How to Clean an Air Fryer

Air fryers have become very popular in the past couple of years. With so many people purchasing this useful kitchen appliance, it continues to be very sought after. However, it does need to be cleaned because people put food inside it regularly.

It’s essential to clean your air fryer because you use it for cooking. Even though there are many gadgets that can be bought so that the mess is minimal while using them, commercial cleaning should still be a priority.

This post is going to break down exactly how to clean an air fryer.

The Materials

These are the following materials you are going to need in order to clean your air fryer:

• A sponge
• Microfiber cloths
• A soft brush
• Paper towels or drying towels
• Dishwashing soap
• A packet of baking soda

Unplug Your Air Fryer

This may seem like an obvious first step, but it is always good to remember to unplug your appliances before cleaning them. Allow the air fryer to cool completely before beginning the cleaning process. You do not want to clean the air fryer when it is warm or even hot. If you do, then you could injure yourself, and the cleaning supplies are going to cook on the air fryer instead of cleaning it.

Clean the Removable Parts

Take out the tray, basket, and pan. One of the most useful parts about an air fryer is that the removable parts can be placed in the dishwasher. That makes for easy cleaning. Do remember to check the manual before putting anything in the dishwasher to make sure that it can go in there.

However, if you want to clean it yourself, then wash it in the sink with some soap and warm water. Just like with regular dishes, wipe the pieces with a sponge and some soap on it. The last thing you want is your food tasting like soap, so it’s essential to get all the soap off. Therefore, make sure to rinse the soap off and allow it to air dry.

Also, many air fryer accessories are dishwasher friendly as well. Make sure to wash your additional accessories because they also get dirty. Again, if you want to clean them by hand, you can do that in the sink.

Top tip: do not use disinfectants to clean any part of your air fryer. This is a kitchen appliance, so make sure that any cleaning solution that is used is for food-contact surfaces. Otherwise, the other disinfectants can make you ill when consumed through food.

Clean the Main Unit

This may seem obvious, but it is good to point out, do not submerge the central unit of the air fryer in water. Otherwise, the air fryer can become damaged, and then you are going to need to purchase a new one.

Instead, grab a damp cloth and wipe the entire unit down. That includes the control panel, so you can remove any stains or grease that might have been collected over the multiple air fryer uses. While cleaning, if you spot any food stuck to the heating coil, grab a soft brush and lightly brush it away.

Do not aggressively brush at the heating coil because this can damage it. Damaging the heating coil can leave your food uncooked and not as tasty as before.

Double Check the Heating Coil

Good air fryer cleaning practice is cleaning the heating coil after every use. The heating coil is located at the top of the central unit. If you spot any oil or residue, unplug the unit and allow the heating coil to cool completely. Afterward, grab a soft brush or a microfiber cloth and gently wipe at the coil. This can remove any grease, oil, or residue build-up.

It’s essential to clean the heating coil after every use because if there is a build-up of grease, oil, or food, then it is going to be heated every time you use the air fryer. Once it’s heated a few times, it is going to be challenging to clean the air fryer afterward, and you might ruin your heating coil completely.

Dry & Reassemble

Once all the pieces are dry, put all the parts back together. Sometimes, even after allowing them to air-dry, it is still good to towel-dry them, so there is no chance of excess water in your air fryer.

Cleaning Tips for Your Air Fryer

Here are some extra air fryer cleaning tips that can help you in your air fryer cleaning journey.

• If your basket has caked-on grease, oil, or residue, soak it in some hot water and soap. Allow it to sit for 20 to 30 minutes. Afterward, grab a soft brush and begin to remove the gunk. Depending on how much there is, it might take a few tries before it is completely clean.
• Sometimes, air fryers can produce a strange smell. Do not ignore the smell and hope it goes away. Instead, mix some baking soda and water together. This mixture is going to form a paste. Use the soft brush and scrub the paste throughout the interior of the air fryer. Make sure you get every spot because the smell is coming from trapped food particles. Afterward, wipe the paste away with a damp cloth and notice how fresh your air fryer now smells.
• Do not use a metal utensil when removing any caked-on grease, oil, or residue. If you do, then there is a high possibility of scraping off the non-stick coating that is in your air fryer. Once the coating has been removed, it cannot be placed back on.

Conclusion

Air fryers are very useful kitchen appliances. They make cooking easy and fun for everyone, so cleaning them should be just as easy. Make sure to clean your air fryer regularly so your food continues to cook and taste excellent. Otherwise, the cooking quality can deteriorate if you do not clean your air fryer enough or properly. With these simple tips, cleaning your air fryer is not going to be difficult.

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