Best Air Fryer Accessories in 2026: 8 Picks That Actually Get Used

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Search "air fryer accessories" and you will find dozens of 20-piece kits bundled in a carrying case. They look impressive. Most of the pieces will sit in a drawer after the first month.

The accessories that actually earn their counter space are the ones you reach for on day one and still use a year later. This list is built around that criterion: what do experienced air fryer cooks actually grab, every week, without thinking about it?

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If you are just getting started, our air fryer beginner guide covers which model to buy first — come back here once you have your unit and you want to set it up properly.

The 8 Best Air Fryer Accessories

1. Perforated Parchment Liners

Why you need them: These round or square liners sit inside the basket and prevent food from sticking without blocking airflow. The perforations are critical — solid parchment stops air circulation and produces soggy results.

What to look for: Match the size to your basket (3.5-quart, 5.8-quart, or 8-quart). Most come in packs of 100 and cost around $8-12. Avoid liners larger than your basket; they can fold up against the heating element.

Best use cases: Salmon, breaded chicken, sticky marinades, and anything with cheese.

Shop Perforated Parchment Liners on Amazon

2. Instant-Read Meat Thermometer

Why you need them: The single biggest mistake beginners make is guessing doneness by time alone. Every air fryer runs slightly differently, and protein thickness varies. A thermometer removes all guesswork.

What to look for: A digital thermometer that reads in under 3 seconds. The Thermapen-style probes are the gold standard, but reliable units exist in the $15-25 range. Look for a foldable probe so it is safe to store in a drawer.

Safe internal temperatures:

| Protein | Safe Temp | |---------|-----------| | Chicken (all) | 165 degrees F | | Ground beef/turkey | 160 degrees F | | Pork (chops, tenderloin) | 145 degrees F | | Fish and seafood | 145 degrees F | | Steak (medium-rare) | 130-135 degrees F |

Shop Instant-Read Thermometers on Amazon

3. Refillable Oil Spray Bottle

Why you need them: Aerosol cooking sprays like PAM contain propellants and emulsifiers that degrade non-stick coatings over time. A refillable mister filled with avocado or olive oil gives you precise, even coverage without destroying your basket.

What to look for: A glass or BPA-free plastic bottle with a pump-spray mechanism. Price range: $10-16. Fill it with a high-smoke-point oil — avocado oil (520 degrees F smoke point) is the best all-purpose choice for air frying.

Pro tip: A light mist is all you need. Two to three pumps over a basket of vegetables is plenty.

Shop Refillable Oil Misters on Amazon

4. Silicone Tongs (9-inch)

Why you need them: Metal tongs scratch non-stick baskets. Wooden tongs can splinter or burn. Silicone-tipped tongs at 9 inches give you enough reach to flip food in a hot basket without burning your hand, without scratching the coating.

What to look for: Silicone tips with a locking mechanism for compact storage. Price range: $8-14. Avoid the very long tongs designed for grills — 9 inches is the sweet spot for most air fryer baskets.

Shop Silicone Tongs on Amazon

5. Small Metal Rack or Multi-Layer Skewer Set

Why you need them: Elevating food off the basket floor improves airflow around the bottom of your food and gives you genuinely crispier results. Skewer sets let you cook kebabs vertically, which is particularly efficient for proteins.

What to look for: A rack that fits your specific basket diameter with at least 1 inch of clearance beneath it. Skewer sets should be stainless steel and dishwasher-safe. Price range: $10-20 depending on configuration.

Best use cases: Whole chicken legs, kebabs, layered batch cooking during air fryer meal prep.

Shop Air Fryer Racks and Skewer Sets on Amazon

6. Oven-Safe Ramekins or Silicone Baking Cups

Why you need them: For eggs, molten desserts, individual gratins, and anything liquid, you need a vessel that fits inside the basket and can withstand 400 degrees F. Silicone baking cups are flexible and easy to unmold. Ceramic ramekins are sturdier and work for both cooking and serving.

What to look for: Confirm the ramekin diameter fits in your basket with room around the edges for airflow. 4-ounce ramekins fit most 5.8-quart and larger baskets. Price range: $12-20 for a set of four.

Shop Oven-Safe Ramekins on Amazon

7. Non-Scratch Cleaning Brush

Why you need them: A stiff nylon bristle brush with a long handle lets you clean the basket and crevices around the heating element without scratching the coating or fishing crumbs out with a paper towel. Non-stick baskets last years when cleaned correctly; they degrade quickly when scrubbed with abrasive pads.

What to look for: Nylon bristles (not metal), a handle long enough to reach the back of the basket, and a hook for hanging. Price range: $6-12.

Cleaning tip: Soak the basket in hot, soapy water for 5 minutes immediately after cooking. Grease releases much more easily than when you wait for it to cool and harden.

Shop Non-Scratch Cleaning Brushes on Amazon

8. Glass Meal Prep Containers

Why you need them: If you cook in batches — and you should, because the air fryer excels at batch cooking — you need containers that go from the fridge to the air fryer for reheating without transferring between vessels. Glass containers with locking lids handle both jobs perfectly.

What to look for: Oven-safe borosilicate glass with BPA-free locking lids. A set of four 3-cup containers covers most meal-prep use cases. Price range: $25-35 for a quality set of four to six.

Pairing this with: Our air fryer meal prep guide covers the full Sunday batch cooking system these containers support.

Shop Glass Meal Prep Containers on Amazon

Accessories Comparison at a Glance

| Accessory | Price Range | Priority | Best For | |-----------|-------------|----------|----------| | Perforated parchment liners | $8-12 | Day 1 essential | Preventing sticking | | Instant-read thermometer | $15-25 | Day 1 essential | Food safety and precision | | Refillable oil mister | $10-16 | Day 1 essential | Coating without aerosol propellants | | Silicone tongs | $8-14 | Day 1 essential | Flipping food safely | | Metal rack / skewer set | $10-20 | Upgrade | Elevated crisping, kebabs | | Ramekins / silicone cups | $12-20 | Upgrade | Eggs, desserts, individual portions | | Non-scratch cleaning brush | $6-12 | Day 1 essential | Basket longevity | | Glass meal prep containers | $25-35 | Upgrade | Batch cooking and storage |

Day 1 priority (under $60 total): Liners + thermometer + oil mister + tongs + cleaning brush. Those five will improve every cook you do from the first night.

Accessories to Skip

The marketing around air fryer accessories is aggressive. Here are the ones that sound useful but rarely earn their drawer space:

Massive 20-piece kits: Most pieces are redundant duplicates or only work with specific basket shapes. Buy individually for better quality and fit.
Dehydrating trays: Useful only if you plan to dehydrate regularly. Most air fryers do it poorly compared to a dedicated dehydrator.
Silicone basket inserts as a liner replacement: They block airflow around the bottom and eliminate the crisping advantage of the basket design.
Pizza pans: If you want to make pizza, use the oven. The air fryer pizza pan results are rarely better than a standard oven at the same total time.

What to Cook Once You Have the Right Setup

With your accessories sorted, here is where to put them to work:

Budget meals (under $3 per serving): Our cheap air fryer meals guide shows how to cook well on a tight grocery budget.
Batch cooking: The air fryer meal prep guide walks you through a 90-minute Sunday session that keeps you fed all week.
Beginners: If you are still learning the basics of the appliance itself, the air fryer beginner guide is the right starting point.

Get the Recipes to Match

Once your accessories are in place, the next step is building a recipe rotation that actually uses them. Air Fryer 30-Minute Meals for Beginners is organized by protein type and cook time — every recipe was tested in a standard 5.8-quart basket with exactly the accessories listed above.

Download the free Air Fryer Quick-Start Kit — includes a cooking times chart, a beginner checklist, and three starter recipes.

Or if you are ready to go deeper, the full cookbook is available for $4.99:

Buy Air Fryer 30-Minute Meals for Beginners

Want 30+ easy air fryer recipes? Grab Air Fryer 30-Minute Meals for Beginners — quick weeknight dinners your family will love. Just $4.99. Get the Cookbook

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need accessories to use an air fryer? No. The basket alone works fine for most recipes. Accessories improve results and reduce cleanup time — they are upgrades, not requirements.

Are third-party accessories safe for my air fryer? Yes, as long as they are oven-safe to at least 400 degrees F and sized to fit your basket with airflow clearance. Stick to silicone, stainless steel, and borosilicate glass.

Can I use aluminum foil instead of parchment liners? You can, but only in the basket (never above the basket near the heating element). Perforated parchment is easier to work with and does not affect flavor. Foil works as a backup.

What accessories work for dual-basket air fryers? The same accessories apply, but you need to confirm dimensions for each basket separately. Dual baskets are often a different shape than standard round or square baskets.