What’s the easiest way to clean an air fryer? How to clean the inside and the basket?
The air fryer is of a lot of assistance to enjoy your favorite fried recipes with fewer calories. However, eschewing its cleanliness on a regular basis might cause a mess. The leftover little bits of fried food or grease in the basket burn repeatedly and make a sticky residue. It would get tougher to clean with time.
The tiny oil droplets accumulating grease are enough to compromise our health. That is why it is essential to clean your air fryer from time to time, I will show you how to clean an air fryer quickly according to my 5 years of experience, step by step!
It is simpler and not tiresome work to clean an air fryer machine if it is accomplished in the right way. I’ve put together all the cheapest air fryer cleaning hacks for optimal guidance based on my experiences. Moreover, you can also check the manufacturer’s manual to get details on how to clean an air fryer.
Before we dive into this question, we need to know its working principle and internal structure
How does an air fryer work?
Unlike traditional deep fryers, an air fryer machine is mechanized to serve you recipes having the same taste but is diet conscious. It doesn’t let much oil be in use which keeps your food away from being doused in numerous calories.
It works on a heating mechanism that uses hot air to crisp your food. The blazing air circulates your food in the basket to give it that same crispiness as deep frying. Besides knowing how to clean an air fryer, let me mention that it also goes perfectly when you have to bake cookies or roast vegetables within the minimum amount of oil.
How often do you clean your Air Fryer?
It is essential to clean your air fryer after every use because it keeps you away from the trouble of sludge buildup. It is the best way to have a healthy journey with this trendy kitchen gadget.
If you feel a stinky odor or smoke and taste of burnt food, then it is a call to deeply clean your fryer. The multiple layers of grease residue from burnt food in the basket or tray create that fetid ambiance. To get rid of that situation, you must know how to clean an air fryer effectively.
Why is cleaning an air fryer essential?
Neglecting regular cleaning of your air fryer might affect the functioning of your air fryer. The scorching circulating air around the food not only makes it crispy but also makes a greasy goop of charred crumbs and moisture. Such grease buildup over the coil and fan would slow down the frying process.
Moreover, the fried recipes won’t bear that same crispy taste as before. While on the other hand, cleaning your air fryer will extend its lifetime. So, It is also essential to clean it practically after knowing basic tips on how to clean an air fryer.
Ok, It’s time to know the detail about the best way to clean an air fryer
Step by step guidance on how to clean an air fryer easily
The first and foremost step is to gather all required tools before you move ahead with the details of how to clean an air fryer.
You need to get these tools when cleaning the air fryer:
- Soft Sponge
- Damp Cloth
- Dish Soap
- Baking Soda
- The Scrub brush has soft bristles
- Paper towel
Step 1: Unplug the air fryer
Whether you clean the air fryer with water superficially or go through the deep cleaning process, your safety must be your first-hand preference. If you have just used it, be sure to unplug your gadget or cool it before cleaning it. It is the first step before worrying about how to clean an air fryer.
After that, allow it to cool for about thirty minutes. If you are dealing with marinated or saucy food, it would be better to clean your air fryer basket without cooling it. In this way, you won’t have to hassle about removing the stuck-on leftover bits that would come off quickly.
Step 2: Clean all the removable components
After every round of use, an apt cleaning activity of every part like the basket and pan is ample for your food hygiene. You can use a damp microfiber cloth as well as hot water to wipe down all those crispy crumbs that can get stuck in crevices. Such regular immaculateness saves you from later unhygienic aftermaths.
Step 3: Remove crumbs using a wooden skewer
One of the reasons to remove buildup consistently after frying something is the sticky crumbs that get stuck in crevices and decrease the air fryer’s lifetime. Beneath the air fryer basket, these food vestiges burn and cause smoke just like in an oven which might also affect the gadget’s efficiency. These fetid burnt bits of food become a mess for your hygiene.
So, you need to remove them properly from the basket tray and pan. For this purpose, dispose of all the residue and food particles in the trash and remove the air fryer basket. Now use an old toothbrush to poke out all the clinging grease from the cracks. You can also take a wooden skewer or any sharp thing like a toothpick as a way to clean out the remnant.
Step 4: Sponging down the removable elements
Now it is time to remove all the retractable parts of your air fryer with warm water and soap. Wipe down the tray and air fryer basket tray with any effective detergent, and then clean the air fryer with water. If you are fed up with sticky and greasy charred food over disparate parts, soak them in hot soapy water for 30 minutes.
When the residue loosens its grip, scrub the grease with a non-abrasive sponge. It is also fine to use hygienic dish detergents for a complacent cleaning process. In the case of clingy food particles, residue, and parts harder to clean, clean the air fryer with baking soda and vinegar.
Now apply baking soda and use a brush to scrub that baked-on grease. Now wash all the parts with clean water. Make sure that the baking soda is removed. You can undergo all that process manually and can also clean it in the dishwasher with dish soap as its parts are dishwasher safe. It is the most crucial step when looking for how to clean an air fryer.
Step 5: Clean the inside unit of the air fryer
After having a cleaning hand over the basket and inside a tray, make sure to smoothly deep clean the air fryer’s inside the unit. Never consider the main unit to soak in water. Instead, use a warm damp microfiber cloth to clean the interior off.
To tackle rigid oil and food splatters after cooking, use an old scrub brush having soft bristles with soap to draw out debris. Now turn your air fryer upside down and check out the heating coil for any residue.
Similarly, be always careful to use non-abrasive sponges soaked in hot water or soft brushes to wipe off the greasy food specks with dish soap over the heating coil. After that process, use a damp cloth to wipe down the heating unit. It’s always better to un-stain the heating coil after every use to avoid deep debris layers and lingering odors.
Step 6: Clean the exterior
Just like the exterior of a stove, sponge its outer part down with soap after cooking a couple of times. If you are cleaning your air fryer or oven regularly, then you won’t have to clean it frequently. Now wipe away the dregs of soap with a clean damp cloth and dry inside and outside of it with a paper towel.
Step 7: Reassemble the removable elements:
After completing the whole cleaning process, rearrange all the removable parts/elements properly. Before setting up your gadget, dry out all the segments of your air fryer so that there may be no chance of compromising your safety. Now your rejuvenated air fryer is ready to give you that salubrious taste you deserve.
Also, don’t miss any pro tips for cleaning
Other helpful cleaning tips on how to clean an air fryer
Other than the rudimentary instructions, it’s essential to have an understanding of the nooks and crannies of the whole procedure. Now that you know how to clean an air fryer, here I would delineate to you all the specifications to enhance the efficiency and lifetime of your air fryer. Don’ts of the method are also mentioned to avoid the mistakes you often make while cleaning an air fryer.
Do’s
● Make sure to unplug your air fryers before you take any step toward cleaning them.
● Try to avoid the smoke and lingering smell that comes when specific hidden crumbs burn over time due to your carelessness towards their cleanliness. For that, use a toothpick or other wooden or plastic pointed object to draw out the debris.
● Check before using disinfectants or soap to keep your air fryers germ-free and whether they are safe for food-contact surfaces or not.
● If you are worried about a troubling odor and greasy taste contaminating your food, use lemon juice to cut off that foul smell. Leave it for at least twenty minutes for better function.
● Even if you don’t clean it daily, make sure to clean it after every week but with the proper understanding of how to clean an air fryer.
● If you fry something that doesn’t leave many oil droplets behind, you can use just a paper towel to clean it. In that case, you would not need to wash every part with water.
● The air fryer must be properly dry before taking it into use.
Dont’s
● Never use metal scrubbers, utensils, or abrasive brushes to clean off baked-on grease in your air fryer. Such tools are not good for non-stick coatings of your gadgets that provide resistance to sticky food.
● Don’t immerse the whole inside unit in water without unplugging it. As you can get an electric shock because it is an electric appliance. So keep your air fryer dry while plugging or cooking.
● Be careful about your naughty children or pets if you are cleaning crumbs while the air fryer is hot.
FAQS:
How do you deep clean your air fryer to get rid of the weird odor?
To elude the stink of charred bits of meat or baked-on grease, soak the basket tray and plate in warm soapy water for 30 to 60 minutes. If it does not work well, scrap lemon over smears of food to get an escape from the nagging smell.
Can I use the same steps for my non-stick?
Yes, you can go through all the steps of how to clean an air fryer for the ultimate cleaning process. Take care not to use any abrasive or steel wire brush because it can damage the non-stick layer of your cooking gadget.
How to clean an air fryer Xl that has a fixed basket?
In cases where you own an air fryer with a fixed basket, then it might be difficult for you to deep clean your air fryer. So, to make your work easier, first, scrap the dried marinated meat drippings. Now fill your basket with warm soapy water for at least 30 minutes, then clean it off with a wet cloth.
Which air fryers are easier to clean?
I have personally tried some air fryers that have come up to help me with their exciting features and easy-to-clean mechanism. I recommend the Cosori air fryer. They are much easier to clean because of their non-stick and dishwasher-safe parts.
Do you need to clean your air fryer before first use?
As far as my personal opinion is concerned, I usually clean every new gadget before first cooking for the first time. You never know where and in what hands it’s been. No doubt a fairly high temperature is enough to kill all the germs but I would prefer to clean it first by myself before I cook any recipe something.
Wrap Up
In order to enjoy the food better, it is necessary to have the habit of regular cleaning. We have developed this detailed step-by-step guide on cleaning air fryers by communicating with dozens of air fryer enthusiasts, and if there is anything else you don’t understand, please feel free to leave a comment. Now, it’s time to share the article with your friends on social media!
My love for food was influenced by my brother, a chef at a 2-star Michelin restaurant, and we often exchange food knowledge together. It’s been 12 years since I first stepped into the kitchen, and with my vast experience and expertise, I will share many ideas on how to make dishes more delicious!