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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
• Zacfton's biggest strength: three identical 8.6 x 6.2 x 0.5 inch racks made of 18/8 stainless steel with densely spaced, firmly welded crosswires — a natural fit for layering food in an air fryer basket and letting grease drip away.
• Zacfton's biggest trade-off: all three racks are the same size and shape, so they suit rectangular baskets and toaster ovens but won't drop neatly into a round air fryer basket or a small pan.
• Patelai 2's biggest strength: two racks in two different shapes — a round one roughly 6 inches across and an oval one about 9.8 x 6.7 inches — made of 304 stainless steel and described as suitable for air fryers, pressure cookers and 10-inch pans.
• Patelai 2's biggest trade-off: you get two racks instead of three, and the mixed shapes mean you can't stack identical layers the way you can with a matched set.
• Who each pick is for: Zacfton for anyone who wants maximum usable surface area and stackable layers; Patelai 2 for anyone cooking in round or oddly shaped cookware who needs racks that actually sit flat.
The Zacfton set is built around one idea: give you more usable cooking surface without buying a bigger appliance. You get three racks, each 8.6 inches long, 6.2 inches wide and half an inch tall. In an air fryer with a rectangular basket, that half-inch height is the whole trick — the rack lifts food off the base so hot air circulates underneath, grease drips down and away, and the underside of whatever you're cooking actually crisps instead of steaming in its own juices.
The material matters here too. These are 18/8 stainless steel with no chemical coating, which means no flaking and nothing to worry about when the heat is high. The brand describes them as rust free, hard to warp or twist, and able to take high temperatures. The wires are thick, densely spaced and welded at the crosspoints with four feet for stability. Dense spacing is the detail I'd pay attention to if you're using these as an air fryer multi purpose rack: small pieces of food — nuggets, sliced vegetables, shrimp — won't slip through the gaps, and the airflow stays even.
Who should skip it? If your air fryer has a round basket, a rectangular rack will leave awkward gaps and won't sit level. And if you only ever cook one portion at a time, three racks is more than you need. Check the dimensions against your basket before buying — 8.6 x 6.2 inches is the number that matters.
Patelai 2: Who It's For
Patelai's approach is different: instead of three identical racks, you get two racks in two shapes. The round rack is about 6 inches in diameter, and the oval rack measures roughly 9.8 x 6.7 inches. That oval rack is designed to fit inside a 10-inch pan, and Patelai specifically lists air fryers, pressure cookers and recreational vehicles as suitable homes for the set. That last one tells you something about the intended buyer — someone cooking in tight, non-standard spaces where a rectangular rack simply doesn't fit.
The construction is 304 stainless steel, described as non-toxic, odorless, BPA-free, anti-rust and anti-corrosion. Patelai also states these racks resist temperatures up to 800 degrees Celsius. Whether or not you ever approach that number — you won't in a home air fryer — it speaks to the wire and weld quality. The racks use a symmetrical rod design that the brand says distributes heat evenly, and they're dishwasher safe without corroding or rusting.
The practical strength of this set is layering and draining. The brand lists layering food, filtering oil or water, roasting meat and vegetables, cooling cookies, pies and cakes, and baking as intended uses. The round rack is small enough to sit inside a compact air fryer basket or a pressure cooker insert; the oval one handles a larger single layer of food or drops into a standard round skillet.
Where it falls short: two racks, not three, and the mismatched shapes mean you can't build a uniform stack. If you want to cook three even layers at once, this isn't the set. If you want racks that fit the round cookware you already own, it's a strong match. In my opinion, the oval-plus-round combination is the smarter choice for anyone with a 6- or 8-quart round air fryer, while the rectangular Zacfton set wins for square and rectangular baskets.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for stacking multiple layers in one air fryer basket → Zacfton Stainless Steel Cooling. Three identical racks of 8.6 x 6.2 x 0.5 inches each.
• Best for holding small pieces of food → Zacfton Stainless Steel Cooling. Densely spaced wires stop little items dropping through to the grease below.
• Best for a single large roasting layer → Patelai 2. The oval rack covers more of a pan in one piece than a single 8.6 x 6.2 inch rack.
• Best for batch cooking and cooling → Zacfton Stainless Steel Cooling. Three racks means three simultaneous jobs.
• Best for tight spaces like RVs and small kitchens → Patelai 2. Two compact racks in two shapes store more flexibly than three rectangles.
• Best for coating-free, dishwasher-safe cleaning → Zacfton Stainless Steel Cooling. 18/8 stainless with no chemical coating, stated dishwasher safe.
• Best for high-heat tolerance claims → Patelai 2. 304 stainless steel rated to 800 degrees Celsius and described as anti-corrosion.
I'd buy the Zacfton Stainless Steel Cooling set. Three matched racks give me more usable surface, more layering options and a shape that suits the rectangular baskets most air fryers use. The dense wire spacing and 18/8 stainless construction are exactly what I want in an air fryer multi purpose rack — lift the food, let the air and grease move, and clean it in the dishwasher afterward. I'd only switch to Patelai 2 if my air fryer or pan were round, or if I needed racks for a pressure cooker or an RV. That's the honest split: shape and count decide it, not brand.
FAQ
how to use multi layer rack in air fryer
how to put rack in air fryer
Lower the rack flat into the basket so its feet rest on the base, keeping the surface level. Leave space around the edges so air can move past the sides, and don't let food hang over the wire edge. Both the Zacfton and Patelai racks are made to sit inside cookware this way — just match the rack shape to your basket shape.
can you use an air fryer without the rack
Yes. The rack is an accessory, not a requirement — you can cook directly on the basket base. A rack mainly helps by lifting food out of drippings, improving bottom-side airflow and letting grease drain away. If you're cooking something breaded or greasy, the rack does more work for you.
can you stack racks in an air fryer
You can stack racks if your basket has enough height and the racks sit stably on one another. Stacking works best with thin, quick-cooking foods and a gap between layers for circulation. Zacfton's three identical racks stack predictably; Patelai's round and oval racks are mismatched in shape, so they're better used side by side or one at a time.
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