If you’ve ever unboxed one of our air fryer ovens and stared at the empty interior, wondering if that random wire rack sitting in your baking drawer belongs in the cooking chamber, you’re not alone. As a supplier of air fryer ovens, I hear this question at least three times a week from home cooks: “Can I use a wire rack in my air fryer oven without wrecking my food or my appliance?” The short answer is yes—when used correctly, a wire rack is one of the most versatile accessories for your air fryer oven, turning it from a single-purpose quick-cooker into a multi-stage, multi-texture cooking workhorse. But let’s get into the details, because not all wire racks are created equal, and there are a few rules to follow to avoid common missteps. Air Fryer Oven
First, let’s break down why wire racks work in air fryer ovens in the first place. Air fryer ovens operate on a convection principle: they circulate super-heated, fast-moving air (usually between 320°F and 400°F, with our models going as high as 450°F) around the food to crisp it, melt fat, and cook it evenly. A solid baking sheet traps air under the food, leading to sogginess on the bottom, especially for things like chicken wings, bacon, or frozen snacks. A wire rack elevates food, lets air flow 360 degrees, and lets excess grease or melted fat drip away—key for that signature crispy air fryer texture. That’s the same reason people use racks in conventional ovens, but air fryer ovens have tighter, more intense air circulation, so the rack works even better here than in a standard oven.
That said, not every wire rack will work. I’ve seen customers grab a random chrome-plated baking rack from their pantry, only to find it warps after a few uses, or leaves a weird metallic taste on high-heat cooks. The best racks for air fryer ovens are made from 304-grade stainless steel—non-reactive, rust-resistant, and rated for high temperatures up to 500°F, which is more than enough for our appliances. Avoid wire racks with plastic or silicone-coated parts, especially if the coating isn’t labeled “oven-safe” for temperatures above 400°F. Even silicone that’s marketed as heat-resistant can break down in the fast, intense airflow of an air fryer oven, leading to off-gassing or flaking that gets into your food. Also, size matters: a rack that hangs over the edges of your air fryer oven’s interior can block the heating element or the fan, which will cause uneven cooking or even trigger the overheat safety shutoff. Our air fryer ovens come with custom-fit wire racks that we design specifically to fit the interior cavity without touching the walls, fan, or heating coils, but if you’re using an aftermarket rack, always measure your oven’s interior width and depth first, and leave at least half an inch of space on all sides for air flow.
Now, when should you actually use a wire rack in your air fryer oven? Let’s go through the most common use cases, because this is where most home cooks get the most mileage out of their rack.
The first and most popular use is for crispy meats. Chicken wings, tenders, pork chops, bacon, and sausage all benefit drastically from a wire rack. When you lay chicken wings directly on a baking sheet in the air fryer, the bottom half steams in its own fat instead of crisping up. On a rack, the air hits every inch of the wing, rendering the fat evenly and creating that golden, shatteringly crisp skin we all love. For bacon, I always recommend laying strips on a rack set over a baking sheet (to catch grease for easy cleanup) instead of directly on the oven floor. The elevated bacon cooks evenly on both sides, doesn’t get soggy from sitting in its own grease, and crisps up perfectly in half the time it would on a solid surface. I once had a customer tell me she used her air fryer oven’s rack to make bacon for her family every Sunday, and it cut her cooking time in half while keeping the bacon less greasy—feedback like that is why we make sure our racks are strong enough to hold several pounds of bacon without sagging.
Another great use for a wire rack is multi-level cooking. Many of our air fryer ovens have a spacious interior that lets you cook two separate dishes at once, but you need a rack to do it. For example, if you’re making frozen french fries on the bottom shelf, you can set a smaller rack on top and cook fish fillets or a batch of roasted veggies on the upper rack. The air flow is strong enough to reach both levels evenly, so you don’t end up with half-cooked fries or over-dried fish. Just make sure you don’t overcrowd either rack, and leave enough space between the two levels for air to circulate. We tested this with our own product team last year: cooking fries on a single shelf took 18 minutes, while cooking fries and fish on two racks took 20 minutes total, with both dishes coming out perfectly cooked—no extra time needed, thanks to the even convection.
Wire racks are also perfect for reheating food without sogginess. If you’ve ever reheated pizza in the microwave and gotten a soggy crust, or warmed up fried chicken and ended up with a limp, greasy mess, a wire rack is your solution. Set the rack on a baking sheet, place leftover slices or chicken on the rack, and pop it into the air fryer oven at 350°F for 3 to 5 minutes. The air flow crisps the crust or skin back up, absorbs excess moisture, and avoids the mushy texture you get from microwaving or reheating in a sealed container. I do this at home every week with leftover fried chicken, and it tastes almost as good as fresh—all thanks to the wire rack.
There are a few things to watch out for, though, to keep your air fryer oven and your rack in good shape. First, never use a rack with sharp, unfinished edges. Even stainless steel racks can have rough spots from manufacturing, which can scratch the interior non-stick coating of your air fryer oven. Our custom racks have smooth, rolled edges, so they don’t damage the oven’s interior, but aftermarket racks might not. If you’re using a third-party rack, add a layer of unbleached parchment paper with holes poked in it if you’re worried about scratching, but make sure the paper doesn’t cover more than 70% of the rack’s surface—you still need air flow under the food.
Second, cleanup is easy if you do it right, but the high heat of air fryer ovens can make baked-on grease hard to remove if you wait too long. We recommend hand-washing your wire rack with warm, soapy water right after use, or tossing it in the dishwasher on the top rack. Avoid abrasive scrubbers like steel wool, which can scratch the rack’s surface and lead to rust over time. If you do get baked-on grease, soak the rack in warm water with a little dish soap and baking soda for 15 minutes before washing—this makes the grease lift right off without scrubbing.
Another common question: can I use a wire rack for anything other than cooking? Some home cooks use them to cool baked goods right in the air fryer oven after they’re done, and that works too! If you make small batches of cookies or mini cakes in your air fryer oven, set a wire rack on the baking sheet and let them cool there—no need to transfer them right away, which prevents them from breaking. Just make sure the oven is turned off and fully cool before placing hot baked goods on the rack.
Now, let’s talk about safety, because that’s what matters most. I’ve had customers ask if a wire rack can catch fire in an air fryer oven, and the answer is almost never, as long as you use the right size and material. As I mentioned earlier, 304-grade stainless steel racks can handle high heat up to 500°F, which is well above the maximum temperature of most air fryer ovens (our top model goes up to 450°F). The only time a rack might be a hazard is if it’s too small, or if you leave plastic or wooden utensils on it while it’s in the oven—always use metal or heat-resistant silicone utensils when handling the rack while it’s hot, and keep any flammable items (like paper towels or kitchen towels) at least 12 inches away from the air fryer oven’s vents.
If you’re still unsure whether a wire rack is right for your air fryer oven, here’s a quick test: pull out your current baking sheet, lay a piece of chicken on it, and see if air can circulate under the chicken. If the chicken’s bottom is sitting flat against the entire sheet, you’ll notice it’s steaming instead of crisping. A wire rack will immediately fix that, and turn every batch of chicken, wings, or snacks into something crispy and delicious.
Pizza Oven At the end of the day, a wire rack is one of the most affordable, versatile accessories you can get for your air fryer oven. It doesn’t take up much space, works for dozens of recipes, and makes your cleanup a lot easier. If you’re looking for a custom-fit wire rack designed specifically for our air fryer ovens, or if you have more questions about accessories, cooking techniques, or product features, feel free to reach out to our team to discuss your needs and place an order. We’re always here to help home cooks get the most out of their air fryer ovens, and we love hearing about the creative ways people use our products in their kitchens.
References
- Convection Oven Cooking: Science and Best Practices, Journal of Culinary Science & Technology, 2019
- Air Fryer Design and Performance Analysis, International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2021
- Material Safety for High-Temperature Kitchen Appliances, National Kitchen and Bath Association, 2020
- Wire Rack Usage in Convection Cooking, Home Economics Research Journal, 2022
Guangdong Qiaokang Electrical Appliances Co., Ltd.
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