How to Clean Your Air Fryer

Cleaning your air fryer will increase its lifespan

With air fryers becoming a standard appliance that can be found in most homes, many find the clean up to be troublesome. With burnt in grease and little bits of food finding its way in all the smallest corners, especially when making sausages, chips, roast potatoes and jacket potatoes. It can seem like a tedious task to properly clean your airfryer, although easier than with a deep fat fryer, so here is a step by step guide on how to clean you air fryer as well as some smart tips and products that can help reduce not only your mess but your clean up time.

How to wash your air fryer by hand

If you frequently use your air fryer then you might want to opt for hand washing, or if you simply don't have a dishwasher then washing by hand is actually very simple and cleaning your air fryer basket and pan should be part of your regular maintenance of your air fryer, before you begin cleaning just make sure that the air fryer has cooled down completely and that you have unplugged it.

1. Fill a sink or container with water and washing up liquid

   Firstly you want to fill your sink or a with hot water and add a bit of washing up liquid into it, give it a swirl to make sure the soap and water are mixed well.

2. Soak the pan and basket

   Next take the parts that are non electrical and detachable from the air fryer that can be soaked in water (this will usually be stated in the instructions). Submerge the parts and let them soak for at least 10-15 minutes, depending on how dirty the basket is and how long it's been since you last cleaned the parts.

3. Clean with a non-scratch sponge or microfibre cloth

   Use a non-scratch sponge or a microfibre cloth to clean off any oil, burnt oil and food leftovers. Let the pan and basket soak for a bit longer it the grime is not letting up, never use anything that is too harsh or abrasive as that might peel the non-stick coating. Once you have cleaned the air fryer then rinse off with clean water.

4. Wipe off the air fryer

   For the rest of the air fryer i.e. the main body that has the electric circuit, you will want to be careful with getting it in contact with water, so take a damp microfibre cleaning cloth and wipe the outside of your air fryer as well as the inner bottom part where the basket used to be. Make sure to also wipe down the heating elements, especially if there are some small pieces of food stuck on it. Avoid steel wool as that can harm the coating on the heating elements.

All cleaning equipment

Is it dishwasher safe?

First and foremost it's important to note that not all air fryers are created equal, so it's good to read the instructions that come with your air fryer and find out which parts of your model are dishwasher safe, the Cosori air fryer and the Philips air fryer are usually dishwasher safe but always make sure to double check. If it has dishwasher safe parts, then you can clean those there, however if you frequently use your air fryer this might not be the most sustainable solution. So hand wash will be more than enough and then perhaps opt for a monthly or bi-weekly run in the dishwasher, just to make sure to get out all the grime.

Dishwasher safe air fryers

Easy cleaning with air fryer accessories

Burnt grease and small crumbles can be tedious to clean and stubborn to wash away, one way to avoid having to frequently clean your air fryer while also pre-longing the life of your air fryer is to invest in some air fryer accessories. The most popular ones being baking paper in the shape of the air fryer basket, you simply pop it into your basket and you will have significantly less of a mess, there are also reusable silicon options that work just as well and that you then can run through your dishwasher for easier clean up.

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