Are you tired of soggy fries or unevenly cooked chicken from your regular oven? If you own a convection oven, you’re already halfway to air-fried perfection! By simply adding the right air fryer tray, you can transform your everyday appliance into a crispy-food powerhouse. These specialized baskets and trays are designed to promote optimal airflow, ensuring your food gets that delightful crunch without needing a separate countertop air fryer.
Choosing the best air fryer tray for convection oven use can feel a bit overwhelming with so many options out there. But don’t worry, we’ve done the legwork for you! We’ve rounded up some of the top picks that will help you achieve deliciously crispy meals with less oil and less fuss. Say goodbye to greasy deep-fried food and hello to healthier, equally satisfying alternatives!
Let’s dive into our top five choices for the best air fryer tray for convection oven cooking.
1. Gotham Steel Air Fryer Basket for Convection Oven
If you’re looking for a reliable, non-stick solution to get that perfect crisp, the Gotham Steel Air Fryer Basket is a solid contender. This basket is designed to fit comfortably in your convection oven, allowing heat to circulate freely around your food for even cooking and golden-brown results. Its non-stick surface means less oil is needed, making your favorite “fried” dishes healthier and cleanup a breeze. It’s a fantastic everyday option for anyone wanting to elevate their oven cooking.
Key Features:
* Durable Construction: Made from aluminum with a non-stick copper coating for long-lasting use.
* Multipurpose Use: Great for baking, frying, roasting, and crisping foods.
* Spacious Capacity: 3-quart size allows for preparing large meals.
* Easy Cleaning: Dishwasher safe for quick and simple cleanup.
Pros:
* Excellent non-stick properties make cooking and cleaning simple.
* Durable design promises longevity.
* Versatile for various cooking methods beyond just “air frying.”
* Generous capacity, perfect for families.
Cons:
* Copper coating might require gentle handling to preserve its non-stick properties over time.
* Being aluminum, it might not be as rigid as stainless steel in high heat, though designed for oven use.
User Impressions:
Users frequently praise this basket for its truly non-stick surface and how effectively it crisps up food like fries and chicken wings. Many appreciate the ease of cleanup, often mentioning that food slides right off. Its sturdy build also gets a nod, making it a go-to for daily use.
2. Air Fryer Basket for Oven with 50 Recipes, Extra Large
This extra-large air fryer basket and pan set is a game-changer for anyone looking to air fry big batches of food right in their oven. What sets this model apart is its stable, raised basket design that prevents wobbling and ensures superior airflow around your food. Made from food-safe stainless steel, you won’t have to worry about coating flaking off into your meals, ensuring healthier cooking every time. Plus, it comes with a bonus recipe guide to get your culinary creativity flowing!
Key Features:
* Air Fry Everything in Your Oven: Geesta crisper tray with upgraded raised basket is more stable and less wobbly, and the basket will not slide across the baking pan. Mesh crisper basket allows the convection heat to reach every angle of the food and 360-degree airflow circulation, without needing to flip your food.
* No More Coating Flaking Off: Made with premium-quality food-safe stainless steel for safe eating everyday. The bottom tray transfers heat well, not easy to bend or deform ensuring long-term use.
* Give You A Healthier Cooking: Works well with air fryer oven and most convection oven, it opens up the possibility to quickly cook delicious meals without extra butter and oil.
* No More Mess in Your Kitchen: Collects all sorts of crumbs, flakes, drips, and splatters. Non-stick air fry tray makes for quick and easy clean up, dishwasher safe.
* Versatile Uses: Two-piece set great for cookies, crispy bacon, french fries, pork chops, tater tots, pizza, shrimp, vegetables, fried chicken, and more. Also perfect for grilling.
Pros:
* Made from durable, food-grade stainless steel, eliminating concerns about coating flaking.
* Superior airflow thanks to the stable, raised basket design.
* Includes a drip pan to keep your oven clean.
* Comes with 50 recipes, adding great value.
* Generous size for cooking larger quantities.
Cons:
* Stainless steel can sometimes be more prone to sticking if not properly greased or if food isn’t high in fat.
* The extra-large size might not fit smaller convection ovens.
User Impressions:
Customers rave about the robust stainless steel construction and the peace of mind that comes with no coatings. The effectiveness in achieving truly crispy results, especially for things like wings and fries, is a common highlight. The included drip pan is a big hit for keeping ovens clean, and many users appreciate the added recipe book for inspiration.
3. 1 Pack Air Fryer Convection Toaster Oven Tray Extractor
While not an air fryer tray itself, this clever oven tray extractor is an absolute must-have accessory when using any best air fryer tray for convection oven cooking. Imagine trying to pull out a hot, greasy crisper basket from your oven without risking burns or spills – that’s where this tool shines! Its ergonomic design and secure grip make handling hot baking pans and air fryer baskets safer and much more convenient, enhancing your overall air-frying experience.
Key Features:
* Safe Avoid Scalding: Safely remove food from the oven. Common to trays and grills (suitable for use with baking pans with a height of between 20mm and 35mm).
* Premium Plated Surface Treatment: Silver look surface treated with an electroplating process, beautiful and sturdy, quality assurance, durable in use.
* Comfortable Secure Handle Design: Effortless streamlined handle design makes you feel delicate and comfortable while using it, delivering a better user experience.
* Hanging Hole Design Easy to Store: Conveniently hangs for storage, saving space.
* Kitchen Essential: Helps quickly take out hot dishes without waiting, especially when entertaining.
Pros:
* Significantly increases safety when handling hot trays, preventing burns.
* Durable and aesthetically pleasing electroplated finish.
* Ergonomic handle provides a comfortable and secure grip.
* Easy to store thanks to the hanging hole.
* Universal fit for most oven trays and baskets within specified height range.
Cons:
* It’s an accessory, so it doesn’t do the “air frying” itself.
* Requires checking tray height compatibility to ensure a proper fit.
User Impressions:
Reviewers consistently praise this extractor for being a “lifesaver” and a “game-changer” for oven safety. They appreciate the solid build and the secure grip it offers, especially when dealing with heavy or greasy trays. Many consider it an indispensable tool for anyone regularly using their convection oven for high-temperature cooking.
4. Air Fryer Basket for Oven, OPENICE 15.6″ x 11.6″ Large
The OPENICE large air fryer basket and tray set is designed with family meals and entertaining in mind. Its generous size means you can cook more food simultaneously, saving you precious time and energy. This set focuses on healthier cooking by allowing 360-degree air circulation for crisping and including a non-stick drip tray to catch excess oil, ensuring your food isn’t sitting in grease. It’s a practical choice for busy households seeking healthy, crispy results.
Key Features:
* Large Size for Family or Entertaining: Measuring 15.5×11.6 Inch, cook more food at once.
* Eat Healthier with Less Oil: Mesh basket design promotes 360-degree air heat circulation without needing to flip food. Non-stick surface eliminates need for butter/fats, tray allows excess oil to drip away.
* Easy Cooking with Less Mess: Tray underneath catches grease and crumbs, keeping oven clean.
* Easy to Clean and Dishwasher-safe: Stainless steel oven air fryer basket ensures safe cooking. Comes with 30 pcs pre-cut parchment papers for easy cleanup.
* Multi-functional: Ideal for air frying, baking, roasting, and cooking en papillote.
Pros:
* Extra-large capacity is ideal for larger families or meal prepping.
* Promotes healthier cooking by allowing fat to drip away and reducing the need for added oils.
* Includes a drip pan for a cleaner oven.
* Comes with 30 parchment papers for even easier cleanup.
* Made of stainless steel for durability and safe cooking.
Cons:
* The large size might not fit smaller ovens or air fryer toaster ovens.
* While dishwasher safe, larger items can take up significant space in a dishwasher.
User Impressions:
Customers love the sheer size of this basket, making it possible to cook a full meal of crispy items at once. The inclusion of parchment papers is a frequently lauded bonus for easy cleanup, and the stainless steel construction offers peace of mind. Users report excellent crisping results for a variety of foods, from fries to vegetables.
5. Air Fryer Basket Tray Replacement for Cuisinart TOA-60
If you own a specific Cuisinart air fryer toaster oven model (TOA-60, TOA-65, TOA-70), this replacement basket is tailor-made for you. While designed for these models, its dimensions might also suit other compatible air fryer toaster ovens. Crafted from food-grade steel, this basket is built for durability and safe cooking, promising a perfect fit and consistent air-frying performance, making it an excellent replacement or a dedicated spare for your specific appliance.
Key Features:
* Air Fryer Basket for Cuisinart: Size is 12.2″ x 11″ x 2.3″, specifically designed for Cuisinart TOA-60, TOA-65, TOA-70 air fryer toaster ovens. Compatible with other suitable models.
* Preheating Before Use: Essential to preheat at 300°F for 10 minutes before first use to prevent deformation.
* Versatile Cooking: Handles chicken wings, french fries, vegetables, grilling, baking, frying, and more.
* Food Grade Steel: Made of food-grade steel, no BPA, non-toxic and tasteless, meets FDA standards.
* Dishwasher Safe: Easy to clean, firm, not easy to deform, non-stick, and durable.
Pros:
* Perfect fit for specific Cuisinart air fryer toaster oven models.
* Made from high-quality, food-grade steel for safe and durable use.
* Dishwasher safe, making cleanup effortless.
* Versatile for a range of “air-fried” dishes.
Cons:
* Requires a mandatory preheating step before first use to prevent deformation.
* Primarily designed for specific Cuisinart models, limiting universal compatibility.
User Impressions:
Cuisinart owners consistently praise the perfect fit and quality of this replacement basket. They report that it performs just as well, if not better, than the original, delivering excellent crispy results. The ease of cleaning, especially its dishwasher-safe nature, is a frequently mentioned benefit. The specific preheating instruction is noted but generally seen as a minor initial step.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What’s the main difference between an air fryer tray and a regular baking sheet for a convection oven?
A1: The key difference lies in airflow! A regular baking sheet has a flat, solid surface, which can trap moisture and lead to soggy bottoms. An air fryer tray (or basket) typically has a mesh or perforated design, allowing hot air from your convection oven to circulate 360 degrees around the food. This even airflow is what creates that signature crispy texture.
Q2: Can I use any air fryer basket in my convection oven?
A2: Generally, yes, as long as it’s made from oven-safe materials (like stainless steel or specific non-stick alloys designed for high heat) and fits comfortably within your oven. However, specialized “air fryer baskets for ovens” are designed to maximize airflow and catch drips, making them more effective than a generic wire rack. Always check the dimensions of the tray against your oven’s interior.
Q3: How does an air fryer tray work in a convection oven to make food crispy?
A3: A convection oven uses a fan to circulate hot air, ensuring more even and faster cooking than a traditional oven. When you add an air fryer tray, its mesh design allows this super-heated, circulating air to reach all surfaces of your food. This process rapidly dries out the surface and creates a crispy, golden-brown crust, mimicking the results of a dedicated air fryer without using excessive oil.
Q4: What materials are best for air fryer trays used in a convection oven?
A4: Stainless steel is often considered the best due to its durability, heat resistance, and non-reactive properties, meaning it won’t leach chemicals into your food. Some trays also feature non-stick coatings (like copper or ceramic-reinforced materials), which are great for easy food release and cleanup, but it’s important to choose reputable brands to ensure coating safety and longevity.
Q5: How do I clean my air fryer tray effectively?
A5: Most modern air fryer trays are dishwasher safe, making cleanup a breeze. For stubborn, baked-on bits, a good soak in warm, soapy water before scrubbing can work wonders. Avoid abrasive scrubbers or harsh chemicals, especially on non-stick surfaces, to preserve the tray’s finish and effectiveness.
Q6: Do I need to preheat my air fryer tray before placing food on it?
A6: While not always strictly necessary for every tray, preheating can often lead to better results, especially for items you want extra crispy, like fries or chicken. A hot surface helps initiate the crisping process immediately upon contact. Always follow the manufacturer’s specific instructions, as some materials (like the Cuisinart replacement tray we reviewed) explicitly require preheating to prevent warping.
Q7: Can I put aluminum foil on an air fryer tray or basket?
A7: It’s generally not recommended. Aluminum foil can block the airflow that is crucial for air frying. It prevents the hot air from reaching all sides of your food, which can lead to uneven cooking and less crispiness. Instead, consider using parchment paper specifically designed for air frying, which often has perforations or is smaller to allow for proper air circulation.
Conclusion
Transforming your convection oven into an air-frying marvel is one of the smartest kitchen upgrades you can make. By investing in the best air fryer tray for convection oven use, you’re not just buying a piece of bakeware; you’re unlocking a world of healthier, crispier, and more delicious meals.
Whether you prioritize a non-stick surface, durable stainless steel, extra-large capacity, or a perfect fit for your specific appliance, there’s a fantastic option out there for you. Don’t forget an essential accessory like the tray extractor to make your cooking experience even safer and more enjoyable. Happy air frying!