We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-24 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
If you want a small, nonstick crisper plate that turns a 2-quart air fryer into a proper toast-rack-style cooking surface, choose GSZN Air Fryer Crisper; if you need two large stainless-steel racks sized for a 25 QT dual-zone air fryer oven, choose GWYSY 2PCS. These two accessories solve the same problem — lifting food so hot air circulates underneath it — but they are built for completely different machines, and picking the wrong one wastes your money.
GSZN Air Fryer Crisper vs GWYSY 2PCS at a Glance
• GSZN Air Fryer Crisper — biggest strength: a 6.1" x 6.1" carbon-steel plate with a double-layer nonstick coating, a grab handle, and perforations designed for even air circulation in a small basket.
• GSZN Air Fryer Crisper — biggest trade-off: it only fits 2-quart-class air fryers from PowerXL, GoWise USA, Dash, and Elite Gourmet, so it is useless in a large oven-style unit.
• GWYSY 2PCS — biggest trade-off: it requires a 300°F preheat for 10 minutes before first use, and skipping that step can warp or damage the racks.
• For a compact countertop basket → GSZN Air Fryer Crisper.
• For a large dual-zone oven-style air fryer → GWYSY 2PCS.
The GSZN Air Fryer Crisper is a direct replacement for the perforated crisper plate that ships with small air fryers — the kind of plate that often gets scratched, bent, or lost. At 6.1 x 6.1 inches, it is sized for 2-quart units from PowerXL, GoWise USA, Dash, and Elite Gourmet. If your air fryer lives on a cramped counter or in a cabinet, this is the footprint you are working with, and the plate is built to match it.
The design details matter more than they look. The double-layer coating is there to resist heat and extend the plate's life, and the handle is a genuinely practical touch — lifting a hot rack out of a deep basket with tongs is awkward, and a handle solves that. The perforated pattern is the whole point of a toast-rack-style accessory: it lifts food off the floor of the basket so hot air moves underneath, which is what gives you crisp bottoms on toast, reheated pizza, and chicken nuggets instead of soggy ones. The nonstick surface wipes clean and is dishwasher safe, though the maker warns against abrasive cloths and metal scouring balls, and even includes a nonstick cleaning cloth in the box.
Who should buy it: anyone with a 2-quart PowerXL, GoWise, Dash, or Elite Gourmet air fryer who wants a spare or replacement rack for everyday toast, small batches of fries, and reheating. The package also includes four rubber bumpers and a cleaning cloth — the bumpers protect the coating where the plate contacts the basket.
Who should skip it: owners of large air fryer ovens. A 6.1-inch plate in a 25 QT cavity is a drop in the ocean. And if you prefer bare stainless steel over a coated surface, this is not that product.
The GWYSY 2PCS is a two-pack of stainless-steel racks designed specifically for the Emeril Lagasse Everyday 360 25 QT air fryer oven. Each rack measures 11.6 x 6.9 x 0.8 inches — long and narrow, which is exactly the shape that makes sense in a dual-zone oven where you are cooking two different foods side by side. You get two, so both zones can be set up at once.
The material choice here is the headline. These are food-grade stainless steel with a maximum heat resistance of 480°F, which puts them in a different league from coated carbon steel in terms of how much heat they tolerate and how they age. Stainless steel does not flake or peel the way coatings can, and the maker describes them as firm, nonstick, and resistant to deforming — with the caveat that you should still avoid rough abrasive pads and metal scouring balls.
One detail you cannot ignore: these racks must be preheated before first use. The instructions call for placing them in a preheated 300°F oven for 10 minutes. Skip that and the rack can bend, warp, or be damaged permanently, which shortens its life. It is a one-time step, but it is not optional, and buyers who ignore it are the ones who end up disappointed.
Who should buy it: Emeril Lagasse Everyday 360 25 QT owners who want extra racks for batch cooking — wings in one zone, vegetables in the other — or who need replacements. The open design suits grilling, frying, and baking, and the racks are dishwasher safe.
Who should skip it: anyone with a small basket-style air fryer. These will not fit, and buying them for a 2-quart unit is a straight mismatch.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for a 2-quart basket air fryer → GSZN Air Fryer Crisper. The 6.1" x 6.1" size is built for PowerXL, GoWise USA, Dash, and Elite Gourmet 2-quart models.
• Best for a 25 QT oven-style air fryer → GWYSY 2PCS. The 11.6" x 6.9" racks are designed for the Emeril Lagasse Everyday 360.
• Best for cooking two foods at once → GWYSY 2PCS. Two racks means two zones loaded simultaneously.
• Best for easy, low-effort cleanup → GSZN Air Fryer Crisper. Nonstick, dishwasher safe, and it ships with a dedicated cleaning cloth.
• Best for a grab-and-lift handle → GSZN Air Fryer Crisper. The built-in handle is a real convenience in a deep, narrow basket.
• Best for low-maintenance first use → GSZN Air Fryer Crisper. No preheat ritual required, unlike the GWYSY racks.
• Best for a spare or replacement part → either, depending on your machine. GSZN replaces a small crisper plate; GWYSY replaces large oven racks.
In my opinion, the deciding factor here is not quality — it is your air fryer. If you own a 2-quart PowerXL, GoWise USA, Dash, or Elite Gourmet, I would buy the GSZN Air Fryer Crisper. The 6.1-inch size, the nonstick double-layer coating, the handle, and the included cleaning cloth and rubber bumpers make it a tidy, practical upgrade for everyday toast and small batches. If you own the Emeril Lagasse Everyday 360 25 QT, I would buy the GWYSY 2PCS instead — two stainless-steel racks rated to 480°F cover both cooking zones and stand up to serious heat. Just do the 300°F, 10-minute preheat first.
how to use toast rack in air fryer
Set the rack inside the basket or oven so food sits above the base, leaving gaps around the edges for air to move. Place your toast, fries, or leftovers on top in a single layer. The rack lifts the food so hot air circulates underneath, which is what crisps the underside instead of leaving it soft.
when to use a rack in an air fryer
Use a rack whenever you want airflow under the food — toast, reheated pizza, nuggets, wings, or vegetables that would otherwise sit flat and steam. For foods you want to keep moist, or anything saucy that would drip through, you can skip it. Both products here are circulation accessories, so they are for crisping, not for holding liquid.
what is the air fryer rack for
It raises food off the floor of the basket or oven so hot air reaches the bottom, and it lets excess oil and fat drip away. The GSZN plate does this with a perforated 6.1-inch nonstick surface, while the GWYSY racks do it with an open 11.6 x 6.9-inch stainless-steel mesh design.
can you use air fryer without rack
Yes. Most air fryers work fine without any rack — you simply lose the airflow underneath the food, so the bottom crisps less evenly. If your model shipped with a crisper plate, using a replacement like the GSZN keeps that original performance. The GWYSY racks are an add-on for extra capacity in a 25 QT oven, not a required part.
One last thing: I have deliberately left pricing out of this comparison because it changes constantly. Check the current price on Amazon using the button on this page before you commit — a small basket plate and a pair of large oven racks are very different purchases, and the right one depends entirely on which air fryer is sitting on your counter.
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