Air fryers have exploded in popularity in recent years, thanks to their ability to cook delicious food fast, with less oil and fat. Having just a few of the right accessories can significantly enhance your air frying experience and make cooking even more effortless.
But there are so many air fryer accessories and the last thing anyone wants is more useless gadgets cluttering up the kitchen cabinets. So it’s crucial to choose the right accessories and only buy the ones that will become valuable additions to your kitchen and make cooking faster, more efficient and more delicious.
Ever since I first got my hands on an air fryer a few years ago, I’ve been obsessed. After lots of air fryer recipes, I’ve narrowed it down to the most useful accessories. We’ll cover the five essential air fryer accessories and another six you should consider to help make air fryer cooking simple and enjoyable.
Essential air fryer accessories
These essential tools will make cooking and cleaning more manageable and allow you to easily create a variety of delicious air fryer meals.
Locking tongs
A pair of tongs are a must-have for any air fryer enthusiast. They make it easy to handle and flip food like air fryer sausage and brats without burning your fingers or damaging the non-stick coating of the fryer basket. Use tongs to safely grab hot items or squeeze them together for a secure grip. Having a pair of high-quality tongs will make your air frying experience much more enjoyable.
We use these handy silicone-coated tongs for removing food from the air fryer, no more burnt fingers and they don't scratch your air fryer. You get three different-sized tongs which are great for different foods.
Oil spray bottle
While one of the significant advantages of air frying is that it uses less oil, some oil is essential to ensure the food isn’t too dry or bland. An oil sprayer helps spread the oil evenly on your food so it cooks more efficiently, with an easy-to-control application. We suggest using a glass oil sprayer that you can fill with oil at home.
Spray oil lightly and evenly on your food and it'll cook more efficiently.
Basting brushes
Basting brushes allow you to evenly spread sauces, oils and marinades on food before and during air frying. A basting brush should have heat-resistant bristles that won’t shed or deform. We recommend investing in a silicone basting brush as they are easy to clean and resistant to high temperatures.
Spread sauces, oils, and marinades on your food during cooking with these heat-resistant basting brushes.
Meat thermometer
A meat thermometer is essential for anyone who loves to cook meat in an air fryer. It ensures that the meat reaches the proper internal temperature for safe consumption and prevents overcooking or undercooking. A digital meat thermometer with a quick-read feature is the easiest to use and will be helpful for other cooking methods like oven roasting and grilling.
Using a quick-read thermometer takes the guess work out of cooking meat in the air fryer, oven or grill.
Parchment paper
Parchment paper will save you time and effort when cleaning up. These liners protect the fryer basket from food residue, reducing the need for scrubbing and preserving the nonstick coating. In addition, it also helps prevent food from sticking to the basket during the cooking process. You can also use aluminum foil in an air fryer if done safely.
Reduce clear-up time and help prevent your food from sticking to the basket with these liners.
Other accessories to consider
Here are some additional air fryer accessories that can expand the range of foods you can make.
Air fryer rack
An air fryer rack creates more cooking space in your air fryer basket. You can achieve crispier results by using this additional layer and allowing better air circulation around your food. It’s especially beneficial when cooking multiple layers or different types of food in one basket.
Create additional space in your air fryer and even crispier food. Perfect for basket model air fryers.
Air fryer skewers
With air fryer skewers, you can transform your air fryer into a mini kabob station. These skewers allow you to cook various types of food, such as meat, seafood, vegetables or fruit directly on the skewer. This is perfect for small appetizers or creative meal ideas.
Cook your meat, vegetables or fruit on the skewer and enjoy air fryer kabobs.
Baking pans
A few baking pans that fit in your air fryer will open up a world of new culinary possibilities. Round pans and small loaf pans are perfect for air frying and making recipes like meatloaf or even a cake. You can use small oven-safe pans you already own. Metal, silicone and oven-safe glass are all acceptable for use in the air fryer.
Silicone muffin cups
Get creative with your breakfast or snack-time recipes by using silicone muffin cups. These little silicone cups are perfect for making egg cups, muffins, or appetizers in your air fryer. They’re reusable and easy to clean, making them valuable in your kitchen.
Perfect for egg bites, muffins, or appetizers, they are easy to clean and reusable.
Mandoline slicer
A mandoline slicer is very helpful if you want to make homemade chips or fries. It slices vegetables or fruits, ensuring uniform cooking in your air fryer. Make homemade potato chips or zucchini chips or apple chips in a snap with this handy tool.
If you're making homemade chips or fries, this is perfect for you, and it comes with safety gloves which are really handy.
Magnetic air fryer cheat sheet
A magnetic air fryer cheat sheet conveniently sticks to your air fryer or another metal surface, quickly referencing cooking times and temperatures for various foods. It takes the guesswork out of preparing dishes like frozen chicken breasts, so you can enjoy perfectly cooked meals every time.
The perfect cheat sheet that sticks to your air fryer - genius!
Buying guide
The most important thing to consider when buying air fryer accessories is the brand and size of your air fryer. Some things, like parchment paper, skewers and baking dishes, must be the right size to fit inside your air fryer. So measure your air fryer’s basket dimensions and check the compatibility of accessories with your appliance before buying.
Material quality is another factor to consider. You want your accessories to be durable and easy to clean. Most air fryer accessories are made of stainless steel or silicone or have a nonstick coating. Ensure that the materials used are food-grade, BPA-free and dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.
Finally, how you cook is an essential consideration. If you primarily use your air fryer to heat frozen foods, you only need the essential accessories. On the other hand, if you love to cook and want to make complete meals in your air fryer, you will enjoy some baking pans and extras like a mandoline slicer.
Investing in just a few perfect accessories will help you get the most out of your air fryer. Accessories can cater to different cooking styles and allow you to experiment with new recipes in your air fryer.
This article originally appeared on Food Drink Life
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
I’m on the lookout for Christmas gifts, and I’m really glad I found this. We do Secret Santa every year with my siblings, and since we’re all into cooking, these ideas are super helpful. Thanks a lot!
Just the guide I needed! Other than air fryer parchment paper, I am pretty much in the dark when it comes to air fryer accessories. These items will make my life so much easier, thank you!!
Digital thermometers are really a must have for me when I’m cooking perfect steaks in the air fryer. When I don’t use it I’m doomed!
Oh wow, what a great list! I have already bought Air Fryer Liners and a basket as a gift for my son! THANK YOU for those ideas
Thanks for sharing this guide. My most used accessory will be the parchment paper. I want to buy the silicone cups but kinda hesitant (thinking they might melt haha!) I would most likely get the baking pans soon.
That digital thermometer has been a game-changer for me! I don’t know how I cooked without it before but it’s so handy!