Air Fryer Must-Haves: 8 Accessories I Actually Use

Oct 26

3 min read

Updated: Oct 30

My air fryer runs almost every weeknight from October to April. These are the accessories that earned a permanent spot in my kitchen, plus a few things I wish someone had told me before I bought my first one.

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Getting the house ready for the rainy months too? My free Portland Fall Home Checklist covers the rest of the house in one page.

Cindy Main at home, sharing the air fryer accessories she actually uses

Before you buy anything

Know your basket size. It's listed in quarts in your manual. Liners, racks and kits are sized to the basket, and the wrong size is the most common reason they get returned.
Never run parchment without food on it. My Cosori manual is clear on this: the air can lift the paper into the heating coil. Put the food on the liner first, then start it.
Give it room. The same manual asks for a flat, heat-resistant surface with about 5 inches of space behind and above the fryer, and says never to use an outlet below the counter.

Every model is a little different, so check your own manual. Here's the Cosori manual I'm quoting.

1. Parchment liners

These square parchment air fryer liners fit 5 to 8 quart baskets and catch the drips, so the basket only needs a quick rinse. Check today's price on Amazon.

2. Reusable silicone liners

If you'd rather not toss paper, a 2-pack of silicone liners does the same job and goes in the dishwasher. They fit 5 to 6.5 quart baskets. Check today's price on Amazon.

3. An oil sprayer

Air fryers need very little oil. My manual says no more than 2 tablespoons. A refillable glass oil sprayer gives an even mist of your own olive oil instead of a pour. Check today's price on Amazon.

4. An instant-read thermometer

Air fryers cook fast, and the line between done and dry is short. An instant-read meat thermometer reads in seconds. Check today's price on Amazon.

The numbers I check against, from the USDA: chicken 165°F, ground meat 160°F, pork chops 145°F with a 3-minute rest, and salmon 145°F.

5. Silicone-tipped tongs

The manual says to avoid metal utensils on the basket. These silicone-tipped tongs come in two sizes, and the short pair is just right for flipping wings. Check today's price on Amazon.

6. An egg bites mold

This silicone egg bites mold makes seven at once. I make a batch on Sunday and warm them up on school mornings. Check today's price on Amazon.

7. A cook-time magnet

A magnetic cheat sheet with times and temperatures lives on the side of my fridge, so I'm not scrolling with greasy fingers. Check today's price on Amazon.

8. A starter accessory kit

For more than fries, this 9-piece accessory kit adds a cake pan, pizza pan, rack and skewers. It's sized for 3.7 to 5.8 quart baskets, so check yours first. It turns the air fryer into a second oven at the holidays. Check today's price on Amazon.

Cleanup, the Portland way

If you're in the City of Portland, food scraps go in the green compost cart. Used parchment liners don't, and neither does grease. Let the grease cool, seal it in a container and put it in the garbage. Portland's compost guide has the full list.

You can see all eight picks together in my Amazon storefront.

Settling into a new kitchen?

My Move + Settle-In Planner keeps the move, the utilities and the first week in one place, so dinner isn't the only thing that gets sorted.