Cleaning your air fryer properly is incredibly important. Air fryers work by speedily circulating hot air that cooks your food super-fast with only a fraction of the oil that would be required in a deep fryer or even in your oven.
The swiftness of the circulating air means that food particles, crumbs, grease and other small bits of food get thrown around in the machine.
These food bits could end up either on your next meal or on the fan, where they will accumulate over time and eventually begin to slow your machine down and cause a dip in performance and a considerably longer cooking time.
Keeping the inside of your air fryer clean and grease-free is a key part of making sure that the machine runs at full capacity and keeps cooking your food to the same delicious standard as the day you first got it.
How Often Should You Clean Your Air Fryer?
If you want to be sure that you are not leaving behind any crumbs or bits of grease, then it is best to clean your air fryer after every single use.
A quick clean would mean using hot, soapy water to thoroughly wash the basket and any racking that you used when cooking your meal.
It’s also a good idea to briefly wipe down the inside of the machine to remove any grease that’s left behind.
If your air fryer baskets are dishwasher safe you can also run them through your dishwasher for an even easier clean.
If you give the air fryer a simple but effective clean whenever you use it, then it’s likely that you’ll very rarely get to a point where the machine will require a deep clean.
What Is the Best Method for Cleaning an Air Fryer?
When it does come time to give the air fryer a deeper clean, make sure the machine is unplugged and switched off, as well as fully cooled down since last used.
This is important because to ensure a proper deep clean you will need to tackle the interior heater.
The heater should not be wet at any point, so the most effective cleaning method is using a paste made by mixing three tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda with one tablespoon of water.
You can then use a cloth or even an old toothbrush to work through the extra stubborn greasy bits.
Once you’ve got all the greasier parts covered in the paste, leave it to sit for a few minutes and then use a damp cloth to wipe the paste off the inside of the machine.
Then wipe it down with a dry cloth or some kitchen roll to dry it. This should leave the interior shiny and clean!
An adventurous book lover with an animal obsession and a proclivity for travel and spontaneity. Used to passionately despise cleaning but has grown to enjoy it thanks to learning all the best tricks and shortcuts to guaranteeing a stress-free routine and a spotless home.
