Best Air Fryer Accessories You Actually Need (And Ones to Skip)

Search for air fryer accessories and you will find hundreds of options — from silicone liners to pizza pans to skewer racks. But which ones actually make a difference? After extensive testing, here are our honest recommendations.

Must-Have Accessories

These genuinely improve your air fryer experience.

1. Perforated Parchment Paper Liners **Verdict: Essential**

Pre-cut parchment paper rounds with holes are the single most useful air fryer accessory. They prevent food from sticking, make cleanup effortless, and the perforations maintain airflow. Use them for anything sticky, cheesy, or breaded.

Cost: About $8-12 for 100-200 sheets. Affordable and disposable.

2. Reusable Silicone Liner **Verdict: Highly Recommended**

A silicone liner fits inside your basket, is non-stick, dishwasher safe, and lasts for hundreds of uses. It protects the non-stick coating on your basket from scratches and makes cleanup even easier than parchment. The slight trade-off is marginally less crispiness on the bottom compared to the bare basket.

Cost: $8-15 for a set. Excellent long-term value.

3. Instant-Read Meat Thermometer **Verdict: Essential for Proteins**

Air fryer cooking times vary between models, and the difference between perfectly cooked and overcooked chicken is a matter of minutes. An instant-read thermometer removes all guesswork. Not technically an air fryer accessory, but essential for anyone cooking meat.

Cost: $10-20 for a reliable digital thermometer.

4. Oil Spray Bottle **Verdict: Essential**

A refillable oil spray bottle gives you precise, even coverage with minimal oil. Much better than pouring oil, and avoids the chemical residue that aerosol cooking sprays leave on non-stick surfaces over time. A light mist of olive oil or avocado oil before cooking dramatically improves browning.

Cost: $5-10 for a good refillable bottle.

5. Small Oven-Safe Dishes **Verdict: Worthwhile for Baking**

Ramekins, small cake pans, and oven-safe dishes that fit inside your basket unlock baking capabilities — think individual lava cakes, egg bites, mini quiches, and brownies. These are especially useful if you want to try air fryer desserts.

Cost: $10-20 for a set.

Nice to Have

Useful but not essential.

6. Silicone Tongs **Verdict: Helpful**

Silicone-tipped tongs protect the non-stick coating when flipping food in the basket. Metal tongs work but risk scratching the surface over time.

7. Grill Pan Insert **Verdict: Situationally Useful**

A raised grill pan elevates food, allowing more airflow underneath. Useful for items like burgers and steaks where you want grill marks and drainage. Not necessary for everyday cooking.

8. Skewer Rack **Verdict: Fun for Entertaining**

Holds skewers vertically for cooking kebabs. Fun for dinner parties and entertaining, but you can achieve similar results by just laying skewers flat in the basket.

Skip These

Save your money on these overhyped accessories.

Multi-Layer Racks **Why skip:** They sound great in theory — cook more food at once by stacking. In practice, the bottom layer gets crispy while the top steams. Air fryers work best with food in a single layer.

Pizza Pan (Solid) **Why skip:** A solid pizza pan blocks airflow from below, resulting in a soggy base. If you want air fryer pizza, use naan bread or a tortilla directly on the basket — the result is much better.

Barrel Insert **Why skip:** These barrel-shaped inserts are marketed for cakes and bread, but they are too small for practical baking and restrict airflow. Use a small oven-safe dish or ramekin instead.

Universal Accessory Kits **Why skip:** Those 15-piece accessory bundles on Amazon include things like silicone cupcake moulds, egg bite moulds, and bread racks that look impressive but mostly gather dust. Buy individual accessories as you need them.

Our Recommendation

Start with parchment liners, an oil spray bottle, and a meat thermometer. These three accessories cost under $30 total and make the biggest difference to your cooking. Add a silicone liner if you want even easier cleanup.

For specific product recommendations with links, check our essential accessories page.