Quick answer: You do not need a drawer full of gadgets. The essentials for air fryer baking are a 6 to 7 inch cake pan or barrel, silicone moulds, a springform pan, a loaf pan, parchment or a silicone liner, a cooling rack, and silicone-tipped tongs. Whatever you buy, measure your basket first, since size is what makes or breaks airflow.
Baking in an air fryer feels almost like cheating, in a good way: faster results, less energy, and surprisingly good cakes, cookies, and bread. But if you have tried it without the right tools, you know it does not always go smoothly. Cakes rise unevenly, edges brown before the middle cooks, and brownies refuse to leave the pan. Usually that is not a recipe problem, it is an accessories problem. The right few tools help an air fryer behave like a proper mini oven. If you want the basics first, start with our air fryer baking guide for beginners.
Why accessories matter so much
An air fryer is not a small oven. Instead of gently heating a large space, it blasts hot air through a tight chamber, which is why food cooks fast and why baking can get tricky. Without the right gear you get cakes that cook unevenly on top, cookies that brown too quickly underneath, bread that dries out, batter that sticks, and airflow blocked by the wrong tray. Good accessories control airflow, spread heat better, and make cleanup far less painful.
Air fryer baking accessories at a glance
| Accessory | Use it for | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Cake pan or barrel | Cakes, loaves, brownies | 6 to 7 in fits most baskets; metal browns, non-stick releases |
| Silicone moulds | Muffins, cupcakes, mini cheesecakes, egg bites | Pop out with no greasing |
| Springform pan | Cheesecake, layer cakes | Sides release cleanly for neat slices |
| Loaf pan | Banana bread, quick breads | Metal for crust, silicone for easy release |
| Pizza pan or flat tray | Cookies, scones, flatbreads | Flat and open for even heat |
| Ramekins | Lava cakes, custards, cheesecake cups | Small portions bake more evenly |
| Cooling rack | Resting bakes | Stops soggy bottoms |
| Oil mister | Greasing pans, golden crust | Refillable, not aerosol |
| Instant-read thermometer | Checking doneness | Most bakes finish at 190 to 210°F |
The must-have baking accessories
Cake pan or cake barrel
If you bake anything sweet, this is the first thing to own. A cake pan (or a deep round "cake barrel" with a handle, made for air fryers) fits inside the basket with room for air to move around it, and handles sponges, chocolate cakes, pound cakes, and small celebration cakes. Size matters most: a 6 to 7 inch pan fits most baskets, with 8 inch for larger units. Too big and the air cannot circulate, so the cake bakes unevenly. Metal browns better, while non-stick is easier to clean, which is what most home bakers prefer day to day.
Silicone baking moulds
The accessory people fall for fastest. They are soft, flexible, and nothing sticks, so muffins, cupcakes, brownies, mini cheesecakes, and egg bites just pop out. They store easily and last for years. See our full guide to using silicone moulds in the air fryer.
Flat baking tray and pizza pan
A flat tray is your cookie helper, good for cookies, scones, small pastries, and brownie slabs, as long as it fits without blocking airflow. A pizza pan quietly becomes one of your most-used tools for cookie cakes, flatbread desserts, cinnamon rolls, and fruit tarts, since its flat, open shape moves heat evenly without hot spots.
Ramekins
Perfect when you do not want a big batch: lava cakes, custards, cheesecake cups, and bread pudding. Smaller portions bake more evenly in an air fryer, so ramekins often beat large pans.
For baking bread
Loaf pan
A loaf pan made for air fryers gives proper structure for banana bread, zucchini bread, quick sandwich bread, and pumpkin loaf. Metal gives a better crust, silicone makes removal easier, so it comes down to preference.
Silicone loaf moulds and a cooling rack
Silicone loaf moulds are forgiving and easy to clean, and help prevent the fast over-browning air fryers are prone to. And do not skip a cooling rack: fresh bread needs airflow underneath, or the bottom turns soggy on a plate. A simple rack fixes that instantly.
Springform pan and muffin liners
If you plan to make cheesecake, a springform pan is essential, since it lets you release the sides cleanly for neat slices, and it doubles for layer cakes and delicate desserts. Muffin cups and silicone liners make muffins and cupcakes effortless: pour, bake, and pop out, with no sticking or paper waste.
Tools that make baking smoother
Not strictly must-haves, but they earn their place:
- Wire rack. Improves airflow for more even baking, great for cookies and small pastries.
- Silicone-tipped tongs. Once you have wrestled a hot pan out of a tight basket, you will want them. A silicone or nylon tip lifts pans and moulds without scratching the non-stick coating.
- Oil mister. A refillable sprayer gives pans a light, even coat to stop sticking and helps a golden crust. Skip aerosol sprays, which can damage the basket's non-stick coating over time.
- Instant-read thermometer. Takes the guesswork out of doneness, since most bakes finish around 190 to 210°F in the centre.
- Parchment paper. Prevents sticking and speeds cleanup, just keep it weighed down so it cannot float into the element. See our foil and parchment guide.
- Silicone baking mats. Reusable, easy to clean, and a long-term upgrade from parchment for cookies and pastries.
Bake with the right setup
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What to avoid using
Not everything belongs in an air fryer. Skip oversized pans that block airflow, plastic containers that are not heat-safe, thin disposable foil trays that warp, and anything that fully covers the basket. Airflow is everything, and if you block it, baking stops working. If your results are already inconsistent, our guide to air fryer baking problems and fixes and how to prevent burning are worth a read.
How to choose the right bakeware
Silicone vs metal. Silicone is easy, flexible, and beginner-friendly. Metal browns better and holds structure. Non-stick vs stainless steel. Non-stick is easier to clean, stainless is more durable but needs greasing. Size is everything. Always measure your basket first, since even a slightly oversized pan ruins airflow. A 6 to 7 inch round suits most models, with 8 inch for larger ones. If your bakes come out dry, see how to avoid dry air fryer bakes.
Cleaning your baking accessories
Make it easy on yourself: silicone moulds take warm water and mild soap, non-stick pans want a soft sponge only, and stuck-on residue lifts with a soak in baking soda and warm water. Do not rush it, a little soaking saves a lot of scrubbing. For more, see our bakeware cleaning guide.
A simple beginner baking kit
If you are just starting, do not overbuy. A cake pan, silicone muffin moulds, parchment, a cooling rack, and a pair of tongs is enough to bake almost anything. A pre-made air fryer accessory set can be good value too, just check it fits your basket. Shopping for the machine itself? See the best air fryer for baking.
Frequently asked questions
QWhat size cake pan fits in an air fryer?
A 6 to 7 inch round pan fits most air fryer baskets with room for airflow, and 8 inch works in larger models. Always measure your basket before buying.
QWhat accessories do I actually need to bake in an air fryer?
A cake pan, silicone muffin moulds, parchment or a silicone liner, a cooling rack, and silicone-tipped tongs cover almost everything. Add a springform pan if you want to make cheesecake.
QIs silicone or metal bakeware better for air fryer baking?
Silicone is easier and releases bakes with no greasing, which beginners love. Metal browns better and holds structure. Many bakers keep both and choose by recipe.
QCan I use my regular oven bakeware in an air fryer?
Yes, if it is oven-safe and small enough to fit with airflow around it. The limit is almost always size, not material. Avoid plastic and anything that covers the whole basket.
QDo I need an oil sprayer for air fryer baking?
It is not essential, but a refillable mister gives pans an even coat to prevent sticking and a better crust. Avoid aerosol sprays, which can damage the basket's non-stick coating.
QWhat is a cake barrel for an air fryer?
A cake barrel is a deep round pan, usually with a lift handle, made to fit air fryer baskets. It is ideal for taller cakes, loaves, and brownies, and the handle makes it easy to lift out.
You do not need a cupboard full of gadgets, just the right few that work with how an air fryer cooks. Get those, and cakes bake evenly, cookies stop burning underneath, and cleanup gets simple. Next, try the air fryer brownies or chocolate chip cookies to put your kit to work.
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