How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-22 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• CHEFMADE Baking's biggest strength: a thickened 3.0mm carbon-steel wire rack with a food-grade silicone non-stick coating (PTFE & PFOA free) that lifts food off the surface so heat moves around it — exactly what air fryer doughnuts want.
• CHEFMADE Baking's biggest trade-off: it's a single rectangular rack with no additional components, so it only helps if your air fryer or oven has the footprint to hold a 12.2-inch rack, and it does nothing for your hands.
• CuwrYet Oven Mitts Mini's biggest strength: a compact 9.5 x 5.7-inch pinch mitt with a cotton quilted lining and silver-coated fish-mouth opening, rated for short contact up to 200°C / 392°F — ideal for grabbing hot air fryer baskets and trays.
• CuwrYet Oven Mitts Mini's biggest trade-off: it's built for short contact only and must never touch heating rods or elements, so it's a handling tool, not a baking surface.
• Pick CHEFMADE Baking if your priority is even browning and easy release for the doughnuts themselves.
• Pick CuwrYet Oven Mitts Mini if your priority is safely moving hot cookware in and out of the air fryer.
CHEFMADE Baking is a baking and cooling rack, and its whole value in an air fryer doughnut session comes down to airflow. The 3.0mm thickened carbon steel is there to spread heat evenly and resist warping, and the strengthened edge helps it hold its rectangular shape over time. The food-grade silicone coating is non-Teflon and free of PTFE and PFOA, and it's designed so you can get a clean release with less oil — which matters when you're brushing dough rather than deep-frying it.
For air fryer doughnuts specifically, the point of a rack is separation. Doughnuts sitting flat on a solid tray steam from the bottom; doughnuts lifted on a wire rack let the circulating hot air reach underneath, so the underside sets and browns instead of going pale and soggy. At 12.24 inches wide by 8.46 inches deep and 0.63 inches tall, it fits standard ovens and larger air fryer ovens, and it doubles as a cooling rack once the doughnuts come out — which is genuinely useful, because glazed doughnuts need to drain and set without their bottoms sweating.
Who should buy it: anyone baking or air-frying in batches, anyone who wants a rack that also works for cooling, roasting small items, or resting fried food, and anyone who prefers a non-stick surface they can wipe clean rather than scrub. The champagne gold finish is a nice touch if your kitchen leans warm-toned. Who should skip it: anyone with a small basket-style air fryer, because a 12.2-inch rack simply won't drop into a compact round basket. And skip it if you're only here to solve the "how do I not burn my fingers" problem — this rack doesn't do that at all.
CuwrYet Oven Mitts Mini solves the other half of the air fryer doughnut job: getting the basket, tray or hot bowl out without a yelp. The construction is layered — a cotton printed outer, a quilted cotton lining for padding, and silver-coated cloth at the fish-mouth opening — and it's rated for short contact with hot cookware up to 200°C / 392°F. That word "short" is doing real work here. This is a grab-and-go mitt, not a roasting-glove you leave against a hot surface.
The size is the selling point. At about 9.5 x 5.7 inches, the mini pinch shape is compact and lets you grip pot handles, dishes and baking trays without the bulk of a full-length mitt. For air fryer work that's a real advantage — air fryer baskets and trays are shallow, and a big floppy mitt gets in the way when you're trying to hook a handle in a tight cavity. The quilted lining is described as breathable, and the stitching is designed to keep the filling from shifting, which is the usual failure point on cheap mitts. There's a hanging loop for a hook or rack, and the set includes two pieces, so you've got a spare or a second hand covered. Care is easy: hand wash or machine wash with mild neutral detergent and air dry in shade.
Who should buy it: air fryer owners, microwave users, BBQ and baking cooks, and anyone who wants a small, storable mitt for quick hot handling. The hot pink rainbow frosted donut print is also just fun if you like a bit of personality in the drawer. Who should skip it: anyone who needs sustained heat protection, deep-oven reach, or forearm coverage — the mini size and short-contact rating aren't built for pulling a heavy roasting pan out of a hot oven for a long stretch. And never let it touch heating rods or elements; the fabric can melt.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for even browning on air fryer donuts → CHEFMADE Baking. The wire rack lifts dough off the surface so circulating air reaches all sides.
• Best for safe handling of hot cookware → CuwrYet Oven Mitts Mini. Short-contact protection up to 200°C / 392°F with a grip-friendly pinch shape.
• Best for a non-stick, low-oil surface → CHEFMADE Baking. The silicone coating is PTFE and PFOA free and is designed to release with less oil.
• Best for small kitchens and tight storage → CuwrYet Oven Mitts Mini. At 9.5 x 5.7 inches with a hanging loop, it tucks away easily.
• Best for a two-piece set → CuwrYet Oven Mitts Mini. It ships as two pieces; the rack is a single unit with no additional components.
• Best for oven-to-counter versatility → CHEFMADE Baking. It works as a baking rack and a cooling rack for the finished doughnuts.
• Best for air fryer, microwave, BBQ and baking crossover → CuwrYet Oven Mitts Mini. It's explicitly suited to all of those short-handling tasks.
If I had to pick one for an air fryer doughnut project, I'd buy the CHEFMADE Baking rack — in my opinion it does the thing that actually changes the outcome, because airflow under the dough is what separates a proper air fryer doughnut from a pale, steamed one. That said, I'd pair it with the CuwrYet Oven Mitts Mini rather than choose against it. The rack fixes the baking; the mitt fixes your fingers. If your air fryer is a compact basket model, skip the rack and get the mitt, then bake your doughnuts directly in the basket and shake them halfway.
how to air fryer donuts
Cut or shape your dough into rings, brush lightly with oil, and cook in a single layer with space between pieces so hot air can circulate. If your air fryer has a rack that fits, set the doughnuts on it — that's the CHEFMADE Baking rack's whole purpose — so the bottoms brown instead of steaming. Shake or flip halfway through.
how to make air fryer donuts without yeast
Use a baking-powder dough or refrigerated biscuit dough instead of a yeast dough, since there's no rise time to wait for. Shape the rings, brush with oil, and air fry in a single layer, flipping once. A wire rack helps here because non-yeast doughs are denser and benefit most from air reaching the underside.
Separate the biscuits, cut a hole in the center of each with a small cutter or a bottle cap, and air fry the rings in a single layer, flipping halfway. Save the holes — they cook faster and make good test pieces. Because biscuit dough is sticky and soft, a non-stick rack like the CHEFMADE Baking one keeps the rings from tearing when you lift them out.
do I need oven mitts for air fryer donuts?
Yes, in practice. Air fryer baskets and trays get genuinely hot, and the CuwrYet Oven Mitts Mini is sized for exactly that — a compact pinch mitt rated for short contact up to 200°C / 392°F. Just remember it's for short contact only and must never touch the heating rods or elements.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: Zephyrovelle Peach Pink Green vs CuwrYet Oven Mitts Mini, air fryer donuts, best mini air fryer