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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-24 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• OPENICE Air Fryer Basket — biggest strength: one extra-large basket (18.6" x 12") plus a matching drip pan and 30 sheets of parchment paper, so a family-sized batch of fried chicken goes in at once with almost no cleanup.
• OPENICE Air Fryer Basket — biggest trade-off: it's a single non-stick basket, so you're cooking one layer at a time rather than stacking, and the coating needs gentle handling to avoid scratches.
• Leonyo 11.8x9IN — biggest strength: a three-pack of uncoated commercial-grade stainless steel racks you can stack together in the oven, with swivel handles and 1.2-inch side walls to hold heavier loads.
• Leonyo 11.8x9IN — biggest trade-off: each rack is much smaller than the OPENICE basket, so a single rack holds a modest portion — the volume only comes when you use all three.
• Who OPENICE is for: anyone who wants one big, simple, dishwasher-safe basket for air fryer fried chicken, fries, and roasted vegetables without juggling multiple pieces.
• Who Leonyo is for: anyone who wants bare stainless steel, no coatings, and the ability to stack racks and cook several foods or big portions at the same time.
The OPENICE basket is built around size. At 18.6" x 12", with a pan measuring 18.5" x 12.8", it's the kind of footprint that lets you lay out a full batch of fried chicken pieces side by side instead of crowding them into a small drawer. That matters for air fryer fried chicken specifically: crowding steams the coating, spacing lets the hot air do its job. The elevated mesh design is meant to circulate heat 360 degrees so you don't have to flip mid-cook, and the tray underneath catches the grease and crumbs that would otherwise end up on your oven floor.
The 304 stainless steel basket and crisper tray are non-stick coated and dishwasher safe, which is the real selling point for weeknight cooking. You set the temperature and time, walk away, and then the whole thing goes in the dishwasher or gets a quick soak and wipe. It's also multi-functional — air frying, baking, roasting, even cooking en papillote — so it earns counter space beyond fried chicken. The set includes the basket, the crisper tray, and 30 pieces of parchment paper.
Who should skip it? If you want to cook two different foods at two different heights at once, this isn't the tool — it's one basket, one level. And if you specifically want an uncoated metal surface with zero coating to worry about, the non-stick finish here is the opposite of what you're after. It weighs 3 pounds, so it's substantial but not unwieldy.
Leonyo takes the opposite approach: three smaller racks instead of one big basket. Each is made from commercial-grade stainless steel with no surface coatings at all — the pitch being that there are no flakes to shed into your food, and every piece is polished smooth with no sharp burrs. The reinforced cross wires strengthen the bottom to hold heavier food, and the widened top rim gives you something solid to grab.
The design details are where this set earns its keep. The 1.2-inch deep side walls hold larger servings than a shallow rack, the solid support legs sit flat without wobbling, and the pair of 180-degree swivel handles make lifting easier than fixed handles. The tall stand lifts the rack so grease drains away for lighter meals, and it also keeps you from setting a scalding-hot basket directly on your counter. For feeding a crowd, you stack all three racks in the oven together and skip the repeated small batches.
The trade-off is portion size per rack and the fact that "three racks" means three things to wash, dry, and store. The mirror-polished surface resists food adhesion and is dishwasher safe, but you still handle three pieces instead of one. It weighs 1.98 pounds total and ships in a 12.76 x 9.53 x 4.49 inch package, so storage is compact when nested. Skip it if you'd rather have one large continuous cooking surface than a stack of smaller ones.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for a single large batch of air fryer fried chicken → OPENICE Air Fryer Basket. The 18.6" x 12" surface lets you spread pieces out instead of stacking them.
• Best for stacking and cooking multiple items at once → Leonyo 11.8x9IN. Three racks go in the oven together for high-volume cooking.
• Best for zero coatings → Leonyo 11.8x9IN. Uncoated commercial-grade stainless steel throughout.
• Best for easiest cleanup → OPENICE Air Fryer Basket. One non-stick basket and tray, both dishwasher safe, plus 30 parchment sheets included.
• Best for heavy loads per rack → Leonyo 11.8x9IN. Reinforced cross wires and 1.2-inch side walls are built for weight.
• Best for grab-and-go handling → Leonyo 11.8x9IN. The 180-degree swivel handles beat fixed handles for maneuverability.
• Best for versatility beyond air frying → a tie. OPENICE handles baking, roasting and en papillote; Leonyo doubles as a cooling rack for cookies and chips.
In my opinion, if air fryer fried chicken is your main job, I'd buy the OPENICE Air Fryer Basket. One large surface, one tray, one thing to clean, and the parchment paper means even less scrubbing — that's the setup I'd want on a weeknight. I'd pick the Leonyo 11.8x9IN instead if you cook for a crowd regularly, want uncoated stainless steel, or like the idea of stacking three racks and letting your oven do air-fryer duty. My honest call: OPENICE for simplicity and capacity in one piece, Leonyo for volume and coating-free peace of mind.
how to air fryer fried chicken
Coat your chicken, then place pieces in a single layer with space between them so hot air circulates on all sides. With the OPENICE basket's elevated mesh, the design is meant to circulate heat 360 degrees without flipping; with the Leonyo racks, the mesh tray and elevated supports do the same. Either way, don't crowd the basket — spacing is what gives you a crispy coating.
how to air fryer fried chicken breast
Breasts are thick, so keep them in one layer and avoid overlapping. The OPENICE basket's extra-large surface lets you spread several breasts out flat, while the Leonyo racks' 1.2-inch side walls help contain larger pieces. Both designs drain excess oil away from the food, which is what keeps the outside crisp rather than soggy.
how to make air fryer fried chicken without buttermilk
Skip the buttermilk and use a simple coating that sticks on its own — a seasoned flour or breadcrumb dredge works fine, and a light oil spray helps it brown. The OPENICE basket's 304 stainless steel mesh eliminates the need for added butter or fats, and the Leonyo racks' elevated design lets grease drip away for a lighter result. Neither product requires buttermilk; it's a recipe choice, not a hardware one.
how to make air fryer fried chicken tenders
Tenders cook fast and benefit from a single even layer. The OPENICE basket is big enough to lay out a full batch of tenders without stacking, and the included parchment paper keeps the coating from sticking. If you're cooking tenders alongside other food, the Leonyo set lets you use one rack for tenders and another for sides in the same oven session.
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