Air fryers are a great way to eat your favorite fried meals without the excess oil and extra guilt. Since they are very convenient and easy to use, it’s no wonder people are starting to trade their traditional frying pans for these sleek-looking compact machines. But as with everything that involves cooking, an air fryer isn't specifically exempted from the greasy mess that ensues when preparing a meal. Keeping your air fryer clean and oil-free is particularly important and easy, and one that you can do by following these simple and easy cleaning steps.
Materials You’ll Be Needing to Clean Your Air Fryer
- Clean and dry cotton or microfiber cloths
- Non-abrasive sponge
- Baking soda powder
- Soft bristle brush or toothbrush
- Dishwashing soap
An Easy Guide to Cleaning Your Air Fryer
- Unplug the air fryer from the wall socket and let it cool down for about 30 minutes. To do this process faster, disassemble the air fryer by removing the basket and pan from the main unit.
- Get a damp cotton or microfiber cloth and wipe the air fryer’s external surface to remove any grease or oil.
- After cleaning the external surface of the air fryer, use hot water and a soft non-abrasive sponge to wipe down the inside of the appliance.
- Clean the air fryer's heating element by turning the machine upside down. Use the soft non-abrasive sponge to wipe it off.
- Remove any food residue from the air fryer by making a paste out of the baking soda powder and water. Apply this solution paste to the machine’s outside, inside or heating element to fully get rid of any hard stains. Scrub the stains thoroughly and wipe them clean with the cotton or microfiber cloth.
- After removing the stain, clean the air fryer machine’s basket and pan using a dishwasher. If you don’t have a dishwasher, you can clean it by using hot and soapy water and a soft non-abrasive sponge.
- For the parts with stains that can’t be removed by the baking soda paste, try soaking them in hot water for about 10 minutes. Use the soft non-abrasive sponge to clean stains off and repeat until stains are completely removed.
- After cleaning all the air fryer parts, let everything air dry for a few hours. You can also wipe them dry by using clean cotton cloth.
- Reassemble the heating element and other parts back together and wipe the air fryer machine with the cloth.
- Plug the air fryer back into the wall socket and make sure it is properly running again. Make sure to check for any possible wet surface and wipe it right away with the cloth.
Bonus: If you're planning to do all-out on kitchen cleaning, we created a kitchen cleaning checklist here to ensure your whole kitchen area is tidy!
How to Clean Air Fryer and Keep It in Good Condition
- Always read and follow the manual for proper directions before using and cleaning your air fryer.
- Always cook your food according to the manual’s specifications. Be sure to follow the volume limit of oil or any liquid in the air fryer.
- Make sure to clean each and every component of the air fryer after every use. Do not use utensils, steel wool, hard sponges and other hard-bristled cleaning tools when removing dirt from the air fryer.
- Inspect the air fryer after every use so you can spot anything that needs to be cleaned or repaired right away.
- Let the air fryer cool down before neatly storing it into a cabinet or the kitchen corner with every use.
