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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-22 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• uxcell 2Pcs — biggest strength: two 11-inch round 201 stainless steel racks with four raised feet and a mirror finish, so air circulates around food and it lifts out without sticking.
• uxcell 2Pcs — biggest trade-off: it's a light-duty rack, not a grill replacement — there's no adjustable length and it won't fill a large rectangular grill firebox.
• Plowo Cast Iron Grill — biggest strength: three enameled cast iron grate panels that adjust from 14 to 20 inches long and 8 inches wide, built to sit over a flame and catch drippings.
• Plowo Cast Iron Grill — biggest trade-off: it weighs 22.1 pounds and is sized for grill replacement, so it's overkill (and oversized) for a countertop air fryer basket.
• Who uxcell 2Pcs is for: air fryer and oven cooks who want a round grate for crisping, steaming, roasting or cooling — and want a spare.
• Who Plowo Cast Iron Grill is for: anyone rebuilding the cooking surface of a gas or electric grill who needs adjustable, heat-resistant cast iron panels.
The uxcell 2Pcs set is two identical round racks, each 280 mm across and 18 mm tall (about 11.02 inches by 0.71 inches) — that's a diameter that fits most round air fryer baskets and standard round cake pans. The material is 201 stainless steel, which the spec sheet describes as sturdy enough to hold heavier food without sagging, and resistant to rust after cleaning. The design detail that matters most for an air fryer grate is the four raised feet: they lift the rack off the bottom of the basket so hot air can move under the food, not just over it. That's the whole point of using a grate in an air fryer — you stop food from sitting in its own moisture and you get more even browning.
The second useful detail is the mirror-finished surface. A smooth, low-stick finish makes it easier to slide a spatula under chicken wings, fish fillets or vegetables without tearing them, and it wipes down quickly afterward. The close parallel bars are dense enough to hold small items — think cherry tomatoes, shrimp, nuggets — that would otherwise drop through a wide grate.
Beyond the air fryer, this is a genuinely multi-role rack. The spec lists it as a roasting rack, steaming rack, baking rack and cooling rack, and that flexibility is the real selling point. Two racks means you can steam dumplings on one while cookies cool on the other, or use both as layers inside a larger oven to cook two trays of food at once. It's also listed for bread, cookies, cupcakes, pizza and similar foods.
Plowo Cast Iron Grill: Who It's For
The Plowo Cast Iron Grill is a completely different category of product: a three-panel replacement cooking grate set for gas and electric grills. The headline spec is adjustability — each panel extends from 14 inches up to 20 inches long, and the set is 8 inches wide. That sliding range is what makes it a "universal" replacement: you open or close the panels until they cover your grill's firebox, then drop them in. The brand is explicit that you should double-check the dimensions of your original grates before ordering, and that's good advice — a replacement grate only works if the footprint matches.
The material is enameled cast iron. Two things follow from that. First, cast iron is heavy and holds heat, so the grates stay hot when you put cold food on them — that's what gives you sear marks and a crust rather than a steamed surface. Second, the enamel coating is what the spec sheet credits for corrosion and heat resistance plus non-stick performance, which is what keeps cleanup from turning into a scraping job. The set weighs 22.1 pounds in total, which tells you how substantial these panels are.
Functionally, the grates are designed to sit between your food and the flame. They catch drippings and oil, and the spec sheet notes they help add a smoky, barbecue-style flavor. That's the classic reason to cook on a grate over a flame rather than on a solid surface: the fat hits the heat below, vaporizes, and comes back up into the food.
Who should skip it? If you're shopping for an air fryer accessory, this isn't it. It's too big, too heavy, and shaped for a grill, not a basket. It's also a poor fit if you own a grill whose original grates are a fixed, non-adjustable size that falls outside the 14-to-20-inch range.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for air fryer crisping → uxcell 2Pcs. The raised feet lift food so air circulates underneath, which is exactly what an air fryer grate is for.
• Best for grill replacement → Plowo Cast Iron Grill. Adjustable 14–20 inch panels are built to sit in a gas or electric grill, not a basket.
• Best for heat retention and sear → Plowo Cast Iron Grill. Enameled cast iron holds heat far better than a thin stainless wire rack.
• Best for easy cleanup after sticky food → uxcell 2Pcs. The mirror finish is designed to release food and wipe clean.
• Best for catching drippings and adding smoke flavor → Plowo Cast Iron Grill. Designed to sit over the flame and catch oil and drippings.
• Best for a spare or layered cooking → uxcell 2Pcs. Two racks in the pack let you cook on one while the other cools or steams.
• Best if you need to match an existing grill footprint → Plowo Cast Iron Grill. Just verify your original dimensions first, since fit is the whole ballgame here.
In my opinion, these two products barely compete — they solve different problems, and the right pick comes down to your appliance. If your goal is an air fryer grate, I'd buy the uxcell 2Pcs: the round 11-inch footprint, the four raised feet and the two-pack make it the more useful countertop tool, and the stainless build is easy to live with day to day. I'd choose the Plowo Cast Iron Grill only if I were restoring or upgrading a gas or electric grill and had confirmed my grate dimensions fall in that 14-to-20-inch range. For most readers landing on an air fryer accessory search, uxcell is the safer call.
FAQ
when to use grate in air fryer
Yes. The panels extend from 14 to 20 inches long and are 8 inches wide, and the brand specifically advises double-checking your original grate dimensions before ordering. A replacement grate only works if its footprint matches your grill, so measure first.
They behave differently. The Plowo grates are enameled cast iron, which holds heat well and is designed to resist corrosion and heat while adding smoky flavor from drippings. The uxcell racks are 201 stainless steel, which is lighter and easier to handle but isn't built to sit over an open flame. Match the material to the job.
Yes. The spec lists it as a cooling rack alongside air fryer, steaming, baking and roasting uses, and it's suitable for bread, cookies, cupcakes and pizza. The close parallel bars support small items, and the mirror finish helps food release cleanly.
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