Walk into any kitchen store and you'll find a wall of air fryer accessories. Grill racks, mesh baskets, silicone cups, rotisserie kits — each one promising to unlock something your air fryer can't do on its own.
Most of them are overpriced and collect dust after two uses.
This is the honest breakdown.
The One Accessory Worth Every Penny: A Reusable Liner
FryGuard fits inside your air fryer basket and does what no other accessory can: it eliminates the post-cook cleaning without adding any work. See the full parchment vs. silicone comparison → · Compare all liner options →
Food sits on top, grease drains through the raised ridges, the basket stays clean. After cooking, rinse the mat or throw it in the dishwasher. Done.
Every other accessory on this list is optional. This one changes the experience of using an air fryer daily. That's why it appears in every article we write — because it's the product we built and because it actually works.
Accessories That Are Worth It
Silicone Baking Cups
Useful for cooking foods that would otherwise fall through the basket grate — egg bites, mac and cheese cups, small frittatas. Look for food-grade silicone rated to 450°F.
Good Tongs (Silicone-Tipped)
Not a specialty accessory — just the right tool. Air fryer baskets get hot. Silicone-tipped tongs let you flip food without scraping the coating. Get a set with different sizes.
Perforated Parchment Paper
Works well, but see our full cleaning guide for why parchment burns and what to use instead. You're also spending $25–50/year on disposable sheets.
A Small Wire Rack
For cooking two-level meals. Useful if you cook multi-component meals regularly.
Accessories That Are Overhyped
| Accessory | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pizza stone / baking pan | Skip | Air fryers lack thermal mass — doesn't work well |
| Grill plates / rack | Skip | Blocks airflow, extends cook time, hard to clean |
| Silicone rack covers | Skip | Food sticks to silicone, you clean two things now |
| Extra basket | Skip | Only if yours is broken |
The Honest Bottom Line
Most air fryer accessories are engineered to sell, not to improve cooking. The industry knows air fryer owners are frustrated with cleaning — so they make accessories that create more cleaning.
The one exception is anything that reduces cleaning and improves food results simultaneously. A silicone liner like FryGuard does both. Everything else is a compromise you probably don't need.
Skip the scrubbing.
FryGuard keeps your basket clean automatically. Reusable, dishwasher safe, BPA-free.
Join the FryGuard waitlist →