Last Updated On February 1st, 2021
The air fryer is one of the most popular small kitchen appliances in today’s modern kitchen. While they may not seem like much at first glance, your new air fryer can save you some significant cooking time and help you to make the most out of your recipes. It is also great for your health because it doesn’t use much oil, thereby reducing the amount of fat in your diet. That’s a lot of benefits from one simple appliance. However, you need to know how to clean an air fryer too, if you want to make it last for a long time.
Regularly cleaning your air fryer will protect its inner mechanisms while also keeping it bacteria free. Not only that, but it also banishes any food smells and removes any leftover food particles. The good news? Cleaning your air fryer is easy!
Keeping Your Air Fryer Clean
Most people today have busy, some might even say chaotic, lifestyles to contend with. That means tasks such as cleaning their kitchen appliances can often find their way to the bottom of the to-do list. However, it’s worth noting that the easiest way to keep your air fryer clean is to wash it every time after you use it.
Getting rid of debris and cooking residue immediately means you’re less likely to have to search for ways on how to clean baked on grease from an air fryer later on.
On the plus side, one of the biggest benefits of an air fryer is that it uses only a very small amount of oil, so aside from being good for your health, it also means you shouldn’t have too much grease to deal with during cleanup. Additionally, many brands like Philips and Tefal come with various dishwasher-safe parts, which means that most of your cleanup might be as simple as hitting the “on” switch of your dishwasher.
Steps on How to Clean Your Air Fryer
Step 1: Safety First
The first thing you need to know when cleaning an air fryer is to remember that different brands like Philips and Tefal come with different requirements. For instance, if you’re wondering how to clean a Philips air fryer, it’s important to check the manual that came with it as certain acts can void your warranty.
A good rule of thumb is to stick with non-abrasive washing solutions, sponges and cloths. Check the manufacturer’s guide to ensure that there are no specific chemicals you need to avoid.
It’s also crucial to turn the appliance off and unplug it before you start working. Make sure that it has had plenty of time to cool – this means at least thirty minutes after you’ve cooked something. Some air fryers cool faster if you remove the pan and basket from the main unit.
Step 2: Getting Started
One of the main reasons people don’t know how to clean an air fryer each use is that they’re not sure where they should get started. Usually, it’s helpful to soak the removable inner parts like the basket and pan in some hot soapy water while you give the outer part of your air fryer an initial wipe down.
To give it a wipe down, turn the appliance upside down and use a non-abrasive sponge to wipe over the heating element. Clean the plastic and metal areas, both inside and outside, getting rid of dried food wherever you can. If you notice any hard stuck-on pieces of food, you can use baking soda to carefully remove any stains.
If you’ve been using it carefully, you shouldn’t have much work to do cleaning the outside of your air fryer. A quick wipe will be all it takes.
Step 3: How to Clean Your Air Fryer Basket and Pan
The air fryer basket and pan are where you cook your food. Although it doesn’t use much oil, the basket and pan will still likely be the parts that needs the most comprehensive clean. If you followed the previous step and began soaking them before you wiped down your air fryer, then hopefully the food particles would have begun to break down by the time you get back to it.
To soak the basket and pan, pour some hot soapy water into it and wait for about 15 minutes. You can use this time to wipe down your air fryer. After soaking, use a sponge, cloth or non-abrasive brush to gently scrub the basket and pan until you’ve removed any sign of food residue. Turn them around slowly to make sure you’ve cleaned everything, then rinse with cool, clean water.
If there’s any stubborn residue left behind, soak them again and this time, wait a little longer. Once done, use a sponge, cloth or non-abrasive brush again to gently scrub it. For even tougher residue, you can use baking soda as a gentle cleaner, but be careful not to scrub too hard.
Step 4: Dry and Reassemble
Allow everything to dry off for a few hours or use a clean microfiber cloth to dry as much of the main unit, pan, and basket as possible. You’ll need your air fryer to be completely dry before you switch it on again, so you don’t risk any functional problems.
Put your appliance back together carefully, following the instructions that are given in the manual. While you’re performing these finishing touches, you can also remove any remaining dirt that you notice along the way. For instance, a cotton swab is a great way to get rid of food particles stuck in corners and creases, or stains on the buttons.
Bonus Tips for Cleaning Your Air Fryer
If you notice any strange smells coming from your air fryer, there’s a chance that there may be food particles trapped within it. If this is the case, then you might need to conduct a deeper clean. Just remember that you should never use metal tools or utensils to remove dried food or crumbs from your air fryer as this can void your warranty and harm the components.
Ultimately, cleaning your air fryer isn’t as tough as it seems, the main rules you need to follow are:
- Don’t use any abrasive cleaners, materials or chemicals – no matter how stubborn the stains may be.
- Never submerge your entire appliance in liquid – this will ruin the electrical parts of the air fryer.
- Clean it as regularly as possible to stop stains from baking on.
Do you have any tips on how to clean an air fryer as quickly and efficiently as possible? Let us know in the comments below!
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