How To Clean an Air Fryer – In Few Easy Steps

You’re going to want to clean your air fryer to make sure that your next batch of onion rings doesn’t come with a side of something else.

June 19, 2020

The air fryer could be one of the greatest kitchen devices ever invented. It cooks food fast, uses minimal ingredients during preparation, and is easy enough for pretty much anyone to use — from novice chefs to cooking savants.

Yet in the midst of cooking up your favorite foods, it’s also important to pencil in a less appetizing activity: cleaning it.

Why is cleaning your air fryer important? Well, the appliance collects oils and fat from the food it cooks. If it’s not cleaned, said oils and fats could build up over time and create smoke and/or a strong oil odor during cooking. This, in turn, could infuse your otherwise delicious freshly made food with an unwanted oily flavor.

Dirty air fryers can also build up grease, and that grease can cause your fryer to smoke and reduce the quality of your food.

That’s why we recommend cleaning the device after each use. Also, when you clean your air fryer every time you use it, you don’t end up with stubborn, hard-to-clean, yucky bits of who-knows-what.

Tips for Cleaning Your Air Fryer

There’s really not much to cleaning your air fryer, but there are a few things you should definitely keep in mind.

Don’t use metal utensils, abrasive sponges, or steel wire brushes to remove food particles and residue from your air fryer. This could damage the non-stick coating on your air fryer.
Don’t submerge your air fryer in water. The main unit is an electric appliance, so this will ruin it.
If you notice a foul odor coming from your air fryer, you can put half a lemon in the basket and let it sit for about 30 minutes before cleaning.

How to Deep Clean an Air Fryer

What You”ll Need

Cotton or microfiber cloths
Non-abrasive sponge
Baking soda
Soft bristle brush or toothbrush
Dish soap

Instructions

Clean the Pan and Basket of Your Air Fryer

Unplug the device and allow it to cool for at least 30 minutes.

Both the pan and basket of your fryer can be cleaned in the dishwasher. They could also be buffed up by hand with hot water, dish soap, and a soft sponge.

If you have any especially crusty bits stuck to the bottom of the pan, simply place it in the sink, fill it with hot, soapy water and let it soak for 5 to 10 minutes. This should loosen the crust and make it easily removable with a sponge.

Also Read

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How To Clean Your Dishwasher – The Easiest Way

Clean the Inside of Your Air Fryer

Using a soft cloth or non-abrasive sponge and hot water, clean the heating element. If there’s any grease present on the heating element, add a small amount of dish soap to the cloth or sponge to help remove the grease.

Then, wipe away the soap with clean, hot water. You may want to turn the air fryer upside down to make cleaning the heating element easier.

You can also use a soft-bristle food brush to remove any stuck-on dirt or particles.

If there’s hard, stuck-on food residue that doesn’t come off the main unit — outside, inside, or on the heating element — make a paste out of baking soda and water and scrub any dirty spots with a non-abrasive sponge or soft brush, then wipe down with a cotton or microfiber cloth.

Allow the interior of the air fryer to dry completely.

Clean the Exterior of Your Air Fryer

Wipe the exterior with a moist cloth or sponge and a mild detergent. Avoid using glass cleaners, bleaches, or heavy cleaners.

Let everything air dry for a few hours or use a clean cotton cloth to dry the main unit, basket, and pan. Reassemble.

How To Maintain Your Air Fryer

Beyond regular cleanings, your air fryer requires some basic maintenance to make sure that it doesn’t get damaged or start functioning incorrectly. This includes:

Inspecting the cords before each use. Never plug a damaged or frayed cord into an outlet. It can cause serious injury or even death. Make sure the cords are clean and damage-free before using your air fryer.
Making sure the unit is clean and free of any debris before you start cooking. If it has been a long time since you last used your air fryer, check inside. Some dust may have accumulated.
If there is any food residue on the basket or the pan, clean it out before you start cooking.
Make sure the air fryer is placed upright, on a level surface, before you start cooking.
Make sure the air fryer is not placed close to a wall or another appliance. Air fryers need at least 4 inches of space behind them and 4 inches of space above them in order to adequately vent steam and hot air while cooking. Placing them in an enclosed space may cause the fryer to overheat.
Visually inspect each component, including the basket, pan and handle prior to each use. If you find any damaged components, contact the manufacturer and get them replaced.