Prevent Your Air Fryer From Getting Rusty! (Proven, Safe, and Easy)
Have you ever used your air fryer?
Did you know that oil and food splatters can be the cause of rusty metal inside your appliance?
If this sounds like something that could happen to you, then read on. You’ll find out what causes it and how to prevent it from happening!
How to prevent an air fryer from getting rusty
In order to prevent your air fryer from getting rusty, you should make sure to use a gentle washcloth when cleaning it. After you’re done, make sure to put it in a place and in a position where it will completely dry. Finally, you should consider seasoning the air fryer basket and any other metals in your air fryer. As long as you make sure these three criteria are met, you will prolong your air fryer from accumulating rust.
Keep in mind though, that there is no way to completely prevent rust from occurring. With age and regular usage, rust is often inevitable when it comes to metals. However, it’s important to understand the facts and what, when, and why rust occurs.
Gently scrub your air fryer when cleaning it
It’s important to understand that you shouldn’t be using any abrasive materials when scrubbing your air fryer. A rough sponge or a hard bristle brush can actually scrape the stick finish off of the parts that make up the air fryer metals.
You may expose areas of the metal that are easily prone to rust. You could also remove its ability to slide off surfaces rendering it no longer non-stick.
You have to remember, that it’s important to take good care of your air fryer. That means you need to gently scrub all the metal components of your air fryer with a gentle washcloth.
If there is ever hard to remove stains or food lying around in the metal areas, never use metal utensils. Metal utensils will actually scratch the surface of the air fryer’s metal as well.
Keep your air fryer dry
If you are not fully drying your air fryer and its components, then you are likely to have a rusty air fryer in the near future. Air fryers that are not properly dried May account for the main reason why almost all air fryers begin to rust.
You can make drying a lot easier by placing the different parts of an air fryer on a dish rack. Or something clever that many have done is to play some right back into the air fryer and let it run for about 5 minutes. This is more than enough heat to dry and evaporate all the water out of it.
What you don’t want to do is immediately store your air fryer into a closed cabinet while it’s wet. You also don’t want to put the wet basket and air fryer accessories back into the air fryer right after washing it. Again, make sure you dry it all out.
Season your air fryer before cooking
It’s customary to hear a lot of people talk about seasoning your cookware before you ever use it for the first time. In case you didn’t know, seasoning a Pan actually creates a thin layer that helps make it slippery and non-stick when cooking. The benefits don’t just stop there, it also makes it really easy to clean. And since this layer is covering the surface of the actual component itself is protected, there is a less likely possibility of it ever getting rusty.
If you’re interested in learning more about how seasoning can protect an air fryer basket along with multiple other kitchen devices, then check out our link below about seasoning your air fryer basket.
How to get rid of rust
When it comes to cleaning and getting rid of the rust on the metal parts of your air fryer we’ve created an extremely detailed article on exactly how to clean your air fryer as well as deep cleaning the insides. Check out the article we made here about how to deep clean your heating element and your air fryer. In this article, you’re going to learn more about the following:
- Remove rust with baking soda
- Remove rust with vinegar and lemon
- Remove rust using Dawn’s Powerwash liquid soap
What can you do if your air fryer is rusting?
- Try aluminum foil or parchment paper between the basket and the tray of food. Just be sure you lay your food down so that it doesn’t fly all over the place and block any vents when cooking.
We’ve used aluminum foil a number of times when we cook in our air fryer. The trick is to lay all your food on top of it or create several layers of it so that it doesn’t move around a lot. - Always clean your air fryer after every use. It goes without saying that air fryers can get really dirty so it’s highly recommended to clean your air fryer every time you’ve used it. Make sure you wash and clean the basket and all used components of the air fryer. Then give the inner chamber of the air fryer a good wipe down in order to remove any residue left behind. Once you’ve cleaned everything up, you should be able to see if there are any spots where the metal has been exposed to moisture. These spots are going to be the most vulnerable to rust because they were already sitting in water. So, try to get rid of these spots at all costs. More on that later on in this article.
- Completely dry your air fry when it’s wet. The reason why rust forms are because when water makes contact with metal, it dissolves away the protective coating that was applied to the metal during manufacturing. This process leaves behind iron oxide which is what causes rust. So if you can avoid having water come in contact with your air fryer, you’ll greatly reduce the likelihood of rust forming.
- After giving your air fryer a deep clean, we recommend seasoning your air fryer. Seasoning your air fryer gives it an extra layer of protection against rust, wear, and tear. It creates is barrier between the food and the actual surface of the air fryer that’s been seasoned. Also, seasoning layers are often non-stick so cleaning and washing your air fryer is much easier as well.
- Don’t use metal utensils or tools to try to get rid of the rust. Using metal tools will almost surely damage and scratch through the metals of the air fryer. Instead, if you have a wooden spoon, you can use that to scrape off any protruding rust found on your air fryer.
- Avoid commercial oven cleaners. These things will definitely do a great job in getting rid of the rust from your air fryer. But, the smell it leaves behind will almost surely ruin your machine. Oven cleaners that contain ingredients like butane and MEA will go in and soften the outer layer and coating of your air fryer’s components, damaging your air fryer and leaving an everlasting smell.
Why is the air fryer rusting?
You’re scrubbing the components with abrasives when washing them
Air fryers are made with a combination of mostly plastic and metal. If you use something like a metal sponge or brush to clean your air fryers, you could actually scratch the surface of the metal parts. This would leave tiny holes that allow for moisture to enter the inside of the air fryer and cause rust to form.
You’re not drying the components when cleaning them
Water is the main component that causes metals to rust. When you’re cleaning your air fryer, make sure that you completely dry each part before putting it back together. You don’t want to put anything into the air fryer that hasn’t had enough time to dry out.
You’re not seasoning the air fryer basket or using parchment paper
The very first thing we’ve always recommended that our air frying community do is season their basket and all their components. In fact, seasoning your equipment is the most natural, and safest way to prevent your items from rusting.
It’s merely a process of pouring a small amount of cooking oil on and glazing it over your metal accessories and baskets. Then, you simply have to bake all these items to bake it back in the air fryer at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 1 hour and then let it rest for 1 hour. Make sure you position your equipment in a way where the excess oils will drip off. You only want a thin layer of oil to cover the surface of your tools.
In many cases, this is a scientific term known as polymerization.
You’re using a “low-quality” air fryer
Metals come in all shapes, sizes, and even types. Lower-end air fryers can sometimes be made with lower-quality steel. This means that some air fryers may start to rust even if you take amazing care of them.
There are metal components that are created to avoid rust altogether. For example, stainless steel is a type of metal that doesn’t rust. It also has a high melting point so it won’t melt during baking. However, stainless steel isn’t cheap. A good air fryer should be able to last you years without needing to replace its components.
If you notice that your air fryer is starting to rust, then this could be the problem.
Can you still use a rusty air fryer?
We highly recommend that you do not use an air fryer that has become majorly rusty. Even though rust may be benign when ingested, a large quantity of it can cause illness.
Plus, you probably wouldn’t want the taste of iron in your food. If you’re ever wondering what iron tastes like, it’s usually similar to fresh blood.
How bad is it to ingest rust?
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), if you found yourself eating a small amount of rust then you shouldn’t have to worry too much. Rust is essentially benign in my new car mounts. Your digestive system should be able to take care of it and remove it from your body.
However, like all things, too much of something is a bad thing. In fact, we all have a little bit of iron in our bodies. It can be found in our blood, tissues, muscles, bones, Panda panda, and more.
Rust can also Harbor a bacteria known as clostridium tetani. This bacteria can cause an infection called tetanus which is known to be able to produce poison or toxin into your bloodstream that causes painful spasms of the muscles Which can be life-threatening. You love Siri
What is rust?
Rust is actually a chemical that is produced when metals like iron are introduced to water and oxygen. The actual scientific name of rust is actually an iron oxide that has a red-brown appearance.
The majority of rust actually comes from mainly iron metal. Many other metals don’t usually rust or corrode like gold, platinum, copper, and even stainless steel.
How does rust occur?
When water touches metals, it begins to react with that metal. During the reaction, this combination produces iron oxide which is what rust essentially is. The catalyst in this reaction is water. So, by keeping your air fryer dry, you’ll keep the rust away.
Does stainless steel rust?
The truth is, all types of metals have the potential to rust. Some types of stainless Steels May be prone to rust more than others. Stainless steel is actually an alloy with a combination of many types of metals. One metal, in particular, that is somewhat immune to corrosion is chromium. Depending on how the stainless steel was made in conjunction with chromium, it may be more resistant to R Us than other types of stainless steel.
However, over time, if the metal is not properly taken care of or maintained, there will always be the potential for corrosion and build-up Ethan is at of rust.
Can I use cooking oil to prevent rust in metals?
This is pretty much exactly how seasoning works. All you have to do is layer your washable kitchenware with oil and expose it to extreme heat for an hour. The layer of oil will basically become a coating that will protect your air fryer’s component for a long time.
This material will be difficult to scratch off, it also will be nonstick, and safe to eat off of.
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