Five practical helpers for the Airfryer
14-1-2026
Translation: machine translated
Have you just bought a hot air fryer? There's a big risk that you're now spending money on unnecessary accessories. I'll show you what's really worth it.
I've been in the Airfryer game for around two years. But really. My oven even looked at me reproachfully the other day because it felt neglected. Unfortunately, I'm a victim of advertising and in my Airfryer euphoria I bought far too many accessories that appeared in my social media feeds. Because these are the only things that work for me in everyday life.
Spray bottle for oil
Theoretically, the air fryer also works without oil. But a touch of it makes the difference between «tastes okay» and «wow, delicious». Trust me.
I'm currently using this bottle here.
The body is made of glass, which is the most important thing for me personally. Don't just pull the lever at the top like you would with a gun, otherwise you'll get a fat jet. It's better to do it slowly and with feeling: this creates the fine mist of oil that makes chips nice and brown or poultry crispy.
Always spray the oil onto the food outside the airfryer. Fresh cooking oil on the hot heating element of the appliance is not a good idea for fire safety reasons. Speaking of heat: When choosing the right oil, make sure it has a high smoke point. I use rapeseed oil with its heat resistance up to 230 degrees as an all-rounder. Sunflower oil can withstand up to 225 degrees. It remains neutral in flavour even when heated and is a good alternative to rapeseed oil.
Tongs
The cooking basket of the Airfryer is cramped. While you can turn fries or vegetables by shaking them vigorously, this is more of a game of chance with baked rolls, meat and fish. Get yourself a pair of barbecue tongs, preferably made of silicone. You won't burn your fingers, can grip the food securely and won't damage the non-stick coating of the basket.
I have had good experiences with these from Kuhn Rikon. The ribbed surface of the tongs' cheeks is a real advantage because it prevents individual nuggets or pieces of vegetables from slipping away. With my old barbecue tongs, I always found turning them quite fiddly. But that can also be a matter of taste. If your budget allows, it's best to buy two sets of tongs. One is always straight in the dishwasher.
When I take the moulds out of the Airfryer, I wear gloves. I bought these for the grill, but they also work well in the kitchen.
Baking tins, but with handles please
Casseroles, omelettes, muffins and cakes also work with the Airfryer. I only bake cakes in theory - I just don't like baking. I have silicone moulds for everything else. I can clean them easily and nothing sticks. When using them, you just have to make sure that you stick to the temperature indicated on the mould. Otherwise they'll melt and you'll end up with all the mess stuck in the Airfryer.
Of course, you can also use metal moulds. They conduct heat better and don't melt. The only important thing is that your moulds have upward-facing handles. This makes it easier to lift them out.
Most manufacturers write something like «fits in every Airfryer». Better check once anyway.
Is this through or not?
Whether or not you have an Airfryer, it's worth buying a roasting thermometer. This means you no longer have to poke around in chicken thighs or cut test pieces. You can use one of these to find the optimum cooking point. Simply prick the thickest (!) part and read off the temperature. The chicken is nice and juicy at a core temperature of around 75 degrees. For salmon, 55 degrees is enough.
For around twenty euros or francs, you can find useful devices like this one:
Silicone mats or baking paper?
Baking paper for the air fryer hasn't convinced me yet. I don't like disposable products, mainly for environmental reasons. I prefer to use perforated silicone mats. Like these here:
Kitchen appliance accessories
Quantity discount
EUR9,94 per piece for 2 units
Lékué Hot air fryer insert
Instead of scrubbing the rack or basket, you can simply put the mat in the dishwasher. That's the big advantage. But the mats also have a disadvantage. If the holes are too small, they disrupt the air flow in the cooking chamber. They also absorb heat. You'll have to experiment a little until you find the optimum cooking time for your dishes.
A final tip: there is a difference between «dishwasher-safe» and «dishwasher-safe». Unfortunately, I saw this with my first Airfryer. It became unsightly within a very short time. After a few runs in the dishwasher, I had a black housing and a rather anthracite-coloured cooking basket. Since then, I've always washed the baskets in my new air fryer by hand.
After all, you eat and fry with your eyes.
Do you have any other tips for useful accessories for the Airfryer? Then write them in the comments.
Header image: Stephan Lamprecht
Hamburg local, bookworm, and ice hockey fan. Dad and granddad. Constantly tinkering around with my smart home setup. I love DIY, the outdoors, fashion, and cosmetics.
Guide
Practical solutions for everyday problems with technology, household hacks and much more.
Show allThese articles might also interest you
21 comments
later