The Guide to Cleaning an Air Fryer, inside and out!

If you love fried food and care about your health, then you probably own an air fryer or two but do you know how to clean it?

Air fryers are one of the trendiest kitchen appliances out there today. They are the best gadgets for preparing fried foods or any recipe quickly and much healthier than in a deep fryer – such as fish & chips, chick tenders, falafels, and tatter tots. Air fryer have all the cooking functions of a convention oven and more. However, air frying still leaves behind grease and food residues on your appliance, no matter how ‘sophisticated’ or oil free your fryer is. At some point, you would need to figure out how to clean the interior and the exterior of your air fryer. Good cleaning also means you will have the perfect air-fry, assuring you optimal tastes and aromas.

Failing to clean an air fryer has its own set of consequences. The leftover food residue may penetrate into parts of the appliances where they shouldn’t be and potentially reduce the lifespan of your favorite appliance.

The other impact is on the quality of the fry – a dirty fryer takes a longer time to heat up and your cooking times becomes inaccurate due to the inconsistent heating. Repeated use of a dirty fry could even impact your health from the buildup of leftover burnt food.

Fortunately, cleaning an air fryer is not rocket science. In fact, you can do it with the basic components and supplies that you already have at home. Here is a simple guide on how to clean your air fryer and keep it in tip top shape for your next batch of French Fries.

Cleaning Supplies for Air Fryer

Prepare these cleaning supplies to effectively clean your air fryer:

• Microfiber towels
• Nonabrasive sponge
• Scrub brush
• Paper towels
• Dish soap
• Baking soda

Allow the Air Fryer to Cool Down First

Don’t clean it while it is still hot. This is not just for your safety but for the longevity of the appliance. Before you begin cleaning the air fryer, ensure that it is has cooled down completely. Allow up to 30 minutes for it to cool. Afterwards, you can take out the removable components such as the pan, tray and basket.

Clean its Removable Parts

Start by cleaning the removable parts. Wash these in warm and soapy water to get rid of the grease. If these parts contain some baked-in grease, then you need to soak them in the warm and soapy water for between 10 and 15 minutes before you begin scrubbing. You can subsequently scrub away the stains using a nonabrasive sponge. If these parts are dishwasher safe, simply pop them in there for a quick clean up.

When the buildup is excessive, use an improvised cleaning paste out of baking soda and some water. Apply the paste on the residues and scrub with a soft-bristle brush. Finally, wipe clean and rinse.

Clean the Interior

The interior of the fryer should be cleaned by wiping it down with a damp microfiber cloth. A nonabrasive sponge dipped in a little dish soap will also do. After the cleaning, ensure that you wipe off any soap residues.

Wipe the Heating Element

If the heating element contains some dirt, you can clean it by turning the fryer upside down and wiping it with a clean damp cloth.  You can also use a nonabrasive sponge for this purpose.

Cleaning the Exterior

You can’t drop the air fryer in water or into a dishwasher when you clean its exterior. Proceed delicately to avoid scratching the surface and wipe off the dirt with a clean damp cloth or using a sponge. Lightly polish up the fryer’s exterior using a paper towel.

Reassembling the Air Fryer

Finally, reassemble the components of the air fryer along with its main unit. This should be done only after all the parts have completely dried out. Your spotlessly clean air fryer can once again be used for your next batch of fried treats!

How Often Should You Clean an Air Fryer?

Like any cooking appliance, we always recommend you clean it right after use. This is the time where it’s easier to clean and prevent a build-up of charred food, baked-in greases, and gunk. Depending on your usage and type of cooking, sometimes an occasional clean will do.

The pan, tray, and basket should be cleaned as frequently as possible, preferably after every use while other parts such as its exteriors can be cleaned occasionally. If all you do is light cooking, you can simply wipe down the interior of the fryer after use and perform a general clean-up periodically.