An air fryer does plenty out of the box, but a few well-chosen accessories turn even an affordable budget air fryer into a far more capable machine, and a few others are just clutter you will regret. The best air fryer accessories solve real problems: faster cleanup, more cooking surface, better browning, and protection for the non-stick coating you paid for. For most people a grooved silicone liner is the single best starting point, since it catches the mess and washes in seconds. Before anything else, though, the one rule that saves money is fit: an accessory that does not match your basket’s size and shape is wasted, so it helps to know your air fryer well, the same way you would when choosing the right air fryer in the first place.
Quick Verdict
A grooved silicone liner is the easiest win for most owners, catching grease while keeping airflow. Choose the rest by how you cook and what fits your basket. A crisper basket or grill plate adds real cooking surface for oven-style fryers, an oil sprayer improves browning, and a multi-layer rack doubles your capacity. Measure your basket before you buy anything shaped like a tray or pan.
Why Trust This Guide
Selections draw on product research and manufacturer specs. First-person notes appear only where the gear was genuinely used. Picks two and three are the crisper basket and grill plate I cook with, so those notes come from my own kitchen.
Key Takeaways
- Fit comes first: measure your basket’s interior and match round to round, square to square, before buying any tray, pan, or rack.
- The most useful accessories solve a real problem: cleanup, capacity, browning, or coating protection.
- Look for food-grade silicone and food-safe stainless rated for high heat, and skip cheap unbranded silicone.
- Do not overcrowd. Too many accessories block airflow and kill the crispness that makes an air fryer worth using.
- Avoid aerosol cooking sprays, which degrade the non-stick coating; a refillable oil sprayer is the safer choice.
Disclosure: SmartLifeItems is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
How We Picked the Best Air Fryer Accessories
An accessory earns a spot only if it makes cooking easier, expands what the machine can do, or protects it, without choking the airflow that crisps your food. The goal is a short list of genuinely useful add-ons rather than a drawer of gimmicks. Every pick had to solve a real cooking or cleanup problem, be made from heat-safe, food-grade materials, fit common air fryer styles, and come from a category that is current and widely sold.
Two of the picks are accessories I use myself, so they carry first-hand notes. The rest are chosen on usefulness, materials, and how well they hold up to regular cooking.
1. Reusable Silicone Liners: Best for Easy Cleanup
If you hate scrubbing a greasy basket, this is the accessory that changes your week. A reusable silicone liner sits inside the basket, catches the drips and crumbs, then lifts out and goes in the dishwasher.
Why It Stands Out
The right liner protects your non-stick coating and turns cleanup into a thirty-second job, which is reason enough for most owners. Look for a grooved or raised-ridge design rather than a flat one, because the ridges lift food and let hot air circulate underneath, keeping your fries crisp instead of steamed. Good ones are food-grade, dishwasher-safe, and rated for high heat.
Worth Knowing
Any liner is a partial barrier, so a flat one can cost you a little crispness on the bottom; the grooved versions minimize that. For very sticky, sugary glazes, disposable parchment actually releases cleaner than silicone.
Buy it if cleanup is your biggest air fryer frustration. Skip a flat one if maximum bottom crunch matters more to you than easy washing.
2. The Stainless Crisper Basket I Use: What I Use
Pick two is the stainless mesh crisper basket I cook with. It is a simple rectangular wire-mesh basket with side handles, and it lets me spread food out on an open surface with air moving through it from every side, which is exactly what an air fryer is supposed to do.
Why It Stands Out
For me the appeal is how well it has held up and how little it asks of me. It is high quality where it counts: the mesh has stayed true through long, regular use with no warping or breakdown, and it wipes or rinses clean in moments, which is genuinely the easiest part of my routine. The open mesh maximizes airflow so things crisp evenly, and the handles make lifting a hot load in and out simple. It has lasted a long time without a single issue, which is more than I can say for some pricier gear. If your air fryer is a basket model, a tray like this is also how you make it behave more like an oven-style air fryer.
Worth Knowing
A flat mesh basket suits oven-style and larger rectangular air fryers; it will not fit a small round basket, so measure first. Mine carries no legible brand, so I have not named it; the button points to the same stainless mesh crisper basket style.
Reach for a stainless crisper basket if you want maximum airflow and an oven-style cooking surface. Pass if your air fryer is a small round basket it will not fit.
3. The Non-Stick Grill Plate I Use: What I Use
Pick three is the grill plate I reach for when I want sear marks. It is a flat black plate with raised ridges across the surface, and it drops into the air fryer to give food those grill lines while hot air still moves underneath.
Why It Stands Out
The raised ridges do two jobs at once: they lift food so air circulates beneath it, and they leave proper grill marks on chicken, vegetables, or a quick steak. Like my basket, it has been a genuinely high-quality, low-maintenance piece. The coating has stayed slick through long use, food releases cleanly, and it wipes down in seconds rather than needing a scrub. It has lasted without any issue, and it is one of the easier accessories to live with. It pairs naturally with a refillable oil sprayer for a light coat before searing.
Worth Knowing
Use silicone or wooden tools on it, since metal utensils scratch non-stick coatings and shorten their life, the same care that keeps any non-stick pan lasting. As with any tray, check that the plate’s dimensions match your basket before buying.
Choose a grill plate if you want sear marks and a flat cooking surface inside the air fryer. Skip it if you only ever cook loose foods like fries that do not benefit from a solid plate.
4. Perforated Parchment Liners: Best Disposable Option
For the messiest, stickiest jobs, nothing beats throwing the cleanup in the trash. Perforated parchment liners are pre-cut paper rounds and squares with holes that let air through while catching the worst of the mess.
Why It Stands Out
They are the most beginner-friendly option, with no trimming and nothing to wash, and they release sticky glazes like teriyaki or honey-garlic far more cleanly than silicone. The perforations keep air moving so food still crisps, and a pack costs very little, making them an easy thing to keep on hand for the gooey nights.
Worth Knowing
They are disposable, so the cost adds up with daily use, and you should never preheat an empty air fryer with parchment inside, since the fan can blow it into the heating element. Always put food on top to weigh it down.
Pick them for sticky foods and low-commitment cleanup. Move to reusable silicone if you cook daily and want to stop rebuying.
5. Refillable Oil Sprayer: Best for Even, Low-Fat Coating
A light, even mist of oil is the difference between pale food and golden, and a refillable sprayer gives you that control. Fill it with your own oil and spritz exactly as much as you want, no more.
Why It Stands Out
A fine mist browns and crisps food using a fraction of the oil you would pour, and you choose the oil rather than relying on a can. Just as importantly, it replaces aerosol cooking sprays, whose propellants degrade non-stick coatings over time, so it protects your basket while it improves your results. A good one refills cleanly and lasts for years.
Worth Knowing
Cheaper pump sprayers can clog with thick oils and need the occasional clean, and the spray can travel further than you expect. Stick to thinner oils like avocado or light olive oil for the smoothest mist.
Get one to improve browning and protect your coating from aerosol propellants. Skip it only if you genuinely never use oil.
6. Multi-Layer Rack: Best for Extra Capacity
The most common air fryer complaint is that the basket is too small, and a rack is the direct fix. A multi-layer stainless rack adds a second tier so you can cook two things at once.
Why It Stands Out
Adding a layer can roughly double your usable cooking space, letting you run chicken on the bottom and vegetables up top in one go, which is a real help for families and meal prep. Stainless construction is durable and easy to clean, much like a good cooling rack, and the open design keeps air moving so both levels cook. For anyone who feels boxed in by basket size, it is the single most impactful upgrade.
Worth Knowing
A rack only helps if it fits, so measure your basket’s height and width first, and leave clearance from the heating element. Foods on different layers may need a swap partway through for even cooking.
Choose it if your basket feels too small for how you cook. Pass if you mostly make single-layer meals and have room to spare.
Air Fryer Accessories at a Glance
| Accessory | Material | Best for | Reusable | Watch out for | Price band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silicone liner (grooved) | Food-grade silicone | Easy cleanup | Yes | Flat ones cut crispness | $10–$20 |
| Crisper basket (what I use) | Stainless mesh | Airflow, oven-style cooking | Yes | Must fit basket | $15–$30 |
| Grill plate (what I use) | Non-stick coated | Grill marks, searing | Yes | Use non-metal tools | $12–$25 |
| Parchment liners | Perforated paper | Sticky foods, disposable | No | Never preheat empty | $8–$15 |
| Oil sprayer | Glass or plastic | Even, light oil coat | Yes | Thick oils clog pumps | $10–$18 |
| Multi-layer rack | Stainless steel | Extra capacity | Yes | Measure for fit | $12–$28 |
Prices and sizes vary by brand and fit, so read the bands as a guide. The best accessory is the one that fits your basket and solves a problem you actually have.
How to Choose Air Fryer Accessories
Four checks keep you from wasting money: fit, material, the problem you are solving, and airflow. Run through them before every purchase.
Measure your basket first
This is the step that matters most. Air fryers come in round and square baskets and a wide range of quart sizes, so grab a tape measure and check the interior width and height before buying any tray, pan, or rack. A round pan will not seat in a square basket, and an oversized rack can touch the heating element.
Check the materials
Look for BPA-free, food-grade silicone and food-safe stainless steel rated for high heat, generally around four hundred degrees or more. Cheap, unbranded silicone is where corners get cut and where off-gassing complaints come from, so it is worth spending a little more for proven materials.
Buy for a real problem
The useful accessories solve a specific frustration: liners for cleanup, racks for capacity, a sprayer for browning, a basket or plate for cooking surface. If you cannot name the problem an accessory solves, you probably do not need it, and our notes on cleaning an air fryer may fix the issue for free.
Protect the airflow and the coating
An air fryer crisps by moving hot air, so do not overcrowd it with stacked accessories that block circulation. Use silicone or wooden tools rather than metal to protect non-stick surfaces, much as you would with any good utensil set.
Silicone vs Parchment Liners
The two most popular liners solve the same problem in opposite ways. The right one depends on how often you cook and what you are cooking.
When silicone wins
For everyday cooking, reusable silicone is the better value: you buy it once, wash it in the dishwasher, and it protects your basket for years. A grooved design keeps airflow and crispness close to cooking without a liner at all.
When parchment wins
For sticky, sugary glazes and the occasional messy night, disposable parchment releases cleaner and saves you scrubbing a liner. It is also the low-commitment pick for beginners or anyone who air fries only now and then.
Common Air Fryer Accessory Mistakes to Avoid
A few predictable errors waste money or hurt your cooking. Each is easy to dodge.
Buying before measuring
The number one mistake is ordering a pan or rack that does not fit the basket. Measure the interior first, every time, and match round to round and square to square.
Overloading the basket with gear
Stacking too many accessories blocks the airflow that crisps your food, leaving it soggy. Use one or two accessories that earn their place rather than filling the basket with trays.
Using metal tools and aerosol sprays
Metal utensils scratch non-stick coatings and aerosol sprays degrade them, both shortening your air fryer’s life. Switch to silicone tools and a refillable oil sprayer to protect your investment.
Buying gimmicks you will not use
Skewer sets and specialty pans look essential in product photos and then gather dust. Start with the accessory that fixes your biggest frustration, use it for a while, and only then add another.
Recommended Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What air fryer accessories are actually worth buying?
The ones that solve a real problem: a grooved silicone liner for cleanup, a stainless rack for capacity, a crisper basket or grill plate for cooking surface, and a refillable oil sprayer for browning. Most cooks only ever use two or three regularly, so start with the one that fixes your biggest frustration.
How do I know if an accessory will fit my air fryer?
Measure the interior width and height of your basket and match the shape, round to round or square to square. A tray or pan that is too large can touch the heating element, and a round pan will not seat in a square basket. When in doubt, look for accessories that list compatibility with your model.
Are stainless steel accessories safe in an air fryer?
Yes, most air fryers safely take food-safe stainless racks, baskets, and skewers, as long as they fit and do not touch the heating element. Stainless is durable and easy to clean, which is why crisper baskets and racks are commonly made from it.
Do silicone liners affect crispiness?
A little, since any liner is a partial barrier to airflow. A grooved or perforated liner minimizes the effect by lifting food and letting air circulate, so for everyday cooking the difference is small. If you want maximum crunch, cook without a liner or use a perforated one.
Why should I avoid aerosol cooking sprays?
The propellants in aerosol sprays degrade the non-stick coating of air fryer baskets over time, leading to sticking and a shorter appliance life. A refillable oil sprayer filled with your own oil avoids the problem and gives you more control over how much you use.
Can I use a grill plate in any air fryer?
Only if it fits your basket. Grill plates suit oven-style and larger rectangular fryers and some basket models, but you need to match the plate’s dimensions to your interior space. Use non-metal tools on a coated plate to keep the surface intact.
How long do air fryer accessories last?
It depends on the material. Stainless baskets and racks can last for years of regular use, while silicone liners tend to wear sooner and need replacing when they degrade. Treating coated pieces gently and avoiding metal tools extends their life considerably.
How many accessories do I really need?
Fewer than the catalog suggests. Most home cooks get everything they need from two or three: usually a liner, an oil sprayer, and one cooking-surface accessory like a basket or rack. Adding more than you use just crowds the basket and hurts crispness.
Recommended Reading
See also our guides to instant pot vs air fryer.
