As regards an air fryer, there are numerous components. It can occasionally be overwhelming when a mess accumulates from the many tools and accessories you’ve used to air fry your meal. Furthermore, cleaning the entire appliance might be a significant stress after only making a few pizza rolls.
After every single use, it is advised to clean your air fryer. Small amounts of food from previous uses will build up if you don’t clean your food after every usage. It will be fried repeatedly until it burns and starts to emit smoke or possibly a fire. Thankfully, you only need to wash the components of your air fryer that come into touch with the food. Less often, cleaning is necessary for some air fryer components.
Sometimes we only wish to clean the bare minimum, hoping it will be sufficient for the subsequent use. So, in this article, we’ll discuss how often and what parts of an air fryer need cleaning.
What To Do When Your Air Fryer Gets Dirty?
The ideal time to clean an air fryer is immediately following usage. The appliance eventually accumulates grease and oil buildup because it cooks meals with tiny oil droplets. In the long run, your air fryer will heat food less effectively, use more energy, and need more intense cleaning to remove the built-up particles if you let too much buildup occur. Grease and filth won’t harm the performance of your machine if you clean it after every usage.
Nevertheless, we realize that cleaning your air fryer after every usage isn’t practical, especially if you lead a busy life. For a simple cleanup, a light wipe-down of the basket with a damp or dry paper towel or washcloth would suffice. Alternatively, you may just toss your air fryer basket into the dishwasher for a terrific hands-off, time-saving method.
Depending on the item you are frying, we also advise cleaning the inside of the air fryer at least after five uses while the basket is off. In addition to preventing liquids and greases from baking in difficult-to-reach regions, this also helps to keep loose particles and crumbs from getting too close to the heating element.
In Just 9 Simple Steps, You Can Clean Your Air Fryer
After using your air fryer, clean and sterilize it entirely by following the below steps.
- Plugging in your air fryer
- Allow the air fryer elements to reach room temperature if you’ve just finished cooking.
- Dispatch the basket
- Spend ten to fifteen minutes soaking the basket in warm water and soap.
- Try scrubbing with a non-abrasive brush while warm water and soap solution are still in the basket if the basket has caked-on oil or difficult-to-remove stains.
- Clean the inside of the air fryer using a damp cloth or sponge and a tiny bit of dish soap.
- Upside the air fryer and use a sponge or towel to clean the heating element.
- Making a mixture of baking soda and water and scrubbing with a soft-bristled brush may also help remove tough stains.
- Before reassembling, let the air fryer’s components completely air dry or clean them.
Various Other Cleaning Advice for Your Air Fryer
Consider using the following advice in addition to deep cleaning your air fryer:
Deal With The Situation Immediately
Establish the habit of cleaning up grease and food scraps as soon as they are discovered in the air fryer because doing so will make it easier to remove them later. Even if you don’t immediately get around to a deeper clean, at the very least, wipe down your air fryer after each use to prevent oils from drying.
When the air fryer is done, remove any leftover crumbs. An additional simple method is to quickly soak the air fryer basket in warm, soapy water after use before cleaning it later.
Eliminate Scents That Linger
The beautiful aromas filling your home while preparing might raise your guests’ expectations and excitement for the food you serve. The lingering odors, however, are anything but enticing when the meal is completed. Soak your basket in warm, soapy water to eliminate any lingering odors.
Alternatively, you might try slicing a lemon in half, rubbing it in the basket, and letting it sit there for 20 to 30 minutes before rinsing your air fryer basket. You might also think about removing foul odors with a little vinegar solution.
Your Basket Should Be Lined
The mess left behind after cooking can be considerably reduced by lining your frying basket. If you can, try to choose a dishwasher-safe, easily-removable basket insert. Thanks to this, you won’t have to deep clean your air fryer as frequently as before. Use parchment paper or thin tin foil sparingly if you can’t find one.
The openings in the basket should not be covered, though, as this allows air to circulate and thoroughly cooks the food. In addition, keep in mind that you should only place parchment paper or tin foil in the air fryer basket, never the drawer’s bottom.
The Air Fryer Basket Thoroughly Cleaned To Get Rid Of Baked-on Fat
Apply delicate dish soap to the dry basket and thoroughly cover all surfaces to remove the difficult-to-remove baked-on oil stains from your air fryer. The issue spots should be scrubbed with an old toothbrush after lightly sprinkling baking soda on top of the dish soap. Pour about a cup of vinegar into the basket after that.
The mixture should then be added to boiling water, stirred, and left to sit overnight. Use an old toothbrush and the soap, vinegar, and baking soda solution left in the basket to scrub the areas if the buildup is still there in the morning.
When Ought An Air Fryer To Have A Routine Cleaning?
After using the air fryer, food particles might still be present within. If not removed, these particles will continue to cook with each subsequent usage and may eventually burn. A harmful substance called acrylamide develops when food is overcooked in an air fryer, according to a 2020 Korean study.
It should be noted that acrylamide is considered a serious enough threat to human health by The Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) to be listed on their list of potential hazards.
And in 2015, the European Food Safety Authority warned that acrylamide might raise cancer risk. The air fryer should be cleaned out ideally after every use or, alternatively, after a few uses. The flavor of the meal you are cooking may change due to burned food particles, and the longer you wait to eliminate them, the more difficult it will be.
FAQs
Should an air fryer’s exterior be cleaned periodically?
Frequently, dust accumulates on kitchen appliances. When using your air fryer frequently, it’s a good idea to wipe out the appliance’s surface immediately after usage.
How quickly dust gathers on top of the appliance will determine this, though. It is advisable to include wiping off the surface of the air fryer as part of your usual kitchen cleaning routine, which may be every other day if you don’t use it much.
When ought my air fryer to have a thorough cleaning?
The air fryer’s use and frequency will significantly impact this. Due to frequent use, you might need to thoroughly clean your home more frequently than once every two weeks, in addition to cleaning it after each use. The cleaning routine might be looser if you only use it occasionally, weekly, or monthly.
Additional to cleaning after each usage is deep cleaning. The primary part of an air fryer should never be washed in a dishwasher or submerged in water.
How to identify when your air fryer needs cleaning
Smoke and stench are two unmistakable signs that you should clean your air fryer. You may detect smoke coming from the air fryer or a smell permeating the area if there is accumulated filth on the heating element or the interior of the air fryer. The cooking basket’s openings may have food debris lodged inside. Your present food item will taste different as a result.
Your air fryer will require more frequent cleaning if you use it frequently. When it’s time to give it a good scrub, a few apparent symptoms will alert you. Your air fryer likely needs to be cleaned if it starts to work poorly or if the food doesn’t taste as delicious as it once did.
Do I need to wash by hand or put it in the dishwasher?
Examine the manufacturer’s cleaning recommendations as a first step. The removable air fryer parts’ dishwashing compatibility will be shown. Most contemporary air fryers are dishwasher-safe.
The non-stick coating on the pieces could be damaged if you wash them in the dishwasher too frequently. The interior of the air fryer should be cleaned with a cloth, and the parts should be gently washed with your hands. The air fryer should always be unplugged when being cleaned.
You should be aware of a few things. Make sure to clean it first of any food residue if you decide to put it in the dishwasher. When washing it by hand, wash it well with hot water and dish soap.
Concluding Remarks
To enjoy excellent meals with a fraction of the calories, it’s crucial to develop the practice of cleaning your air fryer periodically, as doing so can extend the life of your equipment. To help you spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying your hobbies, Mulberrys San Francisco offers house cleaning services that will keep your home clean and orderly.
However, get in touch with us to learn more about our house cleaning service if you’re busy or just want a pro to ensure your air fryer is exceptionally clean.
Hiiii! My name is Ruth and I am an experienced chef with a passion for food and cooking. My love of baking began when I was nine, and I have since been refining my skills in the kitchen ever since.
