As we look into ways to make healthier food in easy ways, the air fryer is becoming more and more popular. Once I was a pro at using my machine, I decided it was time to start using air fryer accessories.
One of the first things I got for my air fryer was air fryer liners to help with cleanup. However, it wasn’t long before I realized there are so many more accessories for air fryers available besides liners.
Are They Necessary?
Yes. The answer to this question really boils down to how you plan to use your air fryer. At a very minimum, I think everyone should use air fryer liners and an insert rack, but other accessories open up a whole new world of air fryer uses and improve your user experience with the machine.
Using the air fryer gadgets you purchase does not need to be complicated. In most cases, you just set the accessory, whether it is a liner, a pan, or a rack, down into the machine, add food and start cooking. If you decide to purchase an air fryer spatula or tongs, they should be non-stick safe and should be used with care to avoid scratching the surface of your basket.
❓ What Accessories do you Need?
Air Fryer Spatula
Your air fryer probably has a non-stick surface, so it is a good idea to use a spatula that is safe for non-stick cookware. Nylon spatulas are a good choice. These are used to flip or stir food halfway through cooking as needed.
Our favorite air fryer spatula: OXO Good Grips Silicone Flexible Omelet Turner
Air Fryer Tongs
Some foods are easier to handle with tongs rather than a spatula. I recommend coated tongs meant for use with a non-stick surface.
Our favorite air fryer tongs: OXO Good Grips Silicone Flexible Tongs
Bakeware for Air Fryer
Did you know you can actually make baked goods in your air fryer? It’s basically like a miniature convection oven, but the small size means that it works even more efficiently as we did with the Air Fryer Twix Cheesecake.
It’s pretty easy to find an air fryer safe baking pan. You need something metal or silicone. If choosing silicone bakeware, it needs to have a temperature rating at least as high as the highest setting on your air fryer.
It’s also fun to think outside the box. You can use silicone cupcake liners and other fun silicone molds to make food in the air fryer. Get creative!
Bakeware for Air Fryers Shaped Like Toaster Ovens. Chicago Metallic Bakeware Set
Best for Basket Style Air Fryers 5.6 quarts and larger. Cosori Accessories Set.
The key is to make sure you find a pan that fits into your air fryer. Make sure you know the distance across the inside of the fryer or the QT size of the fryer before going to make any purchases.
Air Fryer Insert Rack
Some air fryers will come with an insert rack. These are used to layer food so that each layer can still get airflow and cook evenly. I use an air fryer rack for frozen cheese sticks, spring rolls, and any other item where I want to basically fill up my air fryer more than one layer will allow.
This air fryer gadget sometimes comes with your appliance, but in the event there isn’t one in the box, you should definitely buy one.
Air Fryer Insert Rack: Anquia Air Fryer Double Layer Rack.
Air Fryer Liners
We have a comprehensive discussion about air fryer liners for you to check out. We are loving the ease of clean up when we use the liners whether you choose silicone or paper parchment versions.
Must-Have Accessories
If you can only purchase two items for your air fryer, I would recommend an air fryer liner and an air fryer insert rack. I also recommend our Air Fryer Cheet Sheet. Print off this FREEBIE and use it every time you pull out your fryer. We like to laminate them and put them in the cupboard or to simply put into protective sheets and put in your Menu Binder.
Just for Fun
Air Fryer Cookbook: 600 Effortless Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners and Advanced Users
Where Can I Buy ?
While air fryers are growing in popularity, the bulk of the official air fryer accessories we have found was online. Utensils that are safe for the non-stick surface of an air fryer are fairly easy to find just about anywhere from Walmart to Kohls to your local grocery store. Bakeware needs to be metal or silicone and fit inside the air fryer basket of your machine.
Are Accessories Worth It?
Any time you get a new small appliance for the kitchen, it’s super tempting to buy all the various gadgets that go along with it. When you consider air fryer tools, I recommend that you take some time getting to know your machine first. Make sure you understand what came with your machine and how it all works. Figure out what you will use your air fryer to cook. Once you have a good handle on your machine and how to use your air fryer you will know which accessories for the air fryer will be most effective for you.
FAQ
Yes. In general, air fryer accessories are made from either metal or silicone, both of which can also be used in the air fryer.
Most air fryers come with a setting for preheating to get your machine hot before you add food. This helps the flavor and finish of most foods. Set the machine to the correct temperature for your recipe and use the preheat function.
If you are using an air fryer rack insert or a baking pan, you can go ahead and put your accessories in the air fryer before you preheat it. If you are using paper liners or silicone accessories, those should be added when you add the food.
Air fryer liners make a huge improvement in the clean-up process when it comes to cleaning your air frying appliance. Most come with non-stick baskets and get very messy without liners. They tend to have crevices that attract crumbs and grease but are difficult to clean. Use mild soap and hot water. When you want to clean the outside, a paper towel sprayed with an all-purpose cleaner works great.
Yes. You can line your air fryer basket with aluminum foil, but do not place the foil below the basket. Some foods should not be placed on aluminum foil in this appliance. Get all of the important details about foil in your air fryer at the link above!
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Hi!
Ginny Collins is a passionate foodie and recipe creator of Savor and Savvy and Kitchenlaughter. Indoors she focuses on easy, quick recipes for busy families and kitchen basics. Outdoors, she focuses on backyard grilling and smoking to bring family and friends together. She is a lifelong learner who is always taking cooking classes on her travels overseas and stateside. Her work has been featured on MSN, Parade, Fox News, Yahoo, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and many local news outlets. She lives in Florida where you will find her outside on the water in her kayak, riding her bike on trails, and planning her next overseas adventure.
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