Air fryer accessories: which ones do you need?
- 10 min reading time
Airfryer accessories: which ones do you need? Discover which accessories are truly useful, what's superfluous, and what to consider when buying.
You often buy an air fryer for convenience. But after a few uses, you’ll quickly notice that not every snack, vegetable or casserole fits easily in the standard basket. Naturally, the question arises: which air fryer accessories do you really need? The short answer is simple: fewer than you think, but the right accessories really do make a difference.
Choosing wisely makes cooking easier, keeps the air fryer cleaner and helps you get more out of the appliance. Buying everything at once often leaves you with a drawer full of items you barely use. That’s why it pays to think about what you cook most often before choosing accessories.
Which air fryer accessories do you need for everyday use?
For most households, only a few accessories are immediately useful. A baking pan usually takes top priority. It lets you make casseroles, lasagne, quiche, cake or one-pan dishes without the mess. If you want to cook more than just chips and snacks, this is often the first accessory you’ll really use.
A grill rack or raised rack is also useful if you want to cook more efficiently. It creates an extra layer, allowing you to cook more at once. This is particularly useful for sandwiches, vegetables or smaller portions of meat. However, the air must be able to circulate freely. An air fryer only works well when hot air can move around freely.
A set of silicone or heat-resistant tongs is also a practical addition. They aren’t spectacular, but they make it easier to remove hot food from the basket without damaging the non-stick coating. This extends the life of your air fryer and is also safer.
Which accessories are really useful and which aren’t?
Not every accessory deserves a place in your kitchen cupboard. It mostly depends on how you use the air fryer. If you mainly cook frozen foods and chips, you’ll get little use out of muffin tins, pizza pans or complete baking sets. But if you use the air fryer instead of an oven, grill and sometimes even a frying pan, that’s a different story.
First, check whether your air fryer manufacturer allows parchment paper. If it doesn’t, don’t use it. Perforated paper or food placed on paper does not make it suitable. Never let paper heat up loosely: the airflow can blow it against the heating element and cause it to burn. Also check the liner’s instructions. Read the air fryer parchment paper usage guide.
Silicone insert trays are popular because they are reusable and keep the basket clean. They are practical, but the right size is essential. A tray that is too high or too dense obstructs the airflow, making dishes less crispy. They are often ideal for moist dishes, but less so for crispy chips.
Pay attention to the size of your air fryer
The biggest mistake when buying accessories is not choosing the wrong type, but the wrong size. An accessory may look perfect on paper, but if it fits too tightly in the basket, your air fryer won’t work as well. Hot air needs to move around it. If it’s too full, too wide or too high, the results will often be uneven.
Always check the internal dimensions of your basket or tray, not just the appliance’s capacity in litres. Two 5-litre air fryers, for example, may have different internal shapes. This difference is especially noticeable with square and dual air fryers.
Also consider the material. Metal conducts heat quickly and is ideal for baking and grilling. Silicone is flexible, easy to clean and suitable for gentler cooking. Accessories with a sturdy finish and heat-resistant coating usually last longer and are more pleasant to use.
View our air fryer accessories
Compare the shape and size, and check which accessories are suitable for your air fryer.
MONOO
Silicone air fryer trays
Set of two square trays. Check the fit and your air fryer’s instructions.
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Kinvara
Rectangular silicone tray
Grey Kinvara tray. Compare the stated dimensions with your air fryer basket.
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Kinvara
Square air fryer parchment paper
50 Kinvara sheets measuring 22 × 21.5 cm.
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The accessories that are enough for most people
If you want to buy practically, three to five basic products are usually enough. A baking pan is almost always a good choice. It immediately expands what you can make. A rack or grill rack is useful if you want to cook multiple layers more often. Silicone tongs or a spatula help keep your air fryer clean.
You can then add parchment paper or a silicone insert if cleaning is important to you. And if you like making breakfasts, cupcakes or small portions, muffin tins or small dishes are a logical addition. For many people, that’s all they need.
That is also the reason why a complete accessory set is not always the smartest purchase. Such a set may seem like a good deal, but it often contains items you will never use. Choosing separately is usually more practical, especially if you are still discovering what you want to do with the air fryer.
Different cooking styles require different accessories
If you cook quickly and simply, convenience is your main priority. In that case, easy-to-clean accessories are the most useful. Think of an insert tray, parchment paper and tongs. They keep the appliance cleaner and help you work faster.
If you use the air fryer as a compact oven, a baking pan, grill rack and small oven dishes may be more practical. They let you make complete meals, from grilled vegetables to a casserole for two. For small households, this is often more efficient than heating up a large oven.
If you have a family and want to cook larger portions, capacity is the main consideration. An extra rack can be useful, but only if you do not overcrowd the food. Otherwise, the results will suffer. Cooking more at once may sound like a good idea, but if you fill the basket too much, you will still have to cook for longer or stir the food.
Which air fryer accessories do you need if you mainly want convenience?
If you want to make cleaning easier, consider which residues an insert can collect and whether your appliance allows one. A liner or tray does not replace the need to clean the basket and drawer. For choosing a material, you can compare parchment paper and a silicone baking pan.
There is, however, a trade-off. The more you cover the bottom, the more likely your food will be less crispy. This is especially noticeable with chips, snacks and breaded products. If crispiness is your main priority, use accessories selectively. If convenience is your main priority, you may accept slightly different cooking results.
What to look for when buying
Choose accessories that suit your type of air fryer, your cooking habits and the space you have available. That sounds logical, but in practice it is often overlooked. A nice set is still impractical if you have nowhere to store it or only use one part.
Check the stated application, temperature limits and cleaning instructions for the specific accessory, as well as the air fryer’s manual. Do not assume that dishwasher safety or a longer lifespan is guaranteed by the material alone. A pair of tongs or handle is not necessarily suitable for lifting a hot, full tray either.
Compare the air fryer accessories on the current product page and check the specifications. A litre rating or XL label does not guarantee a suitable internal size.
Do not buy everything at once
The best approach is simple: start small. First buy one or two accessories that suit what you already cook. Do you often cook sandwiches, vegetables or chicken? Then a rack is a logical choice. Do you prefer making casseroles, wraps or baked goods? Then choose a baking pan first.
After a few weeks, you will naturally discover what you are missing. This prevents unnecessary purchases and makes your air fryer more useful rather than more complicated. Because that is what it ultimately comes down to: cooking faster, cleaning more easily and getting more out of your appliance without filling your kitchen with items that collect dust.
If you are unsure, do not choose the largest set, but the accessory that will make your next meal easier. That is almost always the best purchase.