6 Air Fryer Accessory Sets Under $30 You Didn't Know You Needed

Ever wonder why your air fryer meals never turn out like the recipe photos? The chicken wings aren't as crispy. The veggies are steaming instead of roasting. The basket is impossible to clean. Nine times out of ten, the problem isn't your air fryer — it's that you're missing a few $6 accessories that the people in those photos use without mentioning.

Air fryers are the one kitchen appliance that actually lives up to the hype, but they're sold with basically nothing. No liners, no racks, no way to cook more than one layer at a time. The good news is that the accessories are all dirt cheap, and a set or two will completely change what you're able to make.

Here are six accessory categories, each under $30, that make a real difference.

1. Silicone Liners — The Cleanup Game-Changer

Silicone air fryer liners ($14 for a set of 2) are the single most useful accessory you can buy. They sit inside the basket, catch all the grease and drips, and pop out for a 20-second rinse.

The basket itself doesn't need to soak if you use a liner. The perforations in silicone liners let hot air circulate the same way the basket does, so your food still crisps normally. They come in round and square versions — measure your basket first. Most 5-6 quart air fryers take a round liner in the 8-inch or 9-inch size. At $14 for two, that's $7 each, and they last for years if you don't put them in the dishwasher (hand wash only, but it takes seconds).

Stack one in the basket at the start of every cook, and you'll wonder how you went without it.

2. A Multi-Level Rack — Cook Two Things at Once

A stainless steel rack with skewers ($18) lets you cook protein and vegetables at the same time on two levels. This is how people actually use air fryers for full meals instead of just snacks.

The rack sits in the basket and creates an upper tier. You load chicken thighs on the bottom (they need more time) and asparagus or broccoli on top (they cook faster and benefit from being closer to the heat element). Everything finishes at the same time. The included skewers thread through meat, kebabs, or rolled-up bacon wraps that would otherwise fall over. Stainless steel means it goes in the dishwasher, which is important because grease drips on the lower level through to the basket liner.

The two-tier setup is a genuinely different way to cook. Dinner for two in one basket, one cook time.

3. Parchment Liners — For Baking and Sticky Foods

Parchment air fryer liners ($9 for 100 sheets) are the right tool for baking, fish, and anything with a marinade. Unlike silicone, they're disposable — no cleanup at all.

Silicone liners are great for most things, but sticky foods like glazed salmon or marinated chicken thighs cling to them in a way that's hard to clean. Parchment doesn't have that problem. These are pre-cut rounds with perforations that fit the basket exactly — you don't have to cut anything. 100 sheets is about a 3-4 month supply if you cook with your air fryer every day. At $9 a box, that's under 10 cents per use. They also work for air-fried cookies, muffins, and egg bites where you want zero sticking and zero cleanup.

Keep both silicone and parchment on hand — they serve different purposes and the parchment cost is negligible.

4. Silicone Tongs — Stop Scratching the Basket

Long silicone tongs ($12) are made specifically for air fryer baskets: the silicone tips don't scratch the nonstick coating, and the extra length keeps your hands away from the 400-degree interior.

Most people use whatever tongs they have, which are usually metal. Metal on nonstick is a bad combination that eventually strips the coating and makes everything stick. Silicone tips grip food securely without scratching, and the grip-lock mechanism keeps them closed in the drawer. The 12-inch length is the right call for air fryers — you want to reach the back of a 6-quart basket without your hand hovering over the opening. These also work for your regular pots and pans, so they're not a single-use accessory.

5. Skewer Set — Air Fryer Kebabs Actually Work

A dedicated skewer set with a rack ($16) makes air fryer kebabs one of the easiest weeknight meals you can make. Marinate in the morning, thread and cook in 12 minutes when you get home.

The set includes a rack that sits in the basket and 6-8 flat metal skewers that rest on it. Flat skewers matter: round ones let the food spin, so you end up with one raw side. Flat skewers lock vegetables and meat in place so everything chars evenly on all sides. The rack elevates everything so hot air circulates underneath. Thread chicken, peppers, zucchini, and onion in any combination, set to 380 for 12 minutes, and you have dinner. Cleanup is one basket liner and a quick skewer rinse.

Kebabs used to feel like a weekend thing. With this set they're a Tuesday thing.

The One Everyone Overlooks: A Silicone Pot Insert

A silicone pot insert ($22) turns your air fryer into a small slow-cooker or baking vessel. Use it for individual egg bites, small casseroles, rice, or reheating soups without a bowl.

This is the least obvious but genuinely useful one. The insert is basically a small silicone dish that sits in the basket and holds liquid. That means you can make custards, egg bites, rice (in small amounts), bread pudding, or anything where you need sides to keep things contained. It's also the right tool for reheating soup — pour it in, cover with foil, air fry at 300 for 5-6 minutes. No dirty pot. At $22 for a set of 2, it unlocks a whole category of cooking that most people don't even know air fryers can handle.

Quick Tips

• Always measure your basket before buying accessories — round vs. square and the diameter matter for fit
• Use parchment for sticky glazes and marinades, silicone for everything else
• The multi-level rack is worth it even if you mostly cook for one: use one level for protein and the other to crisp up leftover rice or fries while your main cooks
• Wash silicone accessories by hand with warm soapy water — dishwashers warp them over time
• If your air fryer meals taste steamed instead of crispy, you're probably overcrowding the basket, not missing an accessory — these won't fix that problem

Total for all six accessories: under $90 for the full set, and you'd realistically use all of them on rotation. Start with the silicone liners if you want one thing — they solve the most common frustration immediately.

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