In recent years, air fryers have grown in popularity and are among the most popular kitchen appliances.
The fact that they are so easy to use and make so little mess when compared to conventional frying is no wonder.
You should clean your air fryer basket and pan after every use in order to keep it working properly.
In addition to periodic deep cleaning, you can also show it some love by giving it a deep scrub every now and then.
Throughout this entire guide, we will break down each of these steps in order to ensure that your air fryer has the best clean up you have ever experienced.
In order to get the best results, you should make sure that each part of your air fryer and the basket are properly cleaned.
The General Clean
As well as explaining how to clean your air fryer in general, this section describes how to clean a basket full of leftover food and remove marks from your air fryer.
Be sure to follow each step closely and understand how each step should be done.
Taking Out The Basket And Pan
It is a good idea to wash the basket and pan after each use so that buildup does not occur.
You may experience smoke when using your air fryer in the future because of leftover oil and charred food residue in the basket and pan.
For these problems to not occur, make sure you clean these removable parts whenever you use the appliance.
The basket and the pan can usually be removed from air fryers. When you cook, both parts of the basket get soiled equally.
You can wipe down the basket with a paper towel instead of washing it after air-frying something that doesn’t leave much oil or residue behind.
Make sure both baskets of your air fryer are washed if it has two.
Unplug Your Air Fryer
Allow the fryer to cool for thirty minutes after unplugging it. It is important to do this in order to prevent accidentally starting up the air fryer again.
If you wash the pan and basket this way, you don’t get burned. It is possible to remove the basket and pan from the air fryer so they can cool down faster on a countertop.
Washing Your Air Fryer
If they are dishwasher-safe, place the basket and pan in the dishwasher. Dishwasher-safe air fryer parts are readily available.
You can wash the pan and basket in your dishwasher by placing them in a rack inside the machine.
If you are unsure whether the parts of your air fryer can be put in the dishwasher, check the manual.
If your air fryer parts are not dishwasher safe then you can of course hand wash them. With hot water and dish detergent, wipe out the pan and basket. Then, thoroughly rinse them out.
The pan and basket should never be cleaned with abrasive sponges, metal utensils, or any type of abrasive product. Their nonstick coatings are easily damaged.
Pop The Basket And Pan Back In The Air Fryer
Put the basket and pan back in the fryer only after they have been completely dried. If you aren’t in a hurry, let the parts dry for a few hours in a dish rack.
If you want to dry the basket and pan more quickly, wipe them down with a dry cotton cloth or towel.
You can’t put the parts back in an air fryer while they’re still wet because they won’t dry effectively.
Once you have done this you will have yourself a clean air fryer basket and pan.
Deeper Cleaning
You should take these steps to clean the air fryer deeper when just washing the parts isn’t enough.
You can use this technique to remove any unwanted stains and odors that might remain on your basket and pan.
Leaving It To Soak
To remove residue and odor, soak the parts for 10 minutes in soapy water. Pour enough boiling water into the pan to cover all the soiled parts of the basket.
Let the parts soak in water for 10 minutes or so, then squeeze a few drops of dish detergent into it.
After thoroughly rinsing out the parts, use a soft sponge to scrub any residues off. Soft-bristled brushes can also be used to help loosen stuck-on food particles.
Use A Toothpick Or Skewer
Take a wooden skewer or toothpick and place the basket over your kitchen sink.
You can poke the pointy end into the basket as you wash it to fish out those tough bits of food that didn’t come out when you washed it.
This technique is a very effective way to remove the skin bits from meat that get stuck in the corners of the basket.
Use Lemon Juice
Lemons should be cut in half and their juice squeezed into the basket and pan. Using the cut side, rub it all over the interior surfaces.
After the juice has sat for half an hour, wash the basket and pan again. Lemons have citric acid that kills bacteria that cause odors, which is why they act as a natural deodorizer.
Maintaining Your Air Fryer
The purpose of this section is to provide you with tips on maintaining your air fryer so that both your basket and pan will last you for many years to come without having to be replaced.
These tips will ensure that everything remains clean and in working order throughout the entire cleaning process.
Wipe With Soapy Water Regularly
Using a damp, soapy cloth, wipe down the interior of the fryer compartment. Warm water and a bit of dish detergent should be applied to a soft cloth, such as microfiber.
Use the cloth to gently scrub the soap into the fryer compartment.
There is a slot in the fryer compartment where the pan and basket slide. It doesn’t need to be cleaned after each use, but clean it occasionally to remove grease splatters and residue buildup.
Use a disinfecting kitchen wipe to clean the inside of the compartment.
When you are done you can just wipe down the soapy residue with a damp cloth and do this thoroughly.
Repeat the process until every mark or soapy is gone from inside the fryer basket and pan.
Use Some Baking Soda For Tough Stains
To make a paste, add enough water to baking soda in a bowl or glass. A soft-bristled brush is recommended for sweeping up baked-on and hardened residue.
Wet a cloth to wipe it away. Combine three parts baking soda with one part water to make the paste. This is a really effective method in getting rid of those tough stains.
Scrub The Other Parts Of The Air Fryer
Clean the element of the appliance by flipping it over and wiping it with a damp sponge. Hold the air fryer unit steady with one hand as you turn it upside down.
To remove food splatter and grease from heating element coils, wet a soft sponge or microfiber cloth and wring out the excess water.
Heating elements are similar to those found in electric stoves.
Summary
We have outlined all the steps you must take to ensure your air fryer is effectively cleaned in this guide.
For your safety, we have described how to clean the basket, the pan, and the coils in order to ensure no detail is overlooked.
Keep your air fryer in working order by maintaining it so that you won’t encounter problems in the future.
Obviously, these are not the only methods to clean an air fryer; they are simply some of the easiest, cheapest, and most efficient.
Be sure you won’t damage your appliance by using another method. Refer to the owner’s manual.
In order to avoid having to figure it out for yourself and making a mistake, you should check for any recommendations or guidelines that you can follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Often Should You Clean Your Air Fryer?
It is recommended that you clean your air fryer every time you use it or at least every few uses.
It is advised to leave some cooling time between batches if you are going to use the air fryer to cook in batches.
You should also put a date on your calendar when you are going to do a deeper clean on your air fryer so it will be safe to use.
Is It Dangerous To Use A Dirty Air Fryer?
After a while, food residues and fat may accumulate on the surfaces of your air fryer, which can turn black.
There is a significant health risk associated with these scorched and burnt food residues.
Whenever you use an air fryer, clean it immediately.
