An air fryer has become extremely popular in recent years due to their ability to create healthier fried foods using minimal oil. The rapid circulation of hot air helps recreate the crispy, delicious texture of deep fried foods without all the extra fat and calories.
While air fryers cut down on oil usage tremendously, some leftover grease and food debris will inevitably accumulate inside the appliance with continued use. If not cleaned properly, this buildup can negatively impact the air fryer’s performance and safety over time.
Establishing regular cleaning routines and following certain maintenance tips can help prevent decreasing efficiency and potential hazards with your air fryer down the road. This article will provide detailed cleaning instructions and maintenance recommendations to help you keep your air fryer in the best shape possible.
Benefits of Proper Air Fryer Cleaning and Maintenance
Keeping your air fryer well-maintained offers the following helpful benefits:
- Enhances Performance – Allows air to circulate freely for fast, even cooking
- Extends Lifespan – Prevents buildup that can damage components over time
- Eliminates Odors and Smoke – Keeps the fryer interior fresh-smelling after each use
- Improves Food Taste – Stops flavor transfer from leftover debris and residue
- Increases Safety – Lessens the risk of overheating, burns or potential fires
Establishing quick, regular cleaning routines for your air fryer will ensure you enjoy all of its many benefits safely and reliably for years to come.
Cleaning Your Air Fryer
Cleaning your air fryer properly entails wiping down the cooking chamber, as well as removing and cleaning all interior components. Here is a step-by-step guide:
Basic Cleaning Steps
The easiest way to clean your air fryer is right after cooking when the appliance is still warm but not dangerously hot. Here are the basic steps:
- Unplug Appliance – Always unplug the air fryer before cleaning.
- Remove Internal Components – Take out the basket, pan, inserts, etc. Food debris often gets lodged underneath these parts.
- Wipe Out Cooking Chamber – Use a non-abrasive sponge or cloth to gently wipe the inside of the fryer chamber. Pay special attention to the heating element, as residue often accumulates here. Never submerge or scrub the heating element.
- Clean Internal Components – Wash basket, pan, inserts and accessories with warm soapy water using a sponge or dishcloth. Rinse and dry thoroughly. For stubborn grease stains, see tips below.
- Wipe Down Exterior – Clean the outside of your fryer using a soft, damp cloth. Check control display for any oil splatters and wipe gently. Dry exterior surfaces thoroughly before restoring power.
Removing Stubborn Messes
Even with regular cleaning, grease staining and burnt food remnants may still occur. Here are some handy tips for tackling stubborn air fryer messes:
- For the cooking chamber interior, fill with 1 cup hot water and 1 tbsp baking soda. Let soak for 20 minutes before scrubbing and rinsing clean. The baking soda will help dissolve heavier staining.
- For baskets and pans, allow to soak for 30 minutes in hot, soapy water. Use a bottle brush or abrasive sponge to gently remove remaining debris. Avoid metal scouring pads, as these can damage the nonstick coating.
- To degrease filters or vents, soak in diluted distilled white vinegar for 10-15 minutes before scrubbing and rising. The acetic acid in the vinegar will cut through grease.
- For tough burnt bits stuck to baskets and pans, sprinkle some baking soda over the stuck remnants and drizzle a small amount of vinegar over the top. Let bubble for 5 minutes before scrubbing away. The chemical reaction helps dissolve carbon deposits.
Degreasing the Air Fryer
For a deeper clean to eliminate odor-causing grease buildup inside your air fryer chamber, a degreasing bath is required 1-2 times per year. Here are the simple steps:
- Remove all removable parts like the basket, pan, inserts, etc. from the cooking chamber.
- In a bowl, mix together 1 cup hot water, 1 tbsp baking soda, and 1 tsp dish soap. The baking soda helps dissolve grease while the soap lifts grime.
- Using a cloth or sponge, scrub the interior of the cooking chamber with the degreasing solution, focusing on the walls and heating element area.
- Once scrubbed thoroughly, use a clean wet cloth to rinse out the interior. Wipe away any excess moisture with a dry towel.
- Rinse removable parts in clean water as well and dry thoroughly before returning to the cooking chamber.
The hot soapy water, baking soda and elbow grease will remove the toughest oil slicks and stains from inside your fryer to keep it fresh and odor-free.
Cleaning the Exterior
Don’t forget to keep the outside surfaces of your air fryer looking their best as well:
- Wipe down the exterior with a clean damp cloth or paper towel to remove any oil splatters or fingerprints.
- For stainless steel models, use a specialty stainless steel cleaner and cloth to add shine and prevent corrosion over time.
- Check the control display for grease accumulation in the crevices. Use a dry toothpick to gently dislodge any grime before wiping with a soft cloth.
- For air fryer models with a release button for the basket, spray some compressed air in the crevices surrounding the release mechanism to clear out any food particles.
Keeping all exterior surfaces clean optimizes airflow and also improves the visual appeal of your appliance.
Maintenance Tips
In addition to cleaning, implementing certain maintenance practices helps safeguard your investment and prevents issues like declining efficiency.
Choosing the Correct Cooking Oil
While air frying uses little oil, light spraying or brushing of oil is still needed for creating crispy textures and preventing food from sticking. Choosing an oil with a high smoke point is important.
The smoke point refers to the temperature at which an oil begins burning and smoking. Heating oil past its smoke point diminishes nutritional content and can leave an off flavors on foods. It also causes excess smoke which deposits residue inside your fryer.
Here are some common frying oils with high smoke points suitable for air frying:
| Oil | Smoke Point |
| Avocado Oil | 520°F |
| Refined Grapeseed Oil | 420°F |
| Refined Safflower Oil | 510°F |
| Refined Peanut Oil | 450°F |
Ideally, choose a refined plant-based oil and spray or brush on minimally before air frying. Monitoring temperature settings is also advised when frying extra oily foods.
Using a Protective Liner
Lining your air fryer’s basket with parchment paper or a silicone mat liner provides extra protection against scratches and stubborn staining over time. This also saves some cleaning effort, as any residual debris or spattering that transfers to a liner can simply be thrown out.
When using liners, be sure to avoid abrasive side contact with the fryer interior by trimming excess material. Parchment paper liners in particular can singe or burn at air fryer temperatures, so refrain from lining the top rim area. Silicone mat liners can tolerate heat better if needing to line more surface area.
Adding Water When Cooking Oily Foods
Foods with a high natural fat content like bacon, sausages and chicken wings release a lot of rendered fat and juices when air frying. Fat drippings will inevitable splatter and accumulate inside the cooking chamber.
Adding a spoonful of water to the fryer basket when cooking high-fat foods helps reduce this greasy splatter somewhat. The water creates steam which helps encapsulate and break down oil particles released during cooking. Not only does this cut down on clean-up, but also improves food texture by keeping surfaces drier.
Wiping Down After Each Use
One of the best ways to prevent major buildup inside your air fryer over time is simply wiping it down after every use. This includes:
- Using a cloth or paper towel to soak up excess grease or food debris from the cooking chamber walls and floor while the appliance is still warm. This prevents residue from crusting on.
- Rinsing and drying removable parts like baskets and pans which will have cooking oil and food remnants on them.
- Wiping splatters or spills from the exterior housing using a damp cloth.
This quick wipedown after air frying takes just a minute, but makes cleaning much easier by preventing the accumulation of hardened, stuck-on debris inside the cooking area and vents over continual use.
Safety Considerations
Maintaining your air fryer properly is also important for safety. Follow these guidelines to avoid potential hazards:
Regular Cleaning for Safety
Consistent cleaning as described in this article prevents the risky buildup of grease, oil and food debris inside your air fryer over time. Leftover debris and residue can potentially:
- Ignite and create smoke or fire hazards
- Cause overheating damage to heating elements
- Block airflow and cause components to fail over time.
Establishing set routines to wipe out your machine after each use and give it periodic deep cleans keeps hazards at bay. Don’t wait for residue to accumulate!
Avoiding Harmful Chemicals
The interiors of air fryers have special nonstick coatings that help food release and simplify cleaning. However, these coatings can be damaged by caustic cleaners. Avoid using oven cleaners and other harsh chemicals which can strip away nonstick layers over time.
Gentler cleaning solutions like dish soap, baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice effectively break up grease and debris without posing as much risk to an air fryer’s delicate interior. When in doubt, reference your device manual for any special cleaning precautions needed.
Also Read: Air Frying Oven Vs. Countertop Air Fryer: Which Is Better?
With Proper Care, Air Fryers Can Serve You for Years
Like any frequently-used cooking appliance, air fryers need regular care and maintenance to stay in good working order. Establishing quick, post-use wiping routines and periodically deep cleaning the interior prevents decreasing efficiency and potential safety issues over time.
Implement the helpful cleaning guidelines and maintenance tips covered in this comprehensive article, and your air fryer should continue providing fast, healthy and convenient cooking performance for many years past its warranty period. Be sure to reference your device user manual as well for any additional special care recommendations.