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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-25 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• oecue's biggest strength: a food-grade stainless steel crisper plate with an airflow design and a center handle, sized to drop into specific Instant Pot Vortex and Gourmia baskets — a permanent part, not a consumable.
• oecue's biggest trade-off: it only fits the models listed (9.1 x 9.5 x 0.47 inches), and it is explicitly not compatible with the ClearCook or Odor Erase versions of the Vortex Plus 6QT.
• vailnd's biggest strength: 50 disposable 8-inch square parchment liners that catch grease and crumbs, rated heat-proof to 428°F, so the basket stays clean.
• vailnd's biggest trade-off: it is a single-use consumable — you burn through the pack — and it does nothing to improve airflow or add a grill surface.
• Pick oecue if you cook steak, chicken wings or vegetables directly on a rack and want even browning with no repeat buying.
• Pick vailnd if your priority is a clean basket with almost no scrubbing, especially for messy or saucy foods.
The oecue plate is a replacement crisper tray built from food-grade 304 stainless steel, non-toxic and tasteless, with a non-stick coating on the cooking surface. It measures 9.1 x 9.5 x 0.47 inches and is shaped to sit inside specific baskets: the Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6QT XL (6-in-1), the Vortex 6QT XL (4-in-1), the Vortex 5.7QT (4-in-1), plus 6-quart Gourmia GAF735-class air fryers. Four rubber bumpers on the edges are there to stop the metal from scratching the inside wall of the fryer, and the raised handle in the middle lets you lift the whole tray out of the basket without tongs.
For steak specifically, this is the more interesting of the two products. A perforated metal surface with an airflow design lets hot air move under the food as well as over it, which is the whole point of air frying a thick cut — you want both faces exposed to moving air so the exterior browns instead of steaming in its own juices. The plate also gives you a defined surface for resting a steak after cooking, and because it is stainless steel with a non-stick coating, it goes in the dishwasher. In my opinion, that combination — reusable, dishwasher-safe, high heat tolerant, and usable in an oven, steamer or pressure cooker as well — is what makes it worth owning rather than replacing.
vailnd Air Fryer Paper: Who It's For
The vailnd liners are disposable parchment squares: 50 per pack, 8 inches across the bottom, 9.4 inches across the top, and 1.8 inches deep, which gives them a shallow bowl shape that sits inside a 5–8 quart basket. They are aimed at Ninja AF181/AF141 and COSORI or Chefman 5–8 quart air fryers, and they are made from food-grade natural paper with a silicone coating — unbleached, no fluorescent agent, BPA-free and PFAs-free. The paper is heat-proof to 428°F, water-proof and oil-proof, and the non-stick, grease-resistant coating is designed to stop fat soaking through to the basket.
That last point is the real value. If you air fry steak bites tossed in oil and seasoning, or anything with a sticky marinade, the liner catches the drips and the basket underneath stays essentially untouched. You lift the paper out, throw it away, and you are done. The trade-off is structural: paper blocks the holes in the bottom of the basket, so the airflow that normally comes up from below is reduced. For a whole steak where you want a browned crust on both sides, that matters — the underside sits on paper rather than on a rack. For steak bites, nuggets or anything you are shaking around, it matters much less, because the food keeps moving and the air still comes from above.
Who should buy it: small households, first-time air fryer owners, and anyone who cooks messy, saucy or breaded food and hates scrubbing. The 50-piece pack is positioned as a sample-size, short-term supply, which suits people who want to try liners before committing. Who should skip it: anyone chasing maximum browning on a thick steak, and anyone who dislikes the idea of a consumable they have to keep re-buying.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for air fryer steak → oecue Air Fryer Accessories. The airflow design and metal surface let hot air reach both sides of the meat; parchment blocks the bottom airflow.
• Best for steak bites and nuggets → vailnd Air Fryer Paper. Small pieces get tossed and turned anyway, so the liner costs you little browning and saves you the cleanup.
• Best for long-term value → oecue Air Fryer Accessories. One stainless steel tray you wash and reuse beats repeatedly buying packs of liners.
• Best for messy marinades → vailnd Air Fryer Paper. Saucy food is exactly what the grease-resistant coating is for.
• Best for even browning → oecue Air Fryer Accessories. The perforated airflow plate is designed for it.
• Best for a brand-new air fryer owner → vailnd Air Fryer Paper. No fitment research needed beyond the 5–8 quart range, and the pack is sized as a trial.
• Best if you own an Instant Pot Vortex or Gourmia 6QT → oecue Air Fryer Accessories. Check your exact model against the compatibility list first.
I would buy the oecue Air Fryer Accessories plate. In my opinion, the deciding factor is the steak angle: a reusable stainless steel crisper plate with an airflow design does something paper physically cannot — it keeps air moving under the food, which is how you get a browned exterior instead of a steamed one. The dishwasher-safe finish and the fact that it doubles as an oven or steamer tray make it a one-time purchase rather than a running cost. I would only reach for the vailnd liners instead if cleanup is the thing I hate most and I mostly cook small, saucy pieces. If you are unsure about price or want to compare current options, check the latest price on Amazon using the button on this page.
how to air fryer steak
Pat the steak dry, season it, and preheat the air fryer so the surface is already hot when the meat goes in. Cook at a high setting, flipping once at the halfway point, then rest the steak for a few minutes before slicing. A perforated crisper plate helps because air reaches the underside too.
how to air fryer steak medium rare
Use a high temperature and a shorter cook, then check doneness with a meat thermometer rather than guessing by time — thickness varies too much for a fixed number. Pull it a few degrees below your target and let it rest, since the internal temperature keeps climbing. A reusable metal plate gives you the even browning you want at that shorter cook time.
how to air fryer steak well done
Lower the temperature slightly and cook longer, flipping once, so the outside does not scorch before the center is cooked through. Resting still matters. If you are cooking well done, a parchment liner works against you — the paper blocks bottom airflow, so the meat browns less evenly.
how to air fryer steak bites
Cube the steak, toss the pieces with oil and seasoning, and spread them in a single layer so they are not piled up. Shake the basket once or twice during cooking for even exposure. This is the one steak preparation where a disposable liner makes sense, because the pieces get moved around and the liner keeps the basket clean.
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See also: AODPWEN 130 vs TCSNOE 150PCS: Air Fryer Parchment Paper, Allstare 304 vs FryEasy Air Fryer Paper, GCQ 2 vs ZuKaYeHome Air Fryer Accessories: Air Fryer Chicken