You do not need fancy gadgets to cook great food in an air fryer. Just a few cheap tools make cooking easier, cleanup faster, and results crispier. These 15 must have air fryer accessories all cost under $25. Each one comes with a recipe to try it with, so you can put it to work right away.
1. Silicone Basket Liners
Reusable silicone liners sit inside the basket and catch drips and crumbs. You lift them out and wash them in the sink or dishwasher. Your basket coating lasts longer too.
Most sets of two cost well under $25. Pick a size that matches your basket so air still flows around food. Avoid liners that cover the whole basket floor in tiny models.
Try It With Giant Air Fryer Cookies
Photo credit: Jar Of Lemons
Jar Of Lemons bakes a big banana oat cookie in about 15 minutes. Using a liner keeps the soft dough from sticking.
For recipe: Giant Air Fryer Cookies
2. Perforated Parchment Liners
Disposable parchment liners have holes that let hot air reach the bottom of food. They stop fish and sticky glazes from gluing to the basket. Cleanup takes seconds.
Packs of 100 or more are cheap. Never preheat the fryer with an empty liner inside, since it can fly up into the heating element. Always weigh it down with food.
Try It With Air Fryer Salmon
Photo credit: Fit Foodie Finds
Fit Foodie Finds rubs salmon with paprika, garlic, and brown sugar. Parchment keeps that sweet crust from sticking.
For recipe: Air Fryer Salmon
3. Refillable Oil Mister
An oil mister sprays a fine, even layer of your own oil. You use far less oil than pouring. It also avoids the additives in some aerosol cans that can wear down nonstick coatings.
Glass or stainless misters often cost $10 to $15. Fill it with olive oil or avocado oil. Just a light mist is all most foods need to brown.
Try It With Sweet Potato Wedges
Photo credit: Recipe This
Recipe This tosses sweet potato wedges in a little olive oil before air frying. Your mister coats every side evenly.
For recipe: Sweet Potato Wedges
4. Instant Read Thermometer
An instant read thermometer tells you when meat is done, not just when it looks done. It ends guessing on chicken, pork, and steak. You stop overcooking dinner.
Good basic models sell for $15 to $25. Look for a fast reading in three seconds or less. Pull steak at 130 degrees for medium rare and chicken at 165.
Try It With Sirloin Steak
Photo credit: Recipe This
Recipe This air fries sirloin steaks in about 12 minutes. Check with a thermometer for steak cooked how you like it.
For recipe: Sirloin Steak
5. Silicone Tipped Tongs
Metal tongs can scratch the nonstick coating in your basket. Silicone tips grip food without damage. They also let you flip food halfway through cooking.
Most pairs cost under $15. Pick a 9 inch pair so your hands stay away from hot air. Locking tongs store easily in a drawer.
Try It With Chicken Drumsticks
Photo credit: Recipe This
Recipe This seasons drumsticks with dried herbs and cooks them in about 14 minutes. Flip them with tongs halfway for even crisping.
For recipe: Chicken Drumsticks
6. Skewer Rack
Skewer racks hold kabobs above the basket floor so heat reaches every side. Many come with a double layer rack. You can cook more food at once.
Sets with skewers often cost under $20. Check the rack size against your basket before you buy. Metal skewers work better than wooden ones here.
Try It With Chicken Skewers
Photo credit: Recipe This
Recipe This marinates chicken in a mint yogurt sauce, then threads it on skewers. Rack cooking keeps every piece juicy.
For recipe: Chicken Skewers
7. Air Fryer Pizza Pan
Small pizza pans fit inside most baskets. They work for pizza, shrimp, saucy dishes, and anything that would drip through the basket. Many come in accessory sets.
Pans in sets usually cost $15 to $25. Pick one at least an inch smaller than your basket. Nonstick pans are easiest to clean.
Try It With Shrimp Scampi
Photo credit: Recipe This
Recipe This cooks shrimp scampi right in a pizza pan in about 8 minutes. Butter and garlic sauce stays in the pan instead of the basket.
For recipe: Shrimp Scampi
8. Silicone Egg Bite Molds
Egg bite molds make breakfast prep easy. You fill the cups with eggs, cheese, and veggies. They pop out clean when done.
Two packs cost about $10. Check that the mold fits flat in your basket. You can also use them for mini muffins and cupcakes.
Try It With Egg Bites
Photo credit: Spend With Pennies
Spend With Pennies blends eggs, cream, and cheese for soft egg bites. Make a batch on Sunday for the week.
For recipe: Egg Bites
9. Cake Barrel
Cake barrels are small round pans with tall sides. They are great for cakes, frittatas, and casseroles. Food bakes evenly without spilling.
Most cost under $20. Pick a 6 inch barrel for most 5 to 6 quart baskets. Grease it well or line it with parchment.
Try It With High Protein Breakfast Pizza
Photo credit: Air Frying Foodie
Air Frying Foodie bakes eggs, spinach, and cheese on a high protein tortilla. Each serving has about 60 grams of protein.
For recipe: High Protein Breakfast Pizza
10. Multi Layer Rack
Stackable racks add a second level inside your basket. You can cook twice as many items in one round. It helps with small fryers and big batches.
Most cost $10 to $20. Leave space between layers for air to flow. Swap the top and bottom halfway through for even browning.
Try It With Homemade Fishcakes
Photo credit: Recipe This
Recipe This mixes salmon, cod, and pollock into crisp fishcakes. Using a rack lets you cook more fishcakes in one go.
For recipe: Homemade Fishcakes
11. Silicone Basting Brush
Silicone brushes spread butter, oil, glazes, and sauces. They do not shed bristles like old pastry brushes. They wash clean in the dishwasher.
Brushes cost under $10. Use one to brush butter on donuts, rolls, and wings. Keep one just for sweets and one for savory foods.
Try It With Air Fryer Donuts
Photo credit: Air Fryer Eats
Air Fryer Eats brushes warm donuts with butter, then rolls them in cinnamon sugar. Your silicone brush coats them fast.
For recipe: Air Fryer Donuts
12. Heat Resistant Counter Mat
Air fryers push hot air out of the back vents. Heat resistant mats protect counters and make it easy to slide the fryer forward. They also catch crumbs.
Silicone mats cost $10 to $20. Pick one wider than your fryer base. Always leave space behind the vents.
Try It With Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas
Photo credit: Air Frying Foodie
Air Frying Foodie fills tortillas with chicken, bacon, ranch, and cheese. They crisp in minutes for a fast lunch.
For recipe: Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas
13. Magnetic Cooking Time Cheat Sheet
Magnetic cheat sheets list times and temperatures for common foods. They stick right on your fridge. You stop searching your phone with greasy hands.
Most cost under $10. Look for one with both fresh and frozen foods. Pair it with our cooking times chart for more foods.
Try It With Easy Quesadilla
Photo credit: Basics With Bails
Basics With Bails makes a cheesy chicken quesadilla in just 7 minutes. Keep times like this on your cheat sheet.
For recipe: Easy Quesadilla
14. Basket Cleaning Brush
Baked on grease hides in the basket corners and crisper plate holes. Soft bristle brushes reach those spots without scratching. Cleanup gets faster after sticky foods.
Brushes cost under $10. Pick soft nylon bristles, never steel wool. Soak the basket in warm soapy water first.
Try It With Crispy Tofu Nuggets
Photo credit: Basics With Bails
Basics With Bails coats tofu in nutritional yeast and soy sauce for crunchy vegan nuggets. Your brush clears any sauce left behind.
For recipe: Crispy Tofu Nuggets
15. Silicone Mini Oven Mitts
Pans, racks, and liners get very hot in the air fryer. Small silicone mitts give you a better grip than bulky oven mitts. They also handle steam safely.
Pairs cost about $10. Pick a pair with a textured grip. Store them next to the fryer so they are always close.
Try It With Strawberry Cheesecake Cottage Cheese Toast
Photo credit: Air Frying Foodie
Air Frying Foodie tops sourdough with cottage cheese, lemon zest, and strawberries. Grab the hot toast with mitts.
For recipe: Strawberry Cheesecake Cottage Cheese Toast
Tips for Buying Air Fryer Accessories
- Measure your basket before you order anything.
- Choose accessories that leave space around the edges for airflow.
- Pick food safe silicone and BPA free materials.
- Check that items are oven safe to at least 400 degrees.
Wrapping Up
Start with liners, an oil mister, and a thermometer. Those three tools help with almost every recipe. Add racks and pans once you want to cook more at once. For times and temps, check out our Air Fryer Cooking Times Chart and save this list to your Pinterest board.
What is your favorite air fryer accessory? Tell us in the comments below, and share the one tool you use every day. We love hearing your tips!
Prices change often, so check current listings before you buy.