Blinners Team
Just like any kitchen appliance, air fryers do require a thorough washing every now and then, probably making you wonder: “How to clean an air fryer?”.
Below, you’ll find our advice on the best ways to get your own air fryer as clean as it was when you first bought it and how often to clean an air fryer, too. That way, you can get back to making all those delicious air fryer recipes like air fryer salmon and even steak!
You’ll see that there are TWO ways to do this: an easy/quick way to do it, and also a more thorough and deep way to clean an air fryer. Depending on your time availability and the tools you have, you can choose either one of those and they should do a fair cleaning job.
Let’s go…
Table of content
What is the easy way to clean an air fryer?
There are many different air fryers on the market, so it’s best to always check the owner’s manual for specific directions about your model. However, generally speaking, here’s the easiest way to give your air fryer a light cleaning:
- After using your fryer, let it cool down and unplug it.
- Pull out the basket, pan, or tray and wash it in your sink with warm water and dish soap.
- Set it aside to dry overnight.
- Wipe down the interior of the fryer, including the heating element, with a damp, soapy cloth, sponge or paper towel.
- Wipe it again with a clean damp, cloth, and then a dry cloth.
- Wipe the exterior of the fryer with a soft cloth.
- When the fryer’s removable parts are dry, place them in the fryer.
In a little bit we will see how to do a deep clean of an air fryer. But first, let’s take a quick look at what you’ll need to do the actual cleaning below…
What You’ll Use To Clean an Air Fryer
Let’s take a quick look at what you’ll be needing to clean an air fryer so that you ensure that you’re ready to go before the in-depth instructions.
Baking Soda
Aluminum Free Pure Bulk Baking Soda
Dawn Dish Soap
Dawn Platinum Dish Soap Liquid 54.8 fl oz (Pack of 2)
Kitchen Sponge
Dual-Sided, Non-Scratch, Super Absorbent, 6 Pack.
Microfiber Cleaning Cloth
Reusable Rolls, , 12×12 inch, 50 Pack
Now with the equipment ready to go, let’s take a look at how to do the air fryer deep cleaning next…
Deep Clean Air Fryer
1 – Add Soap and Water
Assemble the air fryer with the insert inside. Fill the basket with 1 inch of hot water and 2 tablespoons of dish soap.
Use DAWN Dish Soap
Use the Dawn dish soap that we recommended above because we believe it is a great choice given its degreasing agents to guarantee deeper cleaning.
2 – Warm for 3 Minutes
Put the basket inside the air fryer, setting the temperature to 370°F. Leave it on for 3 minutes.
3 – Dump / Rinse / Repeat
After 3 minutes, pull the basket out and dump the water into the sink. Rinse and check for any grime or residue still clinging to the insert.
Repeat steps 2 and 3 if necessary.
4 – Soak In Water
Before scrubbing, let the basket and insert soak in hot, soapy water for 10 minutes.
5 – Scrub with Sponge
After soaking for 10 minutes, use a soft sponge to lightly scrub the basket and insert. Make sure to rinse the components well.
Use Microfiber Cloth
WARNING
Only use a microfiber cloth or nonabrasive sponge when cleaning your air fryer to preserve the nonstick coating.
6 – Scrub Tough Residue
For the toughest residue, create a paste of half a cup of baking soda and a splash of water.
Rub the paste onto the tough spots and let the paste sit for 10 minutes.
Scrub gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove the particles.
Rinse well.
7 – Dry the Basket
Dry the basket and insert with a microfiber towel and air dry them completely before using the air fryer or storing it.
If possible, let it air dry overnight for better results.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s always best to clean an air fryer after every use, especially if there is stuck-on food.
If you are in a hurry and no food is visible after use, you can simply wipe the air fryer down with a wet paper towel or microfiber cloth until you can give it a proper cleaning.
For the toughest, stuck-on messes in the interior of your fryer, you can use a half-cup or so of baking soda and a bit of water to make a thick paste.
Cover the sticky patches with the paste and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing off with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
Wipe down the inside of the fryer with a wet cloth, then follow up with a dry cloth.
The heating element should never be soaked in a sink of soapy water.
Unplug the air fryer, dip a microfiber cloth in hot soapy water, and wring until it is not dripping.
Wipe the heating element. Rinse the cloth often as the grease is removed.
Allow the element to air dry for several hours before using the appliance.
A 50:50 mixture of distilled white vinegar and hot water should cut through greasy residue on an air fryer basket and insert.
This can be sprayed on or used to soak the components.
Rinse and dry the items well.
Related posts and recipes
We have a number of posts and recipes where air frying has been used and we’ve listed some of them below.
You can explore our recipes and keep making the most of your air fryer!
Thank you for reading us!
If you have any questions or comments, make sure to reach out to us or leave us a comment down below.
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