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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-23 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• nesthugcare's biggest strength: a two-tier stainless-steel rack setup (7.87″ and 5.5″ trays) with a 1.5 cm raised base that lets hot air circulate under the food — plus 100 sheets of food-grade parchment in two sizes.
• nesthugcare's biggest trade-off: it's a structured metal kit, so it takes up basket space and you're committed to a rack-shaped footprint rather than a foldable, tuck-away liner.
• MUCKLILY's biggest strength: three assorted-color silicone trays (blue, grey, black) in a foldable, dishwasher-safe design that's genuinely easy to store and reuse.
• MUCKLILY's biggest trade-off: silicone liners sit between the food and the basket, so they block some bottom airflow and won't give you the same lift-and-crisp effect as a raised rack.
• Pick nesthugcare if you cook bone-in chicken legs, steaks or bacon and want crispier results with less flipping.
• Pick MUCKLILY if you want quick cleanup, easy storage and a reusable liner for wings, legs, chips and snacks.
The nesthugcare kit is built around airflow. The rack stands on four raised legs with a 1.5 cm base gap, which means hot air can move underneath whatever you're cooking instead of only hitting the top surface. That's the whole reason a rack exists in an air fryer, and it's the detail that matters most for the comparison angle here: chicken legs. A drumstick resting flat on a basket floor gets pale, soggy skin on the underside. Lift it onto a raised rack and the hot air wraps the whole leg, so the skin has a chance to crisp on all sides without you standing there turning each piece.
You also get real versatility in the box. There's a large tray at 7.87″ across and a smaller 5.5″ tray, plus 100 sheets of food-grade parchment split evenly — 50 large sheets at 9.4″ and 50 small at 7.8″. The paper is the lazy-day option: line a tray, cook, toss the paper, done. The metal is the everyday-workhorse option: SUS304 stainless steel with no coatings or chemical plating, described as rust-resistant, corrosion-resistant and heat-resistant, and dishwasher safe. The rack is also designed to sit securely so it doesn't wobble, and the four legs are meant to hold up under heavy loads like steaks or big pieces of chicken.
Buy it if you cook proteins that benefit from air underneath — chicken legs, thighs, wings, bacon, fries you'd rather not flip. Skip it if you mostly reheat leftovers, want something that folds flat into a drawer, or prefer a liner you can rinse and reuse indefinitely instead of working through a paper supply. The rack is compatible with large-capacity air fryers and specific Ninja Crispi models (FN090, FN091, FN100, FN101), and it fits 4QT and 6-cup glass containers — check your model before buying.
MUCKLILY takes the opposite approach: no metal, no paper, just silicone. You get three trays — one blue, one grey, one black — each measuring 19 x 19 x 5 cm (about 7.47 x 7.47 x 1.97 inches). They're made of silicone, and the design is non-stick by nature: the smooth surface is what makes food release easily and keeps your chicken legs looking intact instead of shredded and stuck to the basket.
The practical appeal is maintenance. These are dishwasher safe and also fine with a warm-water wash, so cleanup is a rinse rather than a scrub. The folding design means they collapse or flex down for storage, which is a real difference from a rigid metal rack that lives in a cabinet taking up its full footprint. And because they're reusable, you're not restocking paper.
What they don't do is lift food. A silicone liner sits on the basket floor, catching drips and crumbs, which protects your air fryer and extends its life — but it also means the underside of your chicken legs is resting against silicone, not exposed to circulating air. You can absolutely cook wings, legs, chips and snacks in them, and the non-stick surface helps everything come out neat. Just expect to flip more often if you want both sides crispy.
Buy them if you want fast cleanup, easy storage, a reusable alternative to parchment, and you're cooking pieces you don't mind turning once. Skip them if crispy skin on the underside matters more to you than convenience, or if you want the structural stability of a metal rack under heavy food.
• Best for crispy chicken legs without flipping → nesthugcare Square Air Fryer. The 1.5 cm raised base and 360° circulation are designed exactly for that.
• Best for easy cleanup and storage → MUCKLILY Silicone Baking Mat. Foldable silicone, dishwasher safe, three trays that tuck away.
• Best for heavy loads → nesthugcare Square Air Fryer. Four raised legs and a wobble-free design are built to hold steaks or large pieces of chicken.
• Best for reusable, no-restock cooking → MUCKLILY Silicone Baking Mat. Three washable trays instead of a consumable paper supply.
• Best for protecting the air fryer from drips → MUCKLILY Silicone Baking Mat. Catching mess is literally the job of a liner.
• Best for flat, foldable storage → MUCKLILY Silicone Baking Mat. Rigid stainless steel doesn't fold.
• Best for a metal, coating-free cooking surface → nesthugcare Square Air Fryer. SUS304 stainless steel with no chemical plating.
My Verdict
For the specific job of air fryer chicken legs, I'd buy the nesthugcare Square Air Fryer. In my opinion, the raised rack and 1.5 cm air gap are the single biggest lever you have over whether drumstick skin comes out crisp on all sides, and the included parchment gives you a low-effort cleanup option on busy nights. The MUCKLILY silicone mats are the better pick if convenience and storage are your priorities — I'd recommend them for wings, chips and snack batches where a quick flip is no big deal. If you're chasing crispy legs, go with the rack.
how to air fry chicken legs
Pat the legs dry, season them, and place them on the raised rack of the nesthugcare setup rather than flat on the basket floor. The 1.5 cm base gap lets hot air circulate underneath so the skin crisps on all sides, and the rack's four legs keep heavier pieces steady while they cook. If you're using a MUCKLILY silicone liner instead, expect to flip the legs partway through since the liner blocks airflow from below.
how to air fry chicken legs and thighs
Use the large 7.87″ tray for thighs and the smaller 5.5″ tray for legs, or line either with the matching parchment sheet — 9.4″ for the large tray, 7.8″ for the small one. Spread pieces out so air can move around them; the rack's wobble-free design is meant to hold large pieces of chicken without tipping. On a silicone mat, keep pieces in a single layer and turn them once for even browning.
how to air fry chicken legs crispy
The key is airflow, not just heat. A raised stainless-steel rack with a 1.5 cm gap is designed for 360° circulation, which is why nesthugcare's kit is built around it — you get crispier texture without having to flip each piece. Dry the skin well before cooking, and skip crowding the tray. Silicone liners protect the basket and release food cleanly, but they sit flat, so they won't give you the same underside browning.
is a silicone baking mat or a metal rack better for an air fryer
It depends on your priority. The MUCKLILY silicone mats (three trays, 19 x 19 x 5 cm, dishwasher safe, foldable) win on cleanup and storage, and they protect the fryer from drips. The nesthugcare rack wins on crisping and load stability, thanks to its raised base and stainless-steel construction. For chicken legs specifically, I'd take the rack; for everyday mess control, the mats. Check the current price on Amazon for both before deciding.
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See also: Ailun 100PCS vs KITMAL Silicone Baking Mat: Air Fryer Spring, NewLuyer Air Fryer Rubbers vs PINTAUR Square Silicone Air, Frutasky Silicone Brownie Pan vs Yomvzake 6"x6: Air Fryer