If I were to be asked what technology’s greatest gift to humanity was, I’d definitely say it’s the air fryer. Imagine being able to enjoy all the fried food you want without tons of extra calories. While it doesn’t guarantee a healthful diet, air frying is still much healthier than deep frying.
Technically, an air fryer works the same way as a convection oven. It uses superheated airflow that circulates around the food in the chamber. The dry heat creates the same crispy texture food gets from a deep fryer.
Since it pretty much is a compact convection oven, you can cook just about anything in an air fryer.
You can fry, grill, bake, roast, or broil in it. You can cook meat, fish, vegetables, and so many other types of food. Without a doubt, it is the most versatile kitchen appliance.
You probably already have one in your home. But did you know that there are some awesome accessories that make air frying even more amazing? Check out my list below.
Top 20 Air Fryer Accessories to Help You Cook Like a Boss
1. Cooking racks
This is the first accessory I got when I first bought an air fryer, and I think it’s also the accessory I use the most often. Some air fryers already come with a single rack, but I opted to purchase a double layer one.
My double layer rack increases the amount of space I can use in my air fryer. It cuts down my cooking time because I’m able to cook two batches at a time. It really isn’t surprising why cooking racks are among the most popular accessories for air fryers.
2. Air fryer divider
Here’s another nifty accessory for cutting cooking time. With an air fryer divider, you get to cook two different kinds of food at the same time. I find a divider useful when I’m cooking just for myself. I often put thinly sliced meat or fish on one side and vegetables on the other. That makes for a quick dinner and an equally quick clean-up too.
3. Air fryer liners
Cleaning up is a breeze with air fryer liners, which collect most of the grease and food residue. Most pre-fitted parchment liners come in packages of 100s and are quite affordable. Look for those that are non-stick, non-toxic, and contain no fluorescent agents.
While I make sure that I always have a pack at home, there are times when I find that we’re all out of liners. During these rare times, I make my own using baking paper or parchment paper.
It’s a bit of a hassle having to punch dozens of holes across the paper, but it still does the trick. However, I’d still highly recommend stocking up on store-bought liners for convenience.
4. Oil sprayer bottle
I love my Evo Oil Sprayer bottle. I’m able to use my favorite cooking oil using this spray bottle. I try to steer clear of commercial sprays because they contain propellants or aerosol agents.
They tend to affect the protective coating of air fryers too. With an oil sprayer bottle, you can choose healthier oil and make your fryer last longer. Keep in mind, though, to only use oil that has a smoking point of above 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Grill Pans
While grill pans aren’t really a necessity, the grill marks they create do make meat and fish more appetizing. Grill pans for air fryers have perforated surfaces that allow air to flow freely to ensure even cooking. When choosing your grill pan, look for one that is non-stick, free from PFOA, and is FDA-approved.
6. Digital meat and food thermometer
I grill steaks a lot in my air fryer, so this is one accessory I always have in my kitchen. Even though the air fryer has its own temperature control, it’s still important to keep track of internal temperatures. We all know that undercooked chicken should never be eaten, and overcooked steak is a waste of perfectly good steak.
7. Heat-resistant tongs
Tongs are the best tools to use when maneuvering small items in the air fryer. When I stack small food in my fryer, I make it a point to toss them around halfway through the cooking time to ensure that they’re all evenly cooked.
I’ve been air frying with my trusty OXO Good Grips Silicone Flexible Tongs for years now. Their silicone grip ensures secure hold, and it’s also heat-resistant up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit.
8. Cake pans
If you still don’t know that you can make cakes in your air fryer, you are missing out! This is another reason why I love my air fryer—I can make almost everything with it, including cake.
When buying cake pans, make sure you know the size of your air fryer. You can actually use your regular baking pans and silicone cups as long as they fit well inside the fryer.
9. Bundt pans
Bundt pans are cake pans with an attitude. They work the same way as regular cake pans but create more visually pleasing cakes. They’re great to have especially when you love throwing parties or hosting lunches.
10. Pizza Pans
Next to French fries, pizzas are probably the most popular food in the world. I’m one of those who love pizza and movie nights on weekends. With an air fryer and a couple of pizza pans, I’m able to whip up my own healthy version. You can also make a mean deep-dish pizza yourself.
11. Ramekins
Ramekins also belong to my most-used accessories group. I use them a lot for cooking small batches of soup. Yes, soup. That’s right, you can also cook soup in an air fryer. I also use ramekins for making muffins and mini-cakes. I find them nifty because they can go straight from the fryer to the table.
12. Silicon Baking Cups
I prefer using ramekins when I’m going to serve the food straightaway. But for muffins or cupcakes that I’d be bringing someplace else, I use silicone baking cups. They’re non-stick and heat resistant and can even be used to cook eggs for breakfast.
13. Baking Tray
Baking trays are great for making several muffins, eggs, mini-pizzas, or petite cakes. Of course, you can also use ramekins and silicone cups, but a baking tray just makes handling easier and more convenient.
14. Baking pie crust weight chain
One of my few mishaps with the air fryer was putting small slices of vegetables without anything to hold them down. Suffice it to say that nothing good came out when these small bits went flying around the air fryer. I found Mrs. Anderson’s Pie Weight Chain a big help in weighing down small items without blocking the air flow.
15. Potato Slicing Rack
Get a Hasselback potato slicing rack if you want to impress family and friends with your kitchen skills. This tool earns me raves every time I serve Hasselback potatoes with herbed sour cream and blue cheese.
16. French Fry Cutter
I bet you’d agree with me when I say that most people get air fryers mainly for making homemade fries. I’m one of those people, so when I first bought an air fryer, I also got a handy potato cutter. I get perfectly sized French fries in one fell swoop. Makes cooking healthy fries effortless and quick.
17. Mandoline Slicer
If you love potato in all sorts of ways, you should also get a mandoline slicer. Aside from potato chips, you can make crispy chips from sweet potatoes, cassava, and zucchinis. This also makes slicing onions for onion rings tear-free.
18. Vegetable Choppers
Even if you don’t have an air fryer, this is one tool you must have in your kitchen. My veggie chopper has saved me a lot of time prepping for meals. I can julienne, dice, slice, or chop vegetables with ease. Most importantly, I can make waffle fries!
19. Air fryer cooking chart
Different types of food cook at different temperatures and different times. It’s important to have a chart you can refer to when air frying a delicious meal. Make sure you get one, too, and keep it handy. I refer to mine every time I use my air fryer.
20. Air fryer Cookbook
There are endless possibilities when it comes to what you can do with an air fryer. I’ve hoarded air fryer cookbooks and love every single one of them. Sometimes, I come across a cool trick using the air fryer, and I become even more amazed with this versatile kitchen equipment.
Take Air Frying to a Whole New Level
There are so many accessories that can take air frying to a whole new level. With the accessories on this list, you can maximize the use of your air fryer while prolonging its life at the same time. Just make sure to put a premium on quality when you’re choosing new accessories to buy. High-quality accessories are safer, more reliable, and can last a lifetime.