Air Fryer Accessories Worth Buying in 2026 (and What to Skip)
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Accessories are where air-fryer spending quietly doubles. Walk through any listing and you’ll find “27-piece mega kits” promising to transform your cooking. The truth is simpler: most kitchens need three or four accessories, a couple more are genuinely nice to have, and the rest sit in a drawer forever. This guide separates the useful from the clutter, and — just as importantly — shows you how to make sure what you buy actually fits your machine.
Fit first: measure before you buy anything
The single most common accessory complaint in owner reviews isn’t quality — it’s “it didn’t fit my basket.” Air fryers vary wildly in shape (round, square, oval) and in internal dimensions, and an accessory that fits a 5.8-quart Cosori won’t necessarily fit a 6-quart Ninja.
Before you buy anything, measure three things with a ruler:
- Internal diameter or width at the base of the basket (not the outer rim).
- Internal height from the base to just below the heating element — this limits how tall a rack or dish can be.
- Basket shape — round accessories waste space in a square basket and vice versa.
For dual-zone machines, measure each zone separately; they’re smaller than the overall footprint suggests. If you’re still choosing a machine, our dual-basket guide explains how zone size affects everything you can cook.
A good rule: buy accessories 1–2 cm smaller than your internal measurement so air can still circulate around them. Airflow is the whole point of an air fryer — an accessory that seals the basket turns it into a slow, steamy oven.
The accessories genuinely worth buying
Perforated parchment liners
The best cleanup upgrade you can make. Unlike solid foil or paper, perforated liners let air move through them, so food still crisps while drips and crumbs stay off the basket. They’re cheap, disposable, and cut washing-up dramatically. Buy the shape that matches your basket (round vs square).
Reusable silicone liners
If you air-fry several times a week, a reusable silicone liner pays for itself and cuts waste. Look for one rated well above your cooking temperature (most quality liners handle standard air-frying heat) and with perforations or a raised design so airflow isn’t blocked. They’re also gentler on the non-stick coating than metal.
An instant-read thermometer
This is the one accessory that improves results and safety, not just cleanup. Air fryers vary in real-world temperature, so a chicken breast that’s done in one machine is underdone in another. A cheap instant-read thermometer removes the guesswork — pull proteins at the right internal temperature every time. It’s the accessory we’d buy first, and it’s covered again in our cooking times guide.
A second rack or skewer set
For taller baskets, a two-tier rack effectively doubles your surface area — useful for cooking a protein and vegetables together, or for small items like shrimp on skewers. Only worth it if your basket has the height (measure!).
Nice-to-have, depending on how you cook
- Silicone-tipped tongs — protect the coating while flipping; far better than metal.
- An oven-safe baking dish or cake tin that fits your basket, if you plan to bake, make egg bites, or cook saucy dishes that would drip through a basket.
- A mister/oil sprayer (the pump kind, not aerosol) for an even, light oil coating. Aerosol sprays leave a sticky residue that damages coatings — see mistakes to avoid.
What to skip
- Giant 20-plus-piece kits. You’ll use three or four pieces; the rest is padding to justify the price. Buy the individual pieces you’ll actually use.
- Solid (non-perforated) liners. They block airflow, which is the exact opposite of what an air fryer does — food comes out pale and steamed.
- Aerosol cooking sprays. The propellants build a gummy residue that’s hard to remove and degrades non-stick coatings over time.
- Brand-locked gadgets designed to fit only one model — they trap you and rarely cook better than a generic equivalent.
Accessories for small kitchens
If counter and cupboard space is tight, storage matters as much as fit. A stack of racks and dishes you can’t store is just clutter in a new form. Prioritise a couple of flat, stackable items (liners, one rack) over a bulky kit. If you’re working with a compact machine, our smallest air fryers guide pairs well with a minimalist accessory approach.
A sensible starter set
If you want a shortlist rather than a shopping spree, this covers 90% of real use:
- Perforated parchment liners (or one reusable silicone liner)
- An instant-read thermometer
- Silicone-tipped tongs
- One oven-safe dish that fits your basket
That’s it. Add a second rack only if your basket is tall enough to use it.
📚 Related In-Depth Analysis
- Compare findings with our guide on Air Fryer Salmon Temperature.
- Compare findings with our guide on Air Fryer Mistakes To Avoid.
📚 Related In-Depth Analysis
- Compare findings with our guide on Single Basket Vs Dual Basket Air Fryers.
- Compare findings with our guide on Air Fryer Steak.
🔧 Interactive Planning Tool
Need exact measurements for your setup? Use our Air Fryer Basket Sizing & Capacity Engine to Calculate required quart capacity and single-layer basket area for your household.
Frequently asked questions
What accessories do I need with my air fryer? The three that actually earn their counter space: (1) a silicone-tipped tong (reach into basket safely), (2) a pump oil mister (no aerosol damage to coating), (3) an instant-read thermometer (stop guessing doneness). Full breakdown with specific picks in the guide above.
What 5 foods should you not put in an air fryer? (1) Wet batter (drips, doesn’t crisp), (2) raw leafy greens (fly around in basket), (3) block cheese without coating (melts through basket), (4) large whole roasts that don’t fit in single layer, (5) anything in paper towels (fire risk). Dry coated foods and frozen items work best.
What are the best accessories for an air fryer? Beyond the basics: silicone baking cups for egg bites, a small wire rack for multi-level cooking, and parchment liners for sticky foods. Avoid: branded accessories that replicate what your unit’s basket already does.
Do liners hurt crisping? Perforated ones don’t — air still moves through them. Solid foil or paper can, by blocking airflow. Always choose perforated.
Are silicone liners safe at air-fryer temperatures? Quality ones rated for standard air-frying heat are fine; check the product’s stated maximum temperature against how you cook.
Can I use my oven accessories in an air fryer? Sometimes — if they’re metal or oven-safe and physically fit with airflow clearance. Measure first, and never use anything with plastic parts.
What’s the one accessory to buy first? An instant-read thermometer. It’s cheap and it’s the only one that consistently improves how your food turns out.
