Are silicone liners safe to use in an air fryer?

Yes, most food-grade silicone liners are safe up to around 230°C (450°F), which is higher than most air fryers reach. Choose a perforated liner designed for air fryers so air can still circulate. Avoid paper liners that aren't weighed down, as the fan can blow them into the heating element.

Do I need a separate grill pan for my air fryer?

No. A grill pan adds grill marks and lets fat drain, but it doesn't create real grilled flavor. If you already have one, use it for fatty meats. If you're buying one for authentic grilling, you'll be disappointed — a simple metal rack is more useful for improving browning.

Can stacking racks really cook two layers at once?

They can, but not as well as a single layer. The bottom layer blocks airflow and the top layer drips, causing uneven results. Stacking works for flat, dry foods like reheating or dehydrating, but for crispy foods like fries, cook in batches instead.

What's the single most useful air fryer accessory?

An instant-read thermometer. Air fryers cook fast, and checking internal temperature prevents both undercooked and overcooked food. It's inexpensive, works with any recipe, and gives you reliable, safe results.

Air Fryer Accessories: What You Actually Need and What You Don't

The Accessory Myth: You Need a Drawer Full of Gadgets

Walk into any kitchen store and you'll see racks of silicone baskets, grill pans, rotisserie kits, and stacking racks, all promising to unlock your air fryer's full potential. The reality is that most air fryers work perfectly well straight out of the box, and many accessories solve problems you may never actually have.

Before buying anything, look at what came with your machine. Most baskets already have a nonstick coating and a perforated crisper tray. That tray is the single most important piece of equipment you own, and it does most of the work. Accessories should either replace a worn part, expand capacity, or make cleanup easier — not duplicate what you already have.

A good test before any purchase: can you name the specific food or task the accessory will improve? If the answer is vague, you probably don't need it.

Stock crisper tray: already handles most everyday cooking
Replacement parts: only needed when the original wears out
Novelty shapes and molds: fun but not essential for daily use

Myth: Silicone Liners Are Essential for Every Cook

Silicone liners are one of the most popular accessories, and they do serve a real purpose: they catch drips and make cleanup faster. But they are not a universal necessity. For foods that need maximum air circulation — like breaded chicken, fries, or anything you want crispy on all sides — a liner can block airflow at the bottom of the basket and actually make results less even.

Reality: liners shine for messy, saucy, or delicate foods. Think of a bubbling cheese melt, a saucy stir-fry, or small items like diced vegetables that might slip through the crisper tray's holes. In those cases, a liner protects the basket and saves you from scrubbing. For dry, crispy foods, skip the liner and let the air do its job.

If you do buy liners, choose perforated silicone ones designed for air fryers. Solid parchment-style liners can be blown around by the fan, and unweighted paper liners may touch the heating element. Always check your model's manual for clearance guidance.

A round perforated silicone liner sitting inside an air fryer basket

Myth: A Grill Pan Turns Your Air Fryer Into a Real Grill

Grill pan accessories are marketed as a way to get char marks and grilled flavor indoors. The reality is more modest. An air fryer circulates hot air, so it can cook a steak or chicken breast well, but it cannot produce the high, direct radiant heat of a charcoal or gas grill. The ridges on a grill pan create grill-like lines, but the flavor will still be air-fried, not grilled.

That said, a grill pan is not useless. The raised ridges let fat drain away from meat, which can give you a slightly leaner result. It also adds a bit of surface area and can help with foods like skewers or small pieces that might otherwise fall through. If you already own one, use it for that purpose. If you're buying one expecting true grilling, you'll be disappointed.

A more practical alternative for many people is a simple metal rack that fits inside the basket. It lifts food closer to the heating element and improves browning on top, which is often the weak spot in air fryer cooking.

Myth: Stacking Racks Double Your Capacity for Free

Stacking racks look like an easy way to cook twice as much food at once. The reality is that air fryers work by circulating hot air around every piece of food. When you stack two layers, the bottom layer blocks airflow to the top layer, and the top layer drips onto the bottom one. The result is often uneven cooking, soggy spots, and longer cook times — which defeats the purpose.

That doesn't mean racks are useless. They work well for foods that don't need much flipping or airflow, such as reheating multiple items, dehydrating herbs, or cooking foods that sit flat like tortillas or small pastries. For a batch of chicken wings or fries, you're better off cooking in two batches with the standard single layer.

If you regularly wish you could cook more at once, the real fix is a larger air fryer, not more racks. A bigger basket gives you true single-layer capacity without the airflow compromise.

Accessory	Best For	Skip If
Stacking rack	Dehydrating, reheating, flat items	You want crispy fries or wings in one batch
Silicone liner	Saucy, messy, delicate foods	You mostly cook dry, crispy foods
Grill pan	Draining fat, grill marks	You expect real grilled flavor
Cake barrel / pan	Cakes, breads, casseroles	You rarely bake in the air fryer

Reality: The Accessories That Earn Their Place

The most useful accessories are the ones that solve a specific, common problem. A cake barrel or a small springform pan turns your air fryer into a mini oven for baking, which is genuinely handy if you live alone or want a small dessert without heating up a full oven. A set of silicone tongs or a heat-resistant spatula makes it easier to flip food without scratching the nonstick coating.

An instant-read thermometer is arguably the most valuable add-on of all. Air fryers cook quickly, and the difference between a perfect chicken breast and a dry one is a matter of a few degrees. Relying on the machine's timer alone is a gamble; checking internal temperature gives you consistent, safe results every time.

Finally, consider a splatter guard or a simple mesh screen if your model tends to spit oil or if you cook fatty foods often. It keeps your counter cleaner and reduces the need for deep cleaning. These small, practical items cost little and genuinely improve the daily experience.