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This brilliant $17 air fryer rack from Amazon doubled my cooking space, letting me cook for my family in one go – now I've found a cheaper alternative

I use it every single day

Punteha van Terheyden's avatar
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A black air fryer on a kitchen counter
(Image credit: Getty Images)
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27 Nov, 1.30pm ECT: I updated the headline, introduction and first product block to highlight a better deal that is less than half of the cost of my item. My original Amazon stainless steel rack was almost $17, and the new item in the Walmart clearance sale (online deal only) is just over $3. Scroll for the product.

During the pandemic, I jumped on the air fryer bandwagon and never looked back. In fact, the only time I use my standard full size oven now is when I cook Christmas dinner or a large tray dinner such as lasagna.

I use my air fryer daily, sometimes two or three times a day for quick, tasty, evenly cooked healthy meals for me and my family and even the occasional indoor S’more’s.

That’s why I love a nifty little best air fryer gadget and this brilliant $17 air fryer rack from Amazon solved my one air fryer bug bear: wasted vertical capacity. Now with Black Friday deals a plenty, I've found a cheaper alternative in Walmart's clearance sale.

Why I love my air fryer rack

I have an extra large, one-basket Tower five-in-one 5.6 liter air fryer, available on Amazon, and it lives permanently on my countertop as it’s in constant use. From air frying bacon for crispy brunch sandwiches, to tender salmon fillets cooked to perfection to serve on rice, and even whole roast chickens, nothing escapes my jumbo air fryer.

However the one thing that bothered me when I first got mine, was having to cook two rounds of foods such as fries to feed my family of three. Though the basket has a ton of vertical space and capacity, I found the cooking time increased due to the piled up food and I am disabled so I can’t stand up for long cooking sessions.

Metal rack in my air fryer, the lid is open to show it nestled in my basket

It fits perfectly in my Tower air fryer, so I don't need extra storage space for it

(Image credit: Future/Punteha van Terheyden)

I knew the solution would be to have an extra shelf in my air fryer to separate and lift multiple layers of food so I can make use of the vertical cooking space without having to add a lot of cooking time, to ensure everything crisped up or cooked properly.

This BPA free stainless steel air fryer riser shelf from Amazon was the perfect solution.

Now, I can easily cook for my family of three in one go and only have to add an extra 1-3 minutes to crisp up the bottom layer, if that. By the time I’m done serving up the first couple of plates, the final items are ready to go.

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Raw bacon slices placed neatly across the bottom of my air fryer basket
The lower layer of bacon in my air fryer before cooking(Image credit: Future/Punteha van Terheyden)

Whoever invented these racks deserve a medal if you ask me. I love that it doesn’t rust, is easy to wash and has stayed in perfect condition despite two years of constant use. It fits perfectly in my rounded square air fryer when not in use, too, so no need to find an extra storage space for it.

When purchasing, make sure to measure your inner air fryer basket dimensions and check there is enough clearance between where the top of your food will sit and the heating element of your appliance so you don't end up with a smoky mess on your hands.

A word of caution: watch out for the heat of the stainless steel. I use a long pair of heat resistant tongs, available from Amazon, to move mine in and out of my air fryer and place it on a heatproof silicone trivet from Amazon to protect my glass electric stovetop or kitchen countertops when turning or dealing with the food underneath it. Or, it goes straight into the sink, and I freshen it up when I clean the air fryer basket.

What to shop

I have a number of air fryer accessories I love. Here are my favorite picks that make my life easier when air frying on the daily:

Next learn about our tried, tested and best non-toxic air fryers.

Punteha van Terheyden
Punteha van Terheyden
Head of Solved

Punteha was editor of Real Homes before joining Homes & Gardens. She has written and edited wellbeing, cooking, lifestyle, and consumer pieces for the national press for 17 years, working across print and digital newspapers and magazines. She’s a Sunday Times bestselling ghostwriter, former BBC Good Food columnist, and founding editor of independent magazine, Lacuna Voices. Punteha loves cooking, especially her family's Persian recipes and has tested and reviewed home appliances, including slow cookers, air fryers, the latest robot vacuums and video doorbells. Punteha is disabled and in chronic pain, so adaptively paced household tasks that make her household run smoothly are her focus.

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