ARTICLE
The Best Air Fryer Accessories You Actually Need
March 17, 2026-5 min read
If you already own an air fryer, you know how quickly it earns its bench space! The real question is which accessories for air fryer cooking are genuinely useful, and which ones will end up unused in a drawer.
The good news is that for most homes, you won’t need a lot. The best air fryer accessories are the ones that solve a real problem: cooking delicate foods, expanding what your fryer can do, or making clean-up faster. This guide will help you navigate the Air Fryer accessories that will actually be helpful, and those you can skip!
Key Takeaways
The right air fryer accessories can make cooking easier, faster and more versatile.
Baking pans, trays, liners and mats can help with cleaner, more efficient food preparation.
Specialised tools like grilling racks, skewers and inserts expand what you can cook.
Always check brand and model compatibility before buying.
Durable, easy-clean accessories usually offer the best long-term value.
Essential Air Fryer Accessories
For most households, the must-have list is short: one baking pan or tray, one rack or skewer setup for proteins, and liners or small air fryer safe containers for messy foods. Just remember, the goal is not to fill a cupboard; it’s to make midweek dinners and weekend snacks for the kids easier!
Commonly Recommended Accessories
Baking pans and trays
A baking pan is usually the first add-on worth buying. It turns your air fryer into a mini oven for frittatas, brownies, baked oats, lasagne, mini crumbles and leftovers that would fall through a basket. Most ovenproof dishes can be used in an air fryer if it is made from glass, ceramic, metal or silicone, so this is one of the easiest accessories for air fryer owners to add. Just be sure to check your user guide before use and double check your pan or tray is oven proof.
Of course - size matters. Look for ovenproof dishes or small casserole-style pieces that fit inside your basket without crowding it. The main rule is to measure the usable basket space, not just the advertised litre capacity. Leave room for hot air to circulate, avoid dishes that cover most of the basket, and prioritise easy-clean materials. To really save time make sure the pan or tray is also dishwasher safe!
Liners and mats
Liners are super popular and can be fantastic for sticky foods, marinated meats and crumbly bakes, but they are not essential for every cook. Just be cautious when using them that the baking paper or foil covering the basket or pan bottom does not reduce airflow and therefore cooking performance.
In practice, that means the best liners are shaped for your basket, lightly perforated where appropriate, and used only when the food actually needs them. If your family cooks honey soy salmon, cheesy scrolls or reheated pizza, liners earn their place. If you mainly cook frozen chips, you can probably skip them. Among accessories for air fryer clean-up, liners are useful, but only when fit and airflow are right.
If you also want to protect the bench underneath your appliance, a separate mat can help. Technically speaking. It is not an in-basket accessory, but it can be a practical add-on for kitchens where the air fryer lives on the benchtop every day.
Specialised Accessories
Grilling racks and skewers
Racks and skewer sets can be super useful. They let you cook flatter foods in layers and separate proteins from vegetables. This is also where brand-specific fit matters most. You should choose accessory that match your exact Airfryer model rather than accessories that claim a ‘universal fit’. In other words, if you are looking at Philips air fryer accessories or Philips air fryer attachments, treat the model number as an essential part of your purchase research.
For Ninja users, the same rule applies. The Ninja Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300 has two 3.8L drawers, dishwasher-safe crisper plates and Match or Sync functions across two baskets, so any rack, tray or liner has to suit that dual-drawer layout rather than a single-basket fryer.
Air fryer inserts and containers
Small containers are underrated. Think ramekins and mini baking dishes for foods that do better contained, from baked oats to puddings. They are especially handy for portioning desserts, sides or saucy add-ons without making a mess of the whole basket.
Air Fryer Brands and Accessories to Explore
Philips air fryer accessory range
Philips is a great example of why brand-matched buying works. The brand’s official accessories pages tell shoppers to choose their Airfryer model to find the right fit, and The Good Guys stocks both Philips air fryers and the Philips Airfryer XL Double Layer Kit HD9905/00. If you are researching Philips air fryer accessories, start with your exact model, then add only what expands the way you cook.
It’s also worth exploring the broader Philips kitchen appliance range, the Philips Airfryer Range buying guide, and The Good Guys article on the best Philips Air Fryer features if you are deciding whether to buy accessories now or upgrade your fryer first.
Ninja air fryer accessory range
Ninja users should think in zones, not just litres. The Ninja Dual Zone Air Fryer AF300 has a 7.6L capacity, two cooking drawers, dishwasher-safe crisper plates and six cooking programs, so any add-on needs to work with that split layout. Verified purchaser reviews on The Good Guys rate the AF300 at 4.8 out of 5 from 853 reviews, with customers praising ease of use, dual-drawer convenience and easy cleaning, although some note the individual compartments feel smaller than expected. That is exactly why size checking matters before you buy accessories for air fryer drawers.(Review summary current as of 10th March 2026)
Tefal fryer accessory range
Tefal also makes a strong case for buying by model. The Good Guys stocks the Tefal air fryer range and the Tefal Easy Fry XXL Air Fryer Accessory 20cm XA1130. If you want one set that covers baking, pizza, skewers and rack cooking.
Other brands to consider
Brand matching matters beyond Philips, Ninja and Tefal. The current Breville air fryers range at The Good Guys centres on Smart Oven Air Fryer models, which changes the kind of trays and inserts you need. And with Sunbeam, some oven-style models already include baskets, trays, roasting trays or multiple accessories in the box, so your extra purchases may be minimal. In other words, always check what your model already includes before buying anything else.
How to Choose the Right Accessories
Compatibility with different air fryer brands
The safest way to buy is to work backwards from your model number. First, note whether you have a single-basket fryer, dual-drawer fryer or oven-style air fryer. Then measure the internal cooking space and compare it with the accessory’s usable dimensions, not just the marketing label. That is also the step that determines whether a generic set works well or ends up at the bottom of the unused container cupboard!
When you are shopping air fryer accessories online, check four things: exact dimensions, heat-safe materials, whether airflow will remain open, and whether the product is truly universal or only suits select models.
A good cross-check is The Good Guys’ Air Fryer Buying Guide. It explains the difference between basket-style and oven-style machines and helps you work out whether you need more accessories or simply a bigger fryer.
Durability and maintenance
To make accessories last longer, wash off grease before it bakes on, avoid abrasive scrubbers on non-stick surfaces, and store racks or skewers where they will not warp smaller liners or trays. If you use silicone, make sure it is genuinely oven-safe and shaped to your basket so it supports airflow rather than smothering it. Among all airfryer accessories, easy-clean pieces are usually the ones that earn repeat use!
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FAQs
What extras do you need with an air fryer?
Most households only need three things: a baking pan or tray for bakes, a rack or skewer set for layered cooking, and a liner or small container for sticky or saucy foods. If your fryer sits on the bench full-time, a mat underneath can also help. Start small, then add only the extras you will actually use.
Is it worth getting silicone liners for an air fryer?
Yes, but only for the right jobs. Silicone liners are useful for sticky foods and faster clean-up, but they are not ideal for everything. If they cover too much of the basket or block the bottom airflow, crisping can suffer. Always check the user manual to see if silicone liners are right for your model.
What is not recommended in an air fryer?
Anything that is not ovenproof, anything oversized that stops hot air circulating, and anything that covers the basket or pan bottom too heavily. Baking paper and foil used across the bottom can reduce airflow and cooking performance. The same caution applies to thick, poorly fitted mats or trays.
What is the disadvantage of silicone mats?
The main downside is potential airflow loss. A silicone mat that is too large, too thick or not designed for your basket can reduce crisping because hot air cannot move around the food as effectively. So while reusable mats can be handy, they work best when they fit properly and are used for the right foods rather than every cook.
The bottom line: buy fewer, better accessories and be sure they match your exact model. For most families, the sweet spot is one baking pan, one rack or skewer setup, and one liner or insert option for messy meals. Start with fit, prioritise easy cleaning, and use brand-specific options when basket shape really matters. That is the easiest way to find air fryer accessories Australia families will actually use.