When I first got my Instant Pot, I expected it to be great for soups, roasts, and quick meals. But what I didn’t expect was how one accessory would completely revolutionize my cooking experience: stackable wire racks.
Originally marketed as dehydrator trays, these racks have far exceeded their advertised use. They were designed with food dehydration in mind—fruits, vegetables, meats—but I quickly discovered their value goes far beyond just preserving ingredients. They’ve become my go-to for everything from air frying bacon to reheating leftovers without sogginess.
These five-tiered racks have become the most versatile and heavily-used tool in my kitchen arsenal. Designed to fit perfectly into 8-quart Instant Pot Air Fryer models (and compatible with Ninja Foodi 6.5 and 8 qt models, including OL501, OL601, and OL701), these racks unlock a wide range of possibilities—dehydrating, air frying, roasting, and more.
With five stackable layers, it’s easier than ever to dehydrate fruits, vegetables, and meats while locking in nutrients and creating delicious batches all at once. Their 304 stainless steel food-grade material ensures healthy meals, while roll hemming technology and toughened diamond mesh make for safe, dent-resistant handling. Best of all, their dishwasher-safe design and space-saving stackability make them a breeze to use and clean.
Let’s take a closer look at the ways these stackable wire racks deliver the most value for your Instant Pot—and why they’ve earned the title of the most versatile accessory I own.
Table of Contents
- Why Stackable Wire Racks Are the MVP of My Instant Pot
- Crispy Fried Chicken With Less Oil
- Saving Herbs: From Fresh to Dried
- Crispy, Mess-Free Bacon
- Frozen Food, Fast and Easy
- The Perfect Hot Dogs
- Extra Uses You Might Not Expect
Why Stackable Wire Racks Are the MVP of My Instant Pot
No other accessory offers the sheer versatility and value of stackable wire racks. While they’re sold as dehydrator trays, their real superpower lies in just how many ways you can use them. With a compact 8.5-inch diameter, they fit snugly into most 8-quart Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi models, allowing you to cook multiple layers of food at once without crowding.
They are made from food-grade 304 (18/8) stainless steel, which means I feel confident serving my family healthy meals every day. The toughened diamond mesh prevents warping or denting over time, and thanks to burr-free roll hemming technology, I never have to worry about sharp edges while handling.
From air frying to dehydrating, roasting to reheating, these racks truly do it all. They save space, reduce mess, and promote healthier cooking methods.
Crispy Fried Chicken With Less Oil
When I want crispy fried chicken without the guilt (or grease), I turn to my stackable wire racks. I season and bread the chicken, then layer it across the racks inside my Instant Pot using the air fryer lid.
The circulating hot air crisps every piece evenly. And since the racks are elevated, fat drips away into the bottom of the pot. I can do a full batch in one go thanks to the vertical design. It’s a perfect hack for family meals or meal prep Sundays.
One evening, I made Nashville-style hot chicken using these racks—and it came out so crispy and flavorful, you’d swear it was deep-fried. But it wasn’t. And cleanup? Barely a thing.
Saving Herbs: From Fresh to Dried
One of the smartest ways to reduce food waste is drying herbs before they go bad. These racks are perfect for gently dehydrating all kinds of herbs:
Basil
Sometimes I overbuy basil, and within days it starts to wilt. I pick off the healthy leaves, lay them across the mesh trays, and run the dehydrate setting. The aroma fills the kitchen, and soon I have a stash of basil ready for sauces, soups, and pizza.
Sage
Sage dries quickly and evenly on these racks. I keep it in airtight jars and use it for seasonal stuffing and butter-based pan sauces.
Rosemary
Because the mesh is tight, rosemary needles don’t fall through. Once dried, they become crumbly and easy to incorporate into roasted potatoes, focaccia, and dry rubs.
Oregano
I had a bumper crop of oregano last summer, and these trays let me dehydrate it all in one go. It felt amazing to bottle up my own dried oregano instead of buying jars at the store.
Crispy, Mess-Free Bacon
Let’s talk about bacon. Stove-top bacon? A greasy nightmare. But when you layer strips of bacon on these racks and pop them into the Instant Pot Air Fryer, it’s a revelation.
No splatter, no greasy stove. The bacon crisps beautifully, the fat drips down to the liner, and you end up with restaurant-quality strips that are crunchy and evenly cooked. It’s so easy I now make bacon in batches and keep them in the fridge for salads and sandwiches.
Frozen Food, Fast and Easy
Frozen foods often turn soggy or unevenly cooked when microwaved. Not with these racks.
I place frozen appetizers like taquitos, dumplings, or veggie nuggets on the layers, and air fry them until golden brown. The results are crispy on the outside, piping hot on the inside. The stackable design lets me make double or even triple the amount in one cycle—great for parties or hungry teenagers.
Once, I layered three types of appetizers on the racks—mozzarella sticks, jalapeño poppers, and chicken wings—and everything came out cooked perfectly. No mixing flavors, no flipping required.
The Perfect Hot Dogs
Want hot dogs with that blistered skin like you get at a summer cookout? Just line them on the racks and air fry. The hot circulating air gives them a delicious snap, and the inside stays juicy.
I often toast the buns on the top rack for the last couple of minutes. The result? A backyard BBQ taste with zero mess or fuss.
It’s such a reliable trick that I now prefer this method to grilling.
Extra Uses You Might Not Expect
Here’s where the creativity kicks in. These stackable wire racks have become my go-to for a number of surprising kitchen tasks:
- Drying citrus slices for tea blends or cocktail garnishes
- Roasting garlic without wrapping it in foil
- Reheating pizza slices without making them chewy
- Crisping up leftover fried foods without burning them
Because they allow airflow and elevation, the racks give food that perfectly cooked texture you can’t get from a plate or tray.
Final Thoughts
These stackable wire racks—originally marketed as dehydrator trays—have completely changed the way I use my Instant Pot. Their food-grade safety, thoughtful engineering, and exceptional versatility make them not just useful, but essential.
Whether you’re air frying, dehydrating, roasting, reheating, or doing something wildly creative, this one accessory does it all. They save space, reduce mess, and help you make healthier meals with more ease.
If you’re like me and always looking for ways to get the most out of your kitchen gadgets, give these racks a try. I guarantee you’ll find yourself reaching for them more often than any other accessory.
Of all the tools in my kitchen, these stackable wire racks are the ones I depend on most. They’ve earned their place as my Instant Pot MVP—and they just might become yours too.
