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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 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• P&P CHEF 9 — biggest strength: pure stainless steel construction with seamless welded wires, a 1-inch elevation for airflow, and a two-pack so you always have a spare.
• P&P CHEF 9 — biggest trade-off: it is a plain round wire rack with no dedicated handle, no nonstick coating and no appliance-specific fit, so you position it by hand and it only works in cookers that accept a 9-inch round.
• HEISENLIN 8QT — biggest strength: a square crisper plate shaped and sized for the Gourmia GAF838 8QT, with a built-in handle and a double-layer nonstick coating that releases food and cleans up fast.
• HEISENLIN 8QT — biggest trade-off: it is tied to that one air fryer family, and the nonstick surface needs gentler washing than bare steel.
• Buy the P&P CHEF 9 if you want a durable, coating-free rack you can steam, cool and air fry with, and you like having two.
• Buy the HEISENLIN 8QT if you own a Gourmia GAF838 8QT and want a crisper plate that drops straight into the basket.
The P&P CHEF 9 is a deceptively simple piece of kit. It is a round rack, 9 inches across and 1 inch tall, made from pure stainless steel with solid, seamless welding at every joint. That construction matters more than it sounds. Welded wire racks hold their shape, resist warping under heat, and do not shed bits of coating into your food, because there is no coating to shed. The wires are mirror-finished and smooth, so food releases easily and the rack keeps its shine after a wash.
Who should buy it: anyone who wants one rack that earns its keep in multiple pots and appliances, anyone who prefers uncoated stainless steel over nonstick, and anyone who wants a spare on hand since it comes as a two-pack. In my opinion it is the more versatile of the two.
Who should skip it: if you own a Gourmia GAF838 8QT specifically, a round rack will not seat as cleanly as a plate shaped for that basket. Skip it too if you want a handle or a nonstick surface.
HEISENLIN 8QT: Who It's For
The HEISENLIN 8QT is a purpose-built accessory rather than a generalist. It is a square air fryer crisper tray, roughly 8.25 by 8.25 inches and only about 0.2 inches thick, designed as a replacement grill pan for the Gourmia GAF838 8 Quart Digital Air Fryer. If that is your machine, this is the shape that belongs in it.
The material story is different from the P&P CHEF. This tray is food-grade carbon steel with a double-layer nonstick coating, described as BPA-free, non-toxic and tasteless, and coated in a way the maker says resists flaking off. That coating is the whole point: food slides off, cleanup is quick, and the tray is dishwasher safe. There is also a handle, so you can pull it out of a hot basket without fishing around with tongs, plus a cleaning cloth included for wiping it down.
The package is a single tray with four silicone rubber legs as a gift. Those legs are worth understanding before you buy. The maker explicitly notes that you should adjust the tightness of the four feet to fit your air fryer, which tells you the tray is designed to sit on its own legs inside the basket rather than lock in like an OEM part. It is a fit-and-adjust situation, not a snap-in one.
Who should buy it: owners of a Gourmia GAF838 8QT who want a square crisper plate with a handle and a nonstick surface for everyday frying, reheating and crisping. Who should skip it: anyone with a different air fryer brand or size, and anyone who dislikes nonstick coatings or wants a rack that also works as a steamer and a cooling rack.
• Best for a Gourmia GAF838 8QT → HEISENLIN 8QT. It is shaped and sized for that exact basket.
• Best for multi-appliance use → P&P CHEF 9. It fits air fryers, stockpots, pressure cookers and canning setups.
• Best for steamer and cooling duty → P&P CHEF 9. The 1-inch lift and round wire format suit steaming and cooling as well as air frying.
• Best for easy release and fast cleanup → HEISENLIN 8QT. The double-layer nonstick coating and dishwasher-safe design do the work for you.
• Best for coating-free cooking → P&P CHEF 9. Pure stainless steel, no nonstick layer to wear.
• Best for grabbing a hot tray safely → HEISENLIN 8QT. The handle is built in; the P&P CHEF rack is lifted by its polished edge.
• Best for durability under heat and heavy loads → P&P CHEF 9. Seamless welding and warp-resistant stainless steel are made for long service.
• Best if you want a spare → P&P CHEF 9. It arrives as a two-pack; the HEISENLIN ships as one tray.
If I were buying for myself, I would take the P&P CHEF 9. It is the rack I would actually reach for daily: uncoated stainless steel that will not flake, a 1-inch lift that genuinely improves airflow, and two of them in the box so one can be cooling cookies while the other steams dumplings. The HEISENLIN 8QT is the smarter buy only if you own a Gourmia GAF838 8QT and want a handle-plus-nonstick crisper plate shaped for that basket. Match the product to your appliance, and either one will earn its place in the drawer. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
FAQ
how to use air fryer rack
Set the rack in the basket so food sits elevated with space underneath, then cook as you normally would. The P&P CHEF 9 gives you a 1-inch lift for airflow; the HEISENLIN 8QT sits on its four adjustable silicone legs, which you can tighten or loosen to fit your basket.
how to clean air fryer rack
how to air fry rack of ribs
A rack of ribs is a large, awkward cut, so you want a rack that lifts it and lets air circulate. The P&P CHEF 9's 1-inch elevation and 9-inch round give you that airflow, though you should confirm it fits your specific basket before relying on it for something that big.
how to air fry rack of lamb
Lamb racks benefit from the same elevated-airflow setup. Either product can support this if it fits your appliance: the P&P CHEF 9 for round 9-inch baskets, or the HEISENLIN 8QT if you own a Gourmia GAF838 8QT and want the nonstick, handled plate.
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