Air fryers are perfect for people who love crispy fried food but want to stay healthy and reduce the amount of oil they use. If you are also looking into healthy eating and lifestyle, you may want to invest in one of those small appliances. They have gained popularity in recent years and become a favourite addition to any kitchen.
Unlike a regular hot pot full of boiling oil that leaves the outside of foods golden and crispy, an air fryer uses air and very little oil to achieve the same results.
Fortunately for you (and anyone who owns one of those appliances), manufacturers made them relatively simple in construction which makes the cleaning process quite easy as well. An air fryer with one or two baskets can quickly be cleaned since most components are usually dishwasher safe.
In this article, we will show you how often to take care of your air fryer, which common household ingredients to use in order to maintain your appliance in good and healthy condition, and how to quickly and efficiently get rid of all the grime and food residue from all parts of the air fryer.
The first and most important thing to take into consideration is – how often you should clean your air fryer. Since it handles raw food, the parts that come into contact with it (especially when it is meat), should be cleaned after every use. It is best to clean the whole interior to ensure there are no food particles left behind. Depending on how often you use the appliance, you may need to deep clean the interior and exterior of your air fryer once a month.
Here is how to thoroughly clean your air fryer:
- Unplug the appliance and let it cool before attempting to clean it.
- Remove the crisper plate or tray and basket once the unit has cooled. These can be washed by hand or in the dishwasher using a dishwashing solution and hot water. Check the user guide that came with the air fryer to ensure that these parts are dishwasher safe. To enhance the life of the baskets, most manufacturers suggest hand washing them.
- Whenever there is a lot of baked-on food, fill a sink or large tub with hot water and several drops of dishwashing solution to help dissolve the residue from the plate or basket. Allow the components to soak for 15 to 20 minutes to release the particles before scrubbing them away with a soft-bristled brush. Make sure you use a dishwashing cleaning solution that has degreasing qualities.
- Dry the components with a lint-free microfiber cloth, or stop the dishwasher before the drying cycle. Make sure all parts are completely dry before putting them back in your air fryer. Never put anything damp in the appliance – that may promote mould and mildew growth.
- Warm water and a drop of dishwashing solutions should be applied to a non-abrasive sponge. Use that to wipe the entire internal opening with the sponge while the appliance is unplugged and the basket, plates, or trays are removed. Dry the area thoroughly with a microfiber towel. Rinse the sponge and wipe down the outside of the device, including the control panel.
- Check the heating elements for grease splatters or food particles after many uses. Wipe them down with a moist non-abrasive sponge. There are food splatters somewhere in the interior of the air fryer if there is a nasty odour. To make a paste, combine one tablespoon of water and two tablespoons of baking soda in a small bowl. Clean the interior, by dabbing a wet sponge in the paste. To get into all of the corners, you may need to use a small soft-bristled brush like a bottle brush or an old toothbrush dipped in the solution. carefully rinse with a sponge dipped in clean water and dry completely with a microfiber cloth before reinserting the basket and plates, and plugging your air fryer back.
Additional tips on keeping your air fryer in good condition:
- To remove food, scrape or scour the components but never use metal utensils that can damage the nonstick surface.
- Wipe down the interior of the air fryer after every use. If you cooked foods that left a lot of residue inside your appliance, remove the dirty parts once everything is cool and give them a good washing. Do not allow food particles to sit in the air fryer.
- To prevent the plastic components from melting, never place the air fryer on a burner or too close to an open flame.
- Do not submerge the base unit in water.
- Fill the food baskets only halfway. Filling it up has the potential to damage the internal heating elements.
- Before cleaning or removing any component, always turn off the air fryer, unplug it from the wall outlet, and let it cool fully.