Cleaning your air fryer is important to maintain its performance and longevity.
Air fryers are different from traditional fryers because they don’t require added oil, but food bits and grease can still accumulate and cause an unpleasant smell. We all know how delicious it can be to cook with an air fryer, but sometimes this smell can be so strong that it’s hard to enjoy the food.
So you need to clean the air fryer after use for it to continue working properly for years. In this post, we will teach you how to clean an air fryer in 6 easy steps.
How to Clean Your Air Fryer – 6 Easy Steps
Cleaning an air fryer can be done simply by following the next simple steps…
#1 – Gather All Of The Necessary Cleaning Tools
Before you begin, make sure that you have all the necessary tools to clean the air fryer.
You will need:
#2 – Unplug And Let It Cool Down
Letting it cool down will make it safer to clean and easier for you. So unplug your air fryer and cool it off for at least 30 minutes.
To clean an air fryer, you need to remove all parts from the air fryer’s housing.
When the air fryer is cool, pull out your food basket, cooking rack, and baking tray/drip pan from inside the machine.
Be careful with how you remove these parts because they can be a little heavier than expected!
#3 – Wash The Removable Parts
Now that all removable parts are out of the housing, you can begin to wash them.
Take your nonabrasive sponge and dish soap and clean away in warm soapy water! If there is food residue stuck in every crevice, you can soak the parts in hot soapy water for at least 15 minutes. Then use your soft sponge to scrub them.
You can also put them in a dishwasher (if the manufacturer claims they are dishwasher safe), but many people prefer cleaning them by hand.
Note: Be sure not to get water inside the machine while cleaning these parts.
After you clean each part, make sure to let them dry over the sink.
Now that all removable parts have been washed, it is time to wipe the interior of your machine.
#4 – Wipe Down The Interior
Take your soft microfiber cleaning cloth and dampen it with warm soapy water. Use it to get rid of any grease or food bits that may be stuck inside.
Use circular motions to clean the heating element and every other area inside the air fryer.
After you have finished cleaning it with a dampened microfiber cloth, use another dry one to make sure that everything is dry before putting the parts back inside (and plugging it in).
#5 – Wipe Down The Exterior
The exterior should be cleaned in the same manner as the interior.
Take a clean, damp microfiber cloth (dipped in soapy water) and use it to remove any grease or food bits stuck on the exterior of the air fryer. Make sure that every surface is entirely wiped up.
Now take a clean, dry cloth (or paper towel) and wipe away the soap remaining on the exterior.
#6 – Dry, Reassemble, And Store
Once everything is cleaned are dried off, put the removable parts back inside it (reassemble them). This will help prevent any rust or corrosion from occurring on these parts since they were sitting out for a while.
Now your air fryer is clean as a whistle and ready for preparing your next delicious meal.
You can now turn it on or store it away.
How Often Should You Clean The Air Fryer
It’s recommended to clean it after use. Even if you don’t cook greasy foods, food bits and grease can accumulate on the inside of your machine.
Since your air fryer works with a minimal amount of oil, there won’t be too much residue on the exterior. Meaning, you shouldn’t clean the exterior just as often as the interior. Feel free to clean it after every few uses.
Also, the heating element should be checked once in a while for oil residue (maybe once a month). If it becomes a little dirty, clean it as described above with a damp cloth, and let it dry before using your air fryer.
Do’s and Don’ts of Cleaning Your Air Fryer
- If you have a nonstick air fryer, be sure not to use any steel wool, abrasive sponges, utensils, or metal scrubbing pads. These can scrape the nonstick coating and cause it to peel off.
- Never submerge the body of your air fryer in water because you can ruin the electronics inside.
- If you notice the nonstick coating is peeling off, stop using your air fryer and ask for a replacement from the manufacturer.
- Rub half a lemon over the air fryer basket and let it stay for 30 minutes before cleaning to remove any unpleasant smell.
Final Words
Cleaning your air fryer may seem like a tedious task, but it’s necessary for the product to continue working properly. Caring for your air fryer is important because it can extend the life of your appliance, which will save you money in the long run.
With just a few minutes and some simple supplies, you can keep your air fryer working like new for years.
We hope this post has given you the confidence to clean your air fryer with ease! Don’t forget that you can always refer back to this list of how to clean an air fryer step-by-step! It may be helpful if you get distracted while cleaning up after cooking dinner.
If you follow these easy steps, there shouldn’t be anything preventing you from using your favorite appliance over and over again, for many years to come.
Your delicious snacks won’t ever suffer because of it being dirty either… so what more can we ask for?
So how often do you clean your air fryer? Let us know your cleaning process in the comments below.
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