While the air fryer is pretty amazing on its own, there are also some seriously nifty accessories out there that can raise your cooking game even further. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of using an air fryer, how to choose the best air fryer accessories and get product recommendations from food experts. Here at Parade.com, we’re all about sharing products we love with our audience. When you make a purchase on an item seen on this page, we may earn a commission, however, all picks are independently chosen unless otherwise mentioned.
What Is an Air Fryer, Exactly?
First things first, let’s explain what an air fryer is and how it works. “An air fryer is a small convection oven that circulates air around the appliance, causing food to get crispier and cook more quickly,” explains Samantha Lynn, owner of Everyday Family Cooking. There you have it!
The Benefits of Using an Air Fryer
There are plenty of reasons why you’d want an air fryer. For starters, “anyone who loves crispy food, quick and easy cooking and even someone who loves cooking frozen foods will love it,” says Lynn. GiGi Ashworth, allergen-friendly chef, nutritionist and author, adds that if you want to achieve the taste and texture of fried food without the negative health effects, then an air fryer is an excellent kitchen tool to have on hand. That’s because it’s a healthier means of crisping up food since you don’t need oil to use to cook with it (although you certainly can!). Other benefits? It cooks things twice as fast as an oven would, notes Thomas Seres, air fryer expert at Fryer Consumer. “It also consumes a lot less electricity, and the appliance itself is cheap compared to ovens.” Plus, you can cook almost anything in an air fryer. “The best foods, in my opinion, to cook in the air fryer are chicken wings and salmon, but anything can be cooked in an air fryer, even cake and donuts,” says Ashworth.
How to Choose the Best Air Fryer Accessories
Not sure where to start when it comes to air fryer accessories? We’ve got you covered. Here are answers to your most commonly asked questions so you can find the best air fryer accessories.
What accessories go with an air fryer?
There’s pretty much an endless array of accessories that go with an air fryer. According to Ashworth, some of the most popular options include insert racks, silicone inserts, rotisserie forks, roasting lifters, silicone oven mitts, tongs, skewer racks, basting brushes and molded pan inserts. Other popular air fryer accessories include parchment paper liners, silicone baskets, cake pans, silicone muffin pans, wire racks and oil misters, adds Lynn. Just keep in mind that air fryers vary in shape and size, so you’ll always want to check if an accessory is compatible with your air fryer before you buy it.
Which utensils are best for an air fryer?
“I always recommend using silicone and/or plastic utensils such as spatulas and tongs for the air fryer,” says Lynn. “An air fryer is non-stick, and scratching the non-stick surface can cause it to peel and ruin the basket.”
What should you not put in an air fryer?
Just as important as knowing what you can put in an air fryer is understanding what doesn’t belong inside the device. “Do not put anything that is not oven-safe in the air fryer,” advises Lynn. “This includes wax paper, plastic containers and more.” There are also certain foods that are best left out of the air fryer. “Don’t cook anything wet in an air fryer like battered chicken,” says Deborah Rainford, a UK-based Cordon Bleu-trained chef who runs Savvy Bites. “The coating will never crisp up and you’ll end up with a gooey mess.” Rainford adds that pasta and grains like rice are also a no-go. “An air fryer is meant to dry cook food, so trying to cook something that needs to be immersed in water won’t work,” she says.
Can I use aluminum foil in the air fryer?
Yes, you can use aluminum foil in an air fryer, says Rainford. “It can make a quick and easy job out of cleaning up after cooking something with a sticky glaze or with a breadcrumb coating,” she explains. “Just be sure to read your instruction manual to make sure you’ve not missed any warnings.” Lynn adds that aluminum foil can help catch roast drippings, help you easily pull out foods such as nachos and can be used to cover chicken or corn on the cob.
17 Best Accessories for an Air Fryer, According to Food Experts
Ready to go shopping? Here are the best air fryer accessories, including picks for the best Ninja Air Fryer accessories. Sources
Samantha Lynn, owner of Everyday Family CookingGiGi Ashworth, allergen-friendly chef, nutritionist and authorThomas Seres, air fryer expert at Fryer ConsumerDeborah Rainford, a UK-based Cordon Bleu-trained chef who runs Savvy Bites
