Everyone knows an air fryer makes great fries. What nobody tells you is how many small, annoying problems come with it — the scrubbing, the guesswork, the burned fingers, the "is it done yet?" anxiety. The good news: every one of these problems already has a cheap, clever fix.
Here are the air fryer accessories you didn't know you needed in 2026 — each one solves a real frustration that air fryer owners deal with every week.
Problem: Scrubbing Baked-On Grease Out of the Basket
This is the number one complaint about air fryers, full stop. Cheese melts into the mesh, marinades bake into corners, and suddenly your "easy" appliance takes twenty minutes to clean. Two air fryer accessories end this for good.
The Fix: Reusable Silicone Air Fryer Basket Liners
Drop one of these silicone basket liners in before you cook and cleanup becomes a non-event — lift it out, toss it in the dishwasher, done. The food-grade silicone handles 450°F without breaking a sweat, and the raised ridges keep air flowing underneath so food still gets crispy. This 2-pack replaces hundreds of disposable liners, which means it pays for itself fast.
The Backup Fix: Pre-Cut Parchment Liners
For the stickiest jobs — saucy wings, cheesy anything, caramelized marinades — disposable is sometimes just easier. These pre-cut parchment liners have raised edges that keep grease off your fryer walls entirely. Use them when things get messy, use the silicone liners for everyday cooking, and you'll never scrub a basket again.
Problem: "How Long Does This Take and At What Temperature?"
Every air fryer owner has stood in front of the machine googling "frozen salmon air fryer time" with the clock ticking. Recipes disagree, models vary, and guessing means dried-out chicken or undercooked pork.
The Fix: Magnetic Cheat Sheet for Cooking Times & Temps
This magnetic cheat sheet sticks to your fridge or right on the fryer with times and temperatures for 60+ common foods in big, readable print. No phone with greasy fingers, no second-guessing. Beginners call it the accessory they wish they'd bought on day one — and honestly, experienced cooks use it just as much.
The Precision Fix: Instant Read Meat Thermometer
Times and temps get you close; a thermometer gets you exact. This instant-read digital thermometer tells you in seconds whether that chicken breast is a juicy 165°F or a dry 190°F. It's waterproof with a clear LCD display, and it's the difference between "pretty good" and "perfect" for every protein you cook.
Problem: Food Comes Out Soggy Instead of Crispy
The whole point of an air fryer is crispiness — but food sitting flat in a basket steams in its own juices. The fix is airflow: get food elevated and let hot air attack from every angle.
The Fix: Crisper Grill Pan
This perforated crisper grill pan lifts food onto raised ridges while holes blast hot air underneath. The result: genuinely crispy bottoms, real grill marks, and crunch you'd swear came from a deep fryer. It's a revelation for burgers, chicken thighs, and roasted vegetables.
The Kabob Fix: Skewer Rack with 4 Skewers
Kabobs are the worst offenders — flat in a basket, they steam on the bottom and char on top. This elevated stainless steel skewer rack holds food up in the airflow while four flat-blade skewers stop everything from spinning. Shrimp skewers, chicken satay, and veggie kabobs cook evenly on all sides, and the whole thing is dishwasher safe.
Problem: You Only Use It for Fries and Nuggets
An air fryer is basically a small, powerful convection oven — but most people never get past frozen snacks because they don't have the right inserts. These two air fryer accessories unlock entirely new menus.
The Fix: 12-Piece Accessory Kit
This 12-piece kit is the shortcut: cake barrel for baking, pizza pan, grill rack, skewer set, silicone muffin cups, and more — all sized for 4–6 quart fryers. Suddenly you're baking cakes, roasting full meals, and making breakfast in the thing. It's the highest value-per-dollar upgrade on this list.
The Breakfast Fix: Silicone Egg Bite Molds
Coffee-shop egg bites are absurdly expensive for what they are. These silicone molds (7 cavities each, 4-pack) let you batch-cook a week's worth of protein-packed breakfasts in minutes. They also handle mini muffins, baby food, and frozen treats — and the BPA-free silicone releases everything cleanly.
Problem: Too Much Oil (or Not Enough, in the Wrong Places)
Crispy air fryer food needs a light, even coat of oil. Pouring from a bottle gives you puddles in some spots and dry patches in others — and way more calories than you intended.
The Fix: Refillable Oil Spray Bottle
This oil spray bottle mists a fine, even coat over everything — fries, vegetables, proteins — using a fraction of the oil you'd pour. Fill it with olive, avocado, or whatever you cook with. It's one of those tools that quietly improves every single thing you make.
Problem: Burning Your Hands on a 400°F Basket
Air fryer baskets, racks, and pans come out screaming hot, and they're awkward to grab. Thin cloth mitts and forks are how burns happen.
The Fix: Silicone Tongs + Heat-Resistant Mitts
This silicone tongs set (9" and 12") lets you flip, turn, and lift food without scratching non-stick coatings — and the locking mechanism keeps them compact in a drawer. Pair them with these heat-resistant silicone mitts, rated to 500°F with non-slip grips and long cuffs that protect your wrists. Hot basket? No drama.
Stop Fighting Your Air Fryer
Every frustration on this list — the scrubbing, the guessing, the sogginess, the burns — has a simple fix that costs less than a takeout dinner. Pick the problems that bug you most and solve them this week with the right air fryer accessories. Your air fryer will go from "used sometimes" to "used daily."
Shop all air fryer accessories with free shipping on every order, 30-day easy returns, and 10% off your first order with code WELCOME10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do air fryers really need accessories?
They work fine out of the box, but accessories solve the real pain points: cleanup, guesswork, limited recipes, and safety. Most daily air fryer users say liners and a cheat sheet alone doubled how often they cook with it.
Are reusable silicone liners better than parchment liners?
For everyday cooking, yes — silicone liners are dishwasher-safe, last for years, and cost less over time. Parchment liners are better for extremely messy or saucy recipes where you'd rather toss the mess than wash it. Many owners keep both.
How do I make food crispier in an air fryer?
Three things: don't overcrowd the basket, use a light mist of oil instead of pouring, and elevate food on a perforated crisper pan or rack so hot air circulates underneath. Patting food dry before cooking helps enormously too.
What temperature do most air fryer recipes use?
The sweet spot for most foods is 375–400°F. Frozen snacks do well at 400°F, chicken and proteins at 375–380°F, and delicate items like fish around 350–370°F. A magnetic cheat sheet with exact times per food takes out all the guesswork.
Can I put metal accessories in an air fryer?
Yes — stainless steel racks, skewers, and pans are perfectly safe in air fryers (unlike microwaves). Just make sure they fit inside your basket with room for air to circulate, and always use mitts or tongs to handle them hot.