How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-22 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• SHEbaking Silicone Muffin Pans — biggest strength: 100% food-grade silicone that handles -40°F to 450°F and releases food cleanly, so egg bites and mini chicken bites pop right out.
• SHEbaking Silicone Muffin Pans — biggest trade-off: it's a 7-cup mold, not a flat cooking surface, so you can't spread a full meal across it.
• Generic Air Fryer Tray — biggest strength: 304 stainless steel with a stackable, elevated mesh design that maximizes airflow and keeps small pieces of food from dropping into the appliance.
• Generic Air Fryer Tray — biggest trade-off: it only fits air fryers with an inner diameter over 18 cm and a diagonal over 23 cm, so you must measure before you buy.
• Pick SHEbaking if you cook portions, egg bites, or mini chicken bites and hate scrubbing.
• Pick Generic Air Fryer Tray if you cook larger batches and want better browning and airflow.
SHEbaking built this as a 7-cup round silicone mold in pink, weighing just 4 ounces. The whole pitch is heat regulation: silicone warms evenly and, if you follow the recipe, releases food without sticking. The usable temperature range runs from -40°F to +450°F, which covers the oven, freezer, microwave, dishwasher, and air fryer — SHEbaking specifically lists Ninja air fryer, toaster oven, steamer, and Instant Pot as compatible appliances. It's also dishwasher safe and described as stain-resistant, which matters because silicone that holds onto grease or tomato sauce is a real annoyance.
The brand calls out thicker, all-around silicone for stability, and that's the design detail worth noting. Thin silicone molds flop and spill when you move them; a sturdier one holds its shape. SHEbaking's own instructions say to set the pan on a cookie sheet, fill it, and bake — a small step, but it tells you the mold alone isn't rigid enough to carry across a kitchen by one edge.
This is the right pick if you're making air fryer chicken bites in a mold shape — think bite-sized, breaded nuggets that cook evenly because each one sits in its own cup — plus egg bites, muffins, cupcakes, brownie portions, baked oatmeal cups, and chicken pot pie cups. Seven cups is a portion-friendly size for one or two people, or for kids' snacks. Skip it if you're feeding a crowd in one pass, if you want a flat surface for fries or wings, or if you need something that browns and crisps hard. Silicone bakes gently; it won't give you the crusty edge a metal tray will.
This is a two-piece stainless steel accessory with four silicone feet. The tray is about 18x18 cm (roughly 7.09 x 7.09 inches), the package weighs about 7.8 ounces, and the set ships as two pieces — a tray and a shelf you can stack. The material is 304 stainless steel, which is the rust-resistant grade you want in a kitchen tool that gets washed constantly, and it's dishwasher safe.
The design is where it earns its place. The elevated, multi-layer structure lifts food off the bottom so hot air moves underneath, and the enclosed mesh tray stops small pieces from falling through into the appliance. That's exactly the problem with loose chicken bites in a bare air fryer basket — they tumble, stick, and end up half-crisp. A mesh floor with airflow on multiple sides gives you more even browning on all of them.
The catch is fit. Generic states this rack suits air fryers with an inner diameter over 18 cm and a diagonal over 23 cm, and it's built for square air fryers around 18x18x4.5 cm, in the 4 to 6.5 liter range. That's a wide but not universal window. Measure your basket before ordering — this is the one accessory where guessing gets you a return label.
Buy it if you cook family-sized batches and want to stack two levels to use vertical space, or if you also want a colander or storage basket for dehydrating produce and meat. Skip it if your air fryer is on the small side, if you mostly make single portions, or if you want the food-release convenience of silicone rather than a metal surface you'll need to scrub around mesh.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for air fryer chicken bites in neat portions → SHEbaking Silicone Muffin Pans, because each of the 7 cups holds a bite and releases it without sticking.
• Best for crispier, browner results → Generic Air Fryer Tray, because stainless steel and open airflow promote browning in a way silicone does not.
• Best for egg bites, muffins, and baked oatmeal cups → SHEbaking Silicone Muffin Pans, which is what a 7-cup mold is literally shaped for.
• Best for freezer-to-oven flexibility → SHEbaking Silicone Muffin Pans, rated from -40°F to 450°F and safe in the freezer, microwave, oven, and dishwasher.
• Best for bigger households → Generic Air Fryer Tray at 4 to 6.5 liters of compatible capacity and two stacking pieces.
• Best for easy cleanup → SHEbaking Silicone Muffin Pans; silicone is non-stick by nature, while the tray's mesh takes more rinsing.
• Best for dehydrating or doubling as a colander → Generic Air Fryer Tray, which Generic explicitly lists for that kind of multi-use.
I'd buy the SHEbaking Silicone Muffin Pans. In my opinion, if your goal is air fryer chicken bites, the mold does the harder job: it portions them, keeps them from scattering, and lets them release cleanly so you're not picking breading off a mesh with a brush. The temperature range and dishwasher-safe silicone make it the lower-effort tool for everyday small-batch cooking.
The Generic Air Fryer Tray is the better choice if you're cooking for several people and want real browning — just confirm your air fryer's inner dimensions first. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since that's the one thing that can tip a close call.
how to air fryer chicken bites
Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces, coat them, and arrange them so they don't overlap. With the SHEbaking mold, drop one piece per cup; with the Generic tray, spread them on the mesh in a single layer so air can circulate underneath. Either way, cook in batches rather than crowding.
how long to air fryer chicken bites
Cook times depend on your air fryer and the size of the pieces, and neither product sheet lists a recipe. Start checking early, around the 8 to 10 minute mark for small bites, and continue until the thickest piece is cooked through. The mesh tray generally browns faster than silicone cups.
how long to air fry chicken bites at 400
At 400°F, small bites typically finish faster than larger chunks, so check them at roughly 8 minutes and add time in short increments. The Generic tray's airflow will crisp the outside sooner; the SHEbaking mold heats gently, so expect a softer exterior and add a minute or two if needed.
how long do i air fry chicken bites
It depends on piece size, whether they're breaded, and your air fryer's wattage, but most bite-sized pieces land somewhere around 8 to 12 minutes. Use a thermometer on the largest piece rather than trusting a timer alone, and adjust from there next time.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: SHEbaking Silicone Muffin Pans vs Reynolds Kitchens Air Fryer, GOWENIC 3 vs Generic Silicone Air Fryer: Air Fryer, SAWNZC Silicone Baking Muffin vs Domigard 2: Air Fryer