Why I Use a Silicone Air Fryer Basket for Veggies and a Pot for Saucy Meals

2024-05-10

The Day I Realized I Needed More Than One Silicone Accessory

I've been using air fryers for years. I already owned a silicone liner (the flat kind). But one night I wanted to make a big batch of chicken wings AND a small apple crumble for dessert. The flat liner couldn't hold the crumble batter – it would spill over. So I bought two more things: a deeper silicone air fryer basket and a high-walled silicone pot for air fryer. Then I also grabbed a shallow silicone tray for air fryer for pizza and eggs. Now I have three different shapes, and I use all of them. Here's what I learned.

What's the difference? Silicone Air Fryer Basket vs. Tray vs. Pot

Let me clear up the confusion once and for all. Manufacturers use these names loosely, but here's the real difference based on depth and shape.

Silicone Air Fryer Basket – The Deep One (≈2.5–3 inches)

This looks like a mini version of your factory basket. It has a round or square bottom, perforated holes or a raised grid, and walls that go up about 2.5 to 3 inches. It holds the most food – roughly 4 to 6 cups. I use it for chicken wings, frozen fries, onion rings, and anything that needs shaking halfway through. The holes let hot air touch the bottom of the food, so it still gets crispy.

Silicone Tray for Air Fryer – The Shallow One (≈0.5–1 inch)

This is basically a silicone baking mat with low edges. It's flat or has tiny bumps. It doesn't have holes – the bottom is solid. You use it for foods that would fall through a basket: small veggies (corn, peas), eggs, pizza, or anything with a runny batter. The shallow walls keep everything contained without blocking airflow from the sides. I also use it to reheat leftovers because the solid bottom catches any melted cheese or sauce.

Silicone Pot for Air Fryer – The High-Walled One (≈3.5–4.5 inches)

This one surprised me. It has tall, straight or slightly tapered walls – almost like a small saucepan. The bottom is usually solid (no holes) or has very few small holes. You can put liquids in it. I'm serious – I've made soup, stew, and even oatmeal in my air fryer using a silicone pot for air fryer. The walls are high enough that nothing splatters out. It's also perfect for casseroles, mac and cheese, and anything with a sauce that you don't want to drip down into the heating element.

1. My Real-Life Test: Cooking the Same Three Meals in Each One

To really understand the difference, I cooked three different meals using each accessory. Here's what worked and what didn't.

Test 1 – French Fries (Best in the Silicone Air Fryer Basket)

I cut russet potatoes into ¼-inch strips, soaked them, dried them, and tossed with oil. Cooked at 400°F for 15 minutes, shaking halfway. The silicone air fryer basket with holes gave me crispy, golden fries – 9/10. The silicone tray for air fryer (solid bottom) gave me fries that were crispy on top but slightly soft on the bottom – 7/10. The silicone pot for air fryer (tall walls) trapped too much moisture, so the fries came out limp – 4/10. Winner: basket.

Test 2 – Frozen Pizza (Best in the Silicone Tray for Air Fryer)

I used a small 6-inch frozen pizza. In the silicone air fryer basket (with holes), the cheese melted and dripped through the holes onto the bottom of my air fryer – big mess. In the silicone pot for air fryer, the pizza fit but the tall walls blocked airflow, so the crust stayed pale. In the silicone tray for air fryer, the pizza sat perfectly. The shallow edges let air circulate, the solid bottom caught any cheese drips, and the crust got crispy. Winner: tray.

Test 3 – Mac and Cheese with Bacon (Best in the Silicone Pot for Air Fryer)

I made a small batch of mac and cheese (cooked pasta, cheese sauce, breadcrumbs on top). The silicone tray for air fryer was too shallow – the sauce bubbled over the edges. The silicone air fryer basket let the sauce drip through the holes and burn on the bottom. The silicone pot for air fryer held everything perfectly. The tall walls contained the bubbling sauce, and the solid bottom meant no drips. Cleanup was just pulling out the pot and wiping it. Winner: pot.

2. Which One Do I Reach for Most Often? (Honest Ranking)

After two months of daily use, here's my frequency ranking:
1st place: Silicone tray for air fryer – I use it for veggies, eggs, pizza, reheating. Almost every day.
2nd place: Silicone air fryer basket – I use it for fries, wings, onion rings, frozen snacks. 3-4 times a week.
3rd place: Silicone pot for air fryer – I use it for saucy pasta, stews, oatmeal, and one-pot meals. 1-2 times a week.
If I could only keep one, I'd pick the tray because it's the most versatile. But honestly, having all three feels like owning a complete cookware set. No more "I wish I had a different shape for this recipe."

3. Features You Never Knew You Needed (But Will Love)

Feature 1—The Pot Can Simmer Liquids (Safely)

I was skeptical too. But I've made tomato soup in my silicone pot for air fryer. Just fill it ½ full, set the air fryer to 350°F, and let it bubble for 10 minutes. Stir halfway. The silicone handles the heat perfectly, and the tall walls prevent splashing. Just don't fill more than halfway—you need room for bubbling.

Feature 2—The Tray Works as a Drip Catcher Under the Basket

Here's a hack: put the silicone tray for air fryer on the bottom of your air fryer (under the factory basket). Then put your silicone air fryer basket on top. Any grease or sauce that drips through the basket's holes will land on the tray, not on your heating element. This keeps your air fryer clean for months. I do this every time I cook wings.

Feature 3—All Three Stacked for Easy Storage

I was worried about cabinet space. But these three nest perfectly. The silicone pot for air fryer goes on the bottom. The silicone air fryer basket fits inside it. The silicone tray for air fryer sits on top. The whole stack is only 4 inches tall. I keep them in a drawer next to my air fryer.

Cleaning—No More Soaking Overnight

I used to soak my factory basket for hours to remove baked-on grease. With these silicone accessories, I don't soak at all. After cooking, I let them cool for 2 minutes. Then I run them under hot water. Most food just slides off. For stubborn bits (like burnt cheese), I use a soft sponge with dish soap—10 seconds of scrubbing. All three are dishwasher safe (top rack), but hand washing is faster. One warning: don't use cooking spray directly on silicone. The propellant in aerosol sprays leaves a sticky residue that's difficult to remove. Use a brush to spread oil instead.

Final Verdict – Should You Buy One, Two, or All Three?

If you're on a tight budget, start with the silicone tray for air fryer. It's the most useful for everyday cooking—eggs, pizza, veggies, leftovers. If you make plenty of fries or frozen snacks, add the silicone air fryer basket next. If you love one-pot meals, saucy pastas, or want to experiment with air fryer soup, get the silicone pot for air fryer. The three together cost about $25-35 depending on the brand. That's less than a single replacement factory basket. And they'll outlast any nonstick coating. I've retired my original metal basket completely. These three silicone pieces do everything it did—plus things it could never do, like hold soup or bake a cake without a pan. No regrets.

Where to Find Them (And What to Look For)

You can find these on Amazon, in kitchen supply stores, or on our site. We sell a 3-piece set: a silicone air fryer basket (8-inch, with holes), silicone tray for air fryer (8-inch, solid), and silicone pot for air fryer (8-inch, high walls). Make sure the size matches your air fryer—measure the inside width of your basket. For most 5-6 quart models, 8 inches is perfect. For smaller 3-4 quart models, look for 6.5 inches. And always check for "LFGB certified" or "FDA approved" on the package. If a silicone accessory smells strongly of plastic out of the box, return it. Good silicone has almost no smell.