Essential Air Fryer Accessories

Once I started using my air fryer on a regular basis, I realized I was missing some accessories that could make cooking easier and more enjoyable. Perhaps you’ve come to the same realization. That’s why I put together this list of essential air fryer accessories that can 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. Also, some simply save you from burning your food or, in the case of one item, burning your hands.

Finally, I’m publishing this article on Black Friday so be sure to look for any Black Friday sales on anything air fryer to save you the most when buying these tools for yourself or an air-frying devotee on your holiday list.

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 sausages without burning your fingers.

More importantly, you want to look for a pair of locking tongs with silicone tips. The last thing you want to do is use metal tongs that will damage the non-stick coating of the fryer basket.

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. Also, remember: don’t use store-bought cooking spray on your air fryer basket. It can ruin it.

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 for cooking as they are easy to clean, resistant to high temperatures and don’t absorb flavors or odors. Plus, they’re dishwasher safe.

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. Some call this doneness. I prefer a digital meat thermometer with a quick-read screen. It is the easiest to use and will be helpful for other cooking methods like oven roasting and grilling.

Parchment Paper for Air Fryers

Parchment paper will save you time and effort when cleaning up. Also called air fryer liners, they 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’ll find different liners based on the shape and size of your air fryer as well as brands. For instance, our six-quart air fryer has a square basket so needs square liners. Our smaller air fryer has a round basket so, no surprise, it needs round liners. This company Baker’s Signature even has air fryer liners made specifically for Ninja-brand air fryers.

We’ve included parchment paper in our roundup of the best gifts for bakers and cooks. It’s not sexy but boy is it a practical gift.

Other Air Fryer Accessories to Consider

Here are some additional air fryer accessories that can expand the range of foods you can make. And they help make cooking easier for you overall.

Air Fryer Rack

An air fryer rack creates more cooking space in your air fryer basket. Basically, it creates a double-decker or triple-decker cooking surface for you to use. This is important if you have a lot of food to cook and want to get it done all at once. One of the keys to air frying is keeping everything in a single layer so you get sufficient air circulation around your food.

You can use these racks to cook lots of air fryer bacon or air fryer French fries at once. Or, you can use the rack’s multiple layers to air fry different types of food in one basket simultaneously. Just make sure that the rack you purchase matches the shape and size of your air fryer basket.

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. Keep in mind that air fryer baking pans are more appropriate for and will work best in an air fryer that looks like a toaster oven versus one that has a pull-out basket like a deep fryer. Some even come with an extra rack like the stacking ones mentioned above.

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 bites, muffins, or appetizers in your air fryer. They’re reusable and easy to clean, making them valuable in your kitchen.

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 fries in a snap with this handy tool.

Magnetic air fryer cheat sheet

This 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 popular air fryer dishes, so you can enjoy perfectly cooked meals every time.

Portions of this article originally appeared on Food Drink Life