What the Removable Wire Rack in SmartVoice Air Fryers Is For

If you’ve unboxed an Emerson SmartVoice air fryer and noticed the included crisper rack, you’re looking at one of the most useful “quiet upgrades” for better air-frying results. This accessory—often described as a wire shelf, wire oven rack, rack for air fryer, or even an air fryer tray—is designed to improve airflow, crispness, and consistency by elevating food and creating space for hot air to circulate.

And because Emerson SmartVoice air fryers are built for hands-free cooking—no app, no Wi-Fi, no hub required—you can focus on food and timing without fiddling with buttons while you’re prepping messy ingredients.

Learn more about the Emerson SmartVoice Air Fryers here.

Let’s break down exactly what the crisper rack, also known as the removable wire rack, is used for, what foods work best on it, how to place it in the basket, what cooking method it’s typically paired with, and how to clean it afterward.

What Is the Removable Wire Rack Used For?

The removable wire rack (a wire rack for cooking) is a raised metal insert that sits inside the smart air fryer basket. Its primary purpose is simple: It lifts food off the basket floor so hot air can flow underneath and around your ingredients. This elevation is great because it:

• Improves crisping on the bottom and sides (less “soggy underside”)
• Promotes more even cooking because airflow reaches more surfaces
• Reduces sticking compared to placing delicate foods flat on the basket
• Helps drain grease away from food (especially for fatty items)

Think of it like a mini wire oven rack inside your smart air fryer basket—same concept, but sized for your countertop appliance.

Keep in mind that the crisper rack is different from a crisper plate. A crisper plate comes with the SmartVoice Air Fryer as well.

Learn more about what a crisper plate is here.

What Foods Are Best to Place on the Wire Rack?

You can cook a lot of foods directly on the basket floor, but certain foods get noticeably better results when elevated. Here are the best categories for the included rack for smart air fryer:

Foods that crisp better on a rack

• Chicken wings (classic wire rack for chicken wings spread out evenly)
• Chicken thighs or drumsticks
• Breaded items (nuggets, tenders, cutlets)
• Frozen snacks (mozzarella sticks, fries, tots)
• Bacon or fatty meats (helps grease drip below)

Foods that benefit from airflow underneath

• Salmon fillets or other fish (helps reduce sticking and uneven browning)
• Reheating pizza or flat items (better bottom texture)
• Toasting or warming items like rolls (depending on what your model supports)

Foods that are “shape-sensitive”

• Items that can deform when sitting directly on the basket (some pastries, delicate reheats)
• Smaller pieces you want to cook evenly without flipping as often

Tip: Wings are one of the best reasons to use the rack. Elevation helps air hit more of the surface area, which usually means a crispier finish with less babysitting–perfect for a voice-controlled smart air fryer that allows you to focus on other things as it cooks.

What Cooking Method Is Usually Used with a Wire Rack?

Most of the time, you’ll use the rack with the standard Air Fry style cooking method—the one designed to maximize convection airflow and browning. For the SmartVoice Air Fryer, the rack is most commonly used for cooking commands such as:

• Air Fry (most common)
• Reheat (when you want better airflow underneath)

Because the rack elevates food, it complements convection-style heating. You’re essentially turning the basket into a more “oven-rack-like” environment—similar to how a wire oven rack works in a traditional oven, but with stronger airflow in a smaller space.

Learn more about cooking tips with the Emerson SmartVoice Air Fryer here.

How to Place the Wire Rack in the Air Fryer Basket

Placing the rack correctly matters for stability and airflow. With that said, placing the rack in the smart air fryer is quick and simple. While the exact shape varies slightly by model, the usual placement works like this:

Step-by-step: placing the rack

1. Remove the basket from the smart air fryer and set it on a stable surface.
2. Drop the wire rack into the basket so it sits flat and stable. (the side with the four feet should be pointed down)
3. Make sure the rack is fully seated (not tilted or perched on the basket wall).
4. Place food on top of the rack in a single layer when possible.
5. Slide the basket back into the smart air fryer and cook as normal.

Key placement tips (important)

• Don’t overload the rack. If food is piled too high, you block airflow and lose the benefit.
• Leave space between pieces. Air frying works best with airflow gaps.
• Ensure all feet are resting evenly on the basket base.

Can it be used like an “air fryer stacking rack”?

No, since there isn’t a lot of space under the rack once it is placed, food should not be placed under the rack. Placing food under the rack may cause the rack to tilt or become unstable. This wire rack can’t be used as an air fryer stacking rack. When using the wire rack, food should only be placed on the wire rack.

Do You Need the Rack Every Time?

Not always. You’ll get the most value from the rack when:

• You want crisp bottoms without constant flipping
• You’re cooking foods that release grease (wings, bacon, thighs)
• You’re reheating foods where texture matters (pizza, breaded items)
• You’re trying to reduce sticking on delicate foods

For quick items like basic fries, you can go either way—but the rack often improves texture consistency.

Cleaning the Wire Rack

Fortunately, this is one of the easier air fryer accessories to maintain. The wire rack can be placed in a dishwasher or washed by hand.

Dishwasher cleaning

The wire rack can be placed in the dishwasher (commonly, the top rack is best to reduce harsh heat exposure and banging around).

Hand washing (recommended if you want it spotless)

Hand washing is quick and often gives the best results:

1. Let it cool completely.
2. Soak it in warm water with mild dish soap for 5–10 minutes.
3. Use a soft brush or non-abrasive sponge to remove residue.
4. Rinse and dry thoroughly.

Avoid: steel wool or harsh abrasives, which can wear finishes and create rough spots.

Learn more about compatible accessories for the SmartVoice Air Fryers here.

Why This Accessory Matters Even More with SmartVoice Cooking

Because SmartVoice air fryers are designed for hands-free cooking—letting you adjust cooking with voice instead of touching controls while your hands are messy—the wire rack fits the same “cook smarter” philosophy:

• Better airflow = less mid-cook fiddling
• Crispier results = less trial-and-error
• Easier cleanup = less kitchen hassle

So whether you use the removable wire shelf for nuggets, chicken wings, bacon, or fries, the idea is the same: Use the rack when you want better airflow, better crisp, and easier cooking.

Learn more about SmartVoice technology here.

You can now purchase the Emerson SmartVoice Air Fryer 5.3QT directly on Target.com.
👉 Shop the Emerson SmartVoice Air Fryer 5.3QT on Target.com today