Air fryer accessories can make certain foods easier to cook, but you do not need a large kit full of racks, pans, liners, skewers, and silicone inserts to use an air fryer effectively.
The most useful accessories solve a specific problem: protecting a coated basket, baking inside the air fryer, checking food temperature, keeping small foods organized, or making cleanup easier without blocking airflow.
Quick Guide: Which Air Fryer Accessories Are Worth It?
| Accessory | How Useful? | Best For | Main Caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food thermometer | Very useful | Chicken, steak, pork, fish | Use a food-safe thermometer properly |
| Silicone-tipped tongs | Very useful | Turning and removing food | Avoid scratching coated baskets |
| Small baking pan | Useful | Cakes, brownies, baked dishes | Must fit without blocking airflow |
| Air fryer rack | Useful for some foods | Extra layers, skewers, bacon | Upper layer may cook faster |
| Perforated parchment liners | Sometimes useful | Sticky or messy foods | Do not use loose paper during empty preheating |
| Silicone liner | Sometimes useful | Cleanup and saucy foods | Can reduce airflow if too deep or poorly designed |
| Skewers | Useful | Kebabs and small food pieces | Must fit completely inside basket |
| Pizza pan | Useful for some models | Small pizzas and flat foods | Check diameter and airflow |
| Large accessory bundle | Often unnecessary | Only if you will use most pieces | Many pieces may never leave the cabinet |
1. Food Thermometer
One of the Most Useful Air Fryer Accessories
A food thermometer is more useful than many air-fryer-specific accessories because it answers an important question that the appliance itself often cannot: whether the center of a protein has reached the desired temperature.
It is particularly useful for:
- Chicken breasts
- Chicken thighs
- Whole chicken
- Steak
- Pork
- Fish
- Large meatballs
Air fryer cooking times vary with food thickness, starting temperature, basket load, and appliance design. A thermometer gives you more useful information than relying only on a timer.
2. Silicone-Tipped Tongs
Tongs make it easier to flip, remove, and reposition hot food without touching the basket or trying to lift pieces with a fork.
Silicone-tipped tongs are especially useful around coated baskets because they are less likely to scratch the surface than bare metal utensils.
3. Small Baking Pan
A small baking pan expands what you can cook beyond foods that sit directly on a crisper plate.
It can be useful for:
- Cakes
- Brownies
- Egg dishes
- Baked pasta
- Small casseroles
- Foods with sauces
The key is fit. The pan needs enough clearance around it for hot air to circulate.
4. Air Fryer Rack
A rack can create a second level inside some baskets, which sounds like an easy way to double cooking capacity.
In practice, the upper and lower levels may not cook at the same rate because the top layer is often closer to the heating element.
Racks work best for foods where you can rotate positions or monitor the two levels independently.
5. Perforated Parchment Liners
Perforated parchment liners can simplify cleanup for sticky, breaded, or messy foods while allowing some airflow through the bottom.
They are most useful when they are properly sized for the basket and held in place by food.
Strong airflow can lift paper toward the heating element.
6. Silicone Air Fryer Liners
Reusable silicone liners can reduce direct food contact with the basket and make cleanup easier.
The trade-off is airflow. A deep solid silicone bowl can reduce the amount of hot air reaching the underside of the food.
That may be acceptable for saucy foods but less desirable when maximum crispness is the goal.
Silicone Liner vs Parchment Liner
Silicone
- Reusable
- Easy to wash
- Good for messy foods
- Heavier and less likely to move
- May reduce bottom airflow
Parchment
- Disposable
- Very thin
- Perforated versions preserve more airflow
- Useful for sticky foods
- Must be secured properly
7. Metal or Bamboo Skewers
Skewers can help organize smaller ingredients such as:
- Chicken pieces
- Shrimp
- Peppers
- Onions
- Mushrooms
- Zucchini
Before buying them, measure the inside width of your basket. Many standard barbecue skewers are too long for compact air fryers.
8. Pizza Pan
A small pizza pan works best in wide square baskets and oven-style air fryers.
It can also be used for reheating flat foods, baking cookies, or preparing small flatbreads.
Round pans may waste space inside square baskets, so match the pan shape to your appliance when possible.
9. Grill Plate
Some air fryer systems include dedicated grill plates designed specifically for the appliance.
A generic grill plate is not automatically compatible with every air fryer. Check dimensions, clearance, heat resistance, and manufacturer guidance.
10. Muffin Cups
Silicone or heat-safe muffin cups can be useful for:
- Muffins
- Egg bites
- Mini cakes
- Individual baked portions
Make sure they are stable enough that circulating air will not tip or move them.
11. Small Oven-Safe Dishes
Many oven-safe dishes can also work inside an air fryer if they fit properly and are suitable for the cooking temperature.
Possible materials include:
- Metal
- Oven-safe glass
- Approved ceramic bakeware
Leave room around the dish for airflow and follow both the cookware and air fryer manufacturer’s instructions.
12. Oil Sprayer
An oil sprayer can help apply a thin, even layer of oil to vegetables, fresh fries, breaded foods, and other ingredients.
You do not need to saturate food in oil for air frying. A small amount is often enough when oil is appropriate.
Check your basket manufacturer’s guidance regarding aerosol cooking sprays, because some coatings have specific care recommendations.
13. Silicone Brush
A silicone basting brush is useful for applying:
- Oil
- Marinades
- Sauces
- Glazes
It gives you better control than pouring sauce directly over food inside the basket.
14. Air Fryer Divider
A divider can physically separate two foods inside one basket.
It does not automatically create independent cooking zones. Both sides may still share the same temperature and fan system.
Only use a divider designed to fit your basket securely.
Do You Need a 20-Piece Air Fryer Accessory Kit?
Large accessory kits often include several variations of:
- Pans
- Racks
- Skewers
- Silicone mats
- Muffin molds
- Tongs
- Brushes
The problem is not that these accessories are useless. The problem is that many people will use only two or three pieces regularly.
Buying accessories individually after you identify a real need is often more practical.
Accessories We Would Buy First
- Food thermometer — especially if you cook meat or poultry.
- Silicone-tipped tongs — useful nearly every cooking session.
- Small baking pan — if you want to bake or cook saucy foods.
- Perforated parchment liners — if cleanup is a regular problem.
- Skewers or muffin cups — only if you will actually cook those foods.
Accessories We Would Not Rush to Buy
- Huge universal accessory bundles
- Multiple racks before testing one
- Very deep silicone liners if crisping is your main goal
- Accessories that nearly fill the basket and block airflow
- Items without clearly stated heat resistance
- Accessories that do not match your basket dimensions
How to Measure Your Air Fryer for Accessories
Do not rely only on the advertised quart capacity.
Measure the usable internal:
- Width
- Length
- Diameter for round baskets
- Depth
- Clearance below the heating element
An accessory should fit comfortably without becoming wedged against the basket walls or sitting dangerously close to the heating element.
Do Accessories Reduce Airflow?
They can.
Air fryers depend on moving hot air around food. Accessories that cover the entire bottom of the basket or rise high along the sides can change airflow.
That does not automatically make them unusable, but it can change cooking time and crisping.
Perforated accessories generally preserve more airflow than completely solid ones.
Can You Use Aluminum Foil?
Follow your specific air fryer’s instructions before using foil.
If permitted, foil should not block essential airflow or sit loose where the fan can move it toward the heating element.
Can You Use Glass Bakeware?
Only use glass specifically rated for the required oven temperature and follow the cookware manufacturer’s instructions.
Avoid abrupt temperature changes that could cause thermal shock.
The dish also needs enough clearance around it for airflow.
Can You Use Regular Oven Accessories?
Sometimes.
If an oven-safe pan, rack, or dish:
- Fits properly
- Handles the required temperature
- Does not block essential airflow
- Does not contact the heating element
it may be usable in some air fryers.
Manufacturer instructions should always take priority.
Basket Air Fryer vs Air Fryer Oven Accessories
Basket Air Fryer
Common useful accessories include:
- Small pans
- Silicone tongs
- Perforated liners
- Skewers
- Muffin cups
- Food thermometer
Air Fryer Oven
Common useful accessories include:
- Oven racks
- Air-fry baskets
- Baking trays
- Crumb trays
- Pizza pans
- Temperature probes
Frequently Asked Questions
What air fryer accessories do I actually need?
Most users can start with the accessories already included with the air fryer. A food thermometer, silicone-tipped tongs, and a properly sized baking pan are among the most broadly useful additions.
Are silicone air fryer liners worth it?
They can simplify cleanup, especially for messy foods. However, solid liners can reduce airflow around the bottom of food and may reduce crisping.
Are parchment air fryer liners safe?
Use only according to the air fryer and liner manufacturer’s instructions. Do not allow loose parchment to move toward the heating element.
Can I put a cake pan in an air fryer?
A heat-safe pan can be used in many air fryers if it fits properly, does not contact the heating element, and leaves adequate room for airflow.
Do air fryer racks double capacity?
They can create an additional layer, but the two levels may cook differently. You may need to rotate food or switch rack positions.
Should I buy a large air fryer accessory kit?
Usually only if you know you will use most of the included pieces. Buying a few accessories for specific cooking needs is often more practical.
Our Bottom Line
You do not need a large collection of accessories to get good results from an air fryer.
Start with the basket, crisper plate, racks, or trays included by the manufacturer.
Then add accessories only when they solve a real problem. A thermometer helps with doneness, tongs make handling easier, a baking pan expands what you can cook, and liners can simplify cleanup.
The best accessory is one that fits your exact appliance, handles the required temperature, preserves safe airflow, and actually gets used.