Cleaning an air fryer - Family Guide Central
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How to Clean an Air Fryer: Tips and Tricks for Cleaning

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How to clean a basket-type air fryer

  1. Unplug and disassemble the air fryer.
  2. Clean the air fryer basket.
  3. Deep clean inside the air fryer.
  4. Clean the heating element.
  5. Clean the exterior.
  6. Dry everything completely.

Air fryer cleaning solutions that you can get right now!

Below are some of the (straight-up) best solutions we’ve used over the years to turn really old and grease tarnished appliances into something that looks like we just bought yesterday.

ImageProductFeaturesPrice
Multipurpose spray
Aunt Fannie's All Purpose Cleaning

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ARM & HAMMER Pure Baking Soda

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Dawn Powerwash Spray

Dawn Powerwash Spray

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As an Amazon Associate, We may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases if you click to Amazon from our site and choose to make a purchase. You can read our complete affiliate disclosure for more details.

What’s the difference when cleaning a basket-style air fryer vs an oven-style air fryer?

You can use warm soapy water and a damp cloth to clean the inner parts of an air fryer. Before you do any cleaning, you must first take out the basket and drawer. Verify there is no debris from food or grease on the heating element. You can do this by utilizing a soft bristle to get rid of any food that remains stuck to it.

To clean your oven air fryer, unplug it, and let it cool for about half an hour. Remove the pans and baskets and place them in some hot, soapy water. You need to allow greasy or baked food to soak for around 10 minutes in the soapy hot water. Once the parts have soaked sufficiently, use a sponge that is non-abrasive to scrub the baskets.

What parts of an air fryer should you clean after each use?

The most imperative areas of the air fryer to be cleaned following each use are the tray, pan, and basket. Doing this each time you use it will prolong the life of the Air Dryer. In addition, when you keep your air-fryer tray, pan, and basket clean, the food you cook will taste best. A less than clean air fryer has residue from previously cooked foods, resulting in a taste that isn’t completely fresh.

What parts of an air fryer should you clean occasionally?

You should occasionally wash the grease catcher of your air fryer. This piece is what we sometimes refer to as the outer basket, pan, or crisper plate. It is in place to capture drippings underneath the basket. This is sometimes put inside the drawer in some air fryer models. You can clean it with warm soapy water, but it is also safe to clean in the dishwasher.

How often should you clean your air fryer?

You should clean your air fryer every time it is used. This ensures any gunks and charred food remnants do not remain in the elements. Every time you use the pan, tray, and basket it is necessary to clean them.

What not to do when cleaning an air fryer

Avoid the use of brushes that have any steel wire, abrasive sponges, or any type of metal tool that could scratch the plastic’s coating. Never use any of these tools to rid particles of food and other debris when cleaning an air fryer. These tools may create harm to the coating which is a non-stick material and damage will make it inefficient. Do not allow your air fryer’s main unit to submerge into the water. This will destroy the main electrical unit in it and create a fire or electrical hazard!

What does it mean to deep clean your air fryer?

Deep cleaning an air fryer is one way you can remove the fat and other drippings the food cooked in it might leave behind. When you do a deep cleaning you are getting into all the tiny crevices to ensure no remnants are left behind.

How to clean the heating element

To clean the heating element of your air fryer, you will need to start with some hot water and a soft sponge to gently wipe away the crumbs and stuck-on food particles. Never use any brushes with hard bristles or wires as this will destroy the delicate coating on the element.

However, you can use a brush with soft to medium bristles to clean away any stuck residue. There’s always going to be a hard-to-reach area behind the heating element. In order to get close to that area, you’ll need a small brush.

Try to clean it as much as you can, but no one expects this part to be spotless.

Can aluminum foil or parchment paper help prevent big messes inside the air fryers?

Parchment paper or aluminum foil may be used when cooking with an air fryer. Yet, it must be placed in the basket only. It is better to use parchment paper because it does not interrupt the process of cooking. Cooking on parchment paper or foil prevents less of a chance the food will stick to the basket. This also means less mess to clean up later.

How to get rid of bad odor from an air fryer

Combine a tablespoon of lime juice and distilled vinegar in a small oven-safe container. Mix these two elements and put them in the basket of the air fryer. Turn the thermostat to 350-400 Fahrenheit and allow it to run for around three minutes. After it has cooled for 15 more minutes, all bad odors should be eliminated.

Be careful with the nonstick coat peeling off the baskets

The non-stick coating on your air fryer is quite sensitive. Using a non-stick aerosol spray should be avoided because it has propellants and other additives which can harm this coating. In addition, using any sharp tools, steel wool, or wire brushes will also harm this material and render it useless. There are also chemicals in the non-stick aerosol spray that you don’t want to add to your food.

Can you put your air fryer in the dishwasher?

The parts of an air fryer that you can remove are actually dishwasher safe. However, the main unit should not be put into the dishwasher because of the electronics it contains. (Water and electronics are not compatible). You may put the pan, divider, and basket in a dishwasher to clean it. Cleaning the main unit should involve the use of soap and a damp cloth.

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