9 accessories to get the most out of your air fryer

Even though you can use air fryers without oil, small amounts can make your food taste better and prevent it from sticking.

But you shouldn’t add too much, as it can drip through the basket and end up smoking, so this is where an oil bottle comes in.

You can choose a ready-made oil spray (such as Frylight), but a more sustainable option is to buy a bottle and add your favourite oil.

The Hioph Olive Oil Dispenser with Brush is a great buy as it can be used to drop oil onto things such as salads or frying pans, but also comes with a handy brush that allows you to apply just the right amount of oil directly to your food.

Liners are a sustainable way to help keep your air fryer clean. Unlike baking paper or tin foil, silicone moulds, like this ones below from Amazon, can be reused over and over again.

Some can also work like a bowl, enabling you to cook foods that have a marinade or sauce that otherwise might drop through the holes in the basket.

Emily Jones, Senior Product Manager at Tefal, says that while accessories can be a great add-on, you need to be careful if crispiness is your desired outcome.

“Trays may make the washing up quicker but will actually stop the airflow around the food, meaning you have to spend more time turning or shaking your food to ensure an even browning and cooking,” she says.

Lakeland has come up with a solution to that. Its silicone liners have holes in them, which help maintain the airflow and ensure everything is still cooked evenly, while also stopping any food from sticking to the bottom.

A good pair of tongs is indispensable when it comes to air frying. You might need to flip your food if shaking isn’t enough, and tongs are the only safe way to do this.

Avoid metal-tipped tongs, though, as they can scratch any non-stick coating on the basket of your air fryer. Instead, choose a pair that are either made entirely from silicone or have silicone tips.

Additional nice-to-haves for tongs include a lock, so you can lock them flat, making storing them a lot easier. Also, long-length tongs are useful, so you don’t risk burning your hand when using them.

These ones by Joseph Joseph also feature a handy integrated rest so they don’t lean onto the kitchen surface, keeping everything hygienic while you cook.

Unless you’ve got asbestos hands, oven gloves are a necessity when it comes to air fryer cooking, as the internal and external parts of the appliance can get very hot.

Traditional oven gloves, however, can be a bit bulky, which is where silicone oven mitts come in. They have a secure non-slip grip and, because they’re smaller than traditional gloves, they’re easier to use with the basket.

They can also be thrown into the dishwasher to keep nice and clean, plus their small size means you can store them easily. Bear in mind that they do only cover your fingers, so you still need to be careful with the rest of your hands.

If you want to extend your air fryer repertoire to include something other than chips and fried chicken, you need to get some tins and/or silicone bakeware.

Not only can you then cook sweet treats such as cakes and apple crumble, but you can also use them to cook more sauce-based savoury foods. Without one, the sauce would run through the holes, potentially causing a fire hazard.

Obviously, don’t choose anything made from plastic, as it will melt. Other than that, you can go with anything that you put into an oven, such as a metal, ceramic or silicone container.

As a great introduction set, Ninja produces a three-piece set, which includes a round baking tin (which can also be used to cook pizza), a loaf tin and a crisper pan, to help give extra crunch to certain foods.

For some dishes, such as chips and chicken nuggets, a good shake of the basket is all that’s needed to ensure an even cook. For others, you’re going to need a trusty spatula.

If you’re doing a dish that needs regular stirring and your air fryer doesn’t have a paddle, or you’re baking with your air fryer, this is a must-have.

Go for a silicone one, as it’s softer than metal and less likely to cause any damage. Plus, its soft, flexible nature means you’ll get every little bit out of your basket when it’s ready to serve.

Have some fun and choose one that’s a nice colour, to brighten up your air fryer time.

More of a nice-to-have rather than a must-have, a roasting rack can help you achieve a super-crisp coating on dishes. The rack elevates the food and allows the heat to circulate around it more freely. It also means any extra oil drains away from meat or fish dishes, giving healthier results.

Adding a rack can also double up the amount you can cook in one go, saving you time and money. That’s a rack hack that we can get on board with!

You just need to ensure it’s the right size for your air fryer, such as this pair designed to fit rectangle dual air fryer baskets.

A thermometer helps to reduce the risk of food poisoning by ensuring that the food in your air fryer is cooked to the right temperature.

The standard advice from the Food Standards Agency is to cook food until it has reached a core temperature of 70°C (158°F) for two minutes.

A probe thermometer is the best way to check the core temperature of the food. Just make sure you insert the probe into the thickest part of whatever you’re cooking.

The ThermoPro TP16 Digital Meat Thermometer even comes with pre-set temperatures for certain foods to make safe cooking even easier.

Your air fryer basket will still be very warm when you remove it from the machine, so a trivet or heat-safe board is a good purchase to protect your kitchen countertops. There are a few different types of heatproof options you can purchase.

Silicone heatproof mat or trivets: Silicone mats are capable of resisting heat up to around 250°C (480°F). These are also great if you don’t have space to keep a mat or board out on the counter. They can easily be bunged into the dishwasher to keep clean and are relatively cheap. Try this very stylish pair of silicone trivets from John Lewis.

Wooden chopping board: If you want to use a wooden board, go for a hardwood like maple or walnut. Softwoods, such as pine, are more likely to warp and crack under the heat. M&S have a chopping board (below) made from acacia wood, which is durable and sustainably sourced.

While the wood can take the heat, you may leave burn marks on it with your air fryer pans and drawer. However, it will protect the countertop. Oil the chopping board regularly to give it a longer-lasting life.

Worktop saver: These are designed to be left on your worktop and are usually quite decorative. Made from tempered glass, they’re heat resistant, so are a good choice if you have the space. They’re also pretty affordable – this Habitat one has a stylish modern design and is a bargain at just £6.50.