometer (Kizen, ThermoPro) costs $12–20 and lasts years. Use it every time you cook proteins until you have your model's behavior memorized.

Silicone molds for eggs and muffins: useful occasionally but a ramekin does the same job. Oil sprayer: useful if you cook frequently, but any spray bottle works. Skewer kits: fun for kebabs but most people use them twice. Grill grates: the standard basket already provides a grating effect. Toothpick holders and egg separators marketed as 'air fryer accessories' are filler. Pizza pans and cake pans: only if you regularly bake in your air fryer. Branded basket inserts from the air fryer manufacturer are often the same metal as generic third-party ones at twice the price — compare dimensions and buy generic.

What accessories come standard with an air fryer?

Most air fryers include: a basket (main cooking container), a removable drawer or drip pan underneath, and sometimes a rack for elevating food above the basket floor. Higher-end models add a skewer kit, silicone inserts, a grilling grate, or a baking barrel. Included accessories vary widely by brand — Cosori, Ninja, and Philips each have distinct ecosystems, and most accessories from one brand do not fit another brand's basket.

Do you need special pans for an air fryer?

No special pans are required — standard oven-safe metal, silicone, and ceramic dishes that fit inside the basket all work fine. What matters is size (must fit with airflow clearance on the sides) and material (oven-safe up to 400°F+). Purpose-made air fryer accessories are convenient but not required. For most uses, the included basket and a sheet of parchment liner is sufficient.

What are the three most useful accessories to buy for an air fryer?

The three most useful add-ons are: (1) perforated parchment liners for easy cleanup and non-stick cooking, (2) a multi-tier wire rack that doubles your cooking capacity by adding a second level in the basket, and (3) a silicone baking pot or small springform pan for cakes and egg dishes. Beyond these, most extras are niche. A good instant-read thermometer is also worth having alongside the fryer itself — it is not an accessory sold for air fryers but is the most impactful kitchen tool for getting consistently good results.