How Do You Clean an Air Fryer Body, Heating Element and Basket?
In the past few years, air fryers have seen a rise in popularity and have become an inseparable appliance in kitchens, aiming to slowly replace ovens for those looking to cook smaller portions faster with less oil using less energy. Whether it’s for cooking healthier food with less oil or a FAD that goes away in a few years, we should keep them clean and free from burnt food pieces and residues as long as we use them in the kitchen. But how can you clean the air fryer?
In this article, we’ll discuss how to safely clean the air fryer body, heating element and basket regardless of the brand you have in your kitchen.
How Often Should You Clean Your Air Fryer?
There are many mixed opinions about the frequency of cleaning and deep cleaning air fryers. The best advice comes from the manufacturer which you can find in the instruction manual of the air fryer you have.
But if you don’t have access to the manual or don’t want to look for it, you can listen to the expert’s advice. It is recommended to wash the cooking basket after each use and give the air fryer body and its heating element a deep clean after 3 to 5 uses.
Read More: How Often You Should Clean Everything
What Do You Need to Clean an Air Fryer?
Air fryers aren’t complicated kitchen appliances when it comes to cleaning. They are essentially a heating element inside a plastic body, some wiring and electronics and a cooking basket. Therefore, you can easily clean it with basic cleaning supplies and equipment you have at home.
All you need to clean your air fryer safely at home are:
- Washing up liquid or mild dish soap.
- All-purpose kitchen appliance cleaner.
- Baking soda to loosen up the stubborn food bits and residues.
- A small cleaning brush or an old toothbrush to clean hard-to-reach spots.
- Soft non-abrasive sponges or microfibre cloths
The total time you need to deep clean the air fryer is 15 to 20 minutes. If there are stubborn food bits stuck on the air fryer basket, you can expect 15 to 20 minutes more as you have to cover the spots with baking soda paste and let it sit for a while before.
Safety Precautions
There are a few safety precautions you should consider before starting to clean your air fryers:
- Unplug the air fryer and let it cool down.
- Separate all removable components (This depends on the make of the air fryer. Most air fryers have detachable cooking baskets, heating elements, dividers and other cooking accessories)
- Never wash the air fryer body or submerge it in the water.
How to Clean Air Fryer Basket?
The first part of cleaning starts with detachable parts of the air fryer. They include the cooking basket, divider or any other non-electronic and washable parts and may vary depending on the make of the air fryer.
First, inspect the part and see if there are any burnt and hardened food residues. If so, make a baking soda paste by mixing 1 tablespoon of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of water. Apply the paste on the hard food bits and let it sit for 20 minutes before wiping them off with a soft cleaning cloth.
To wash the air fryer basket or other removable parts, soak them in warm water and scrub them with a non-abrasive or soft sponge and dish soap. Be careful not to scratch and damage the non-stick coating on the cooking basket. You can use a toothbrush to clean gaps and hard-to-reach spots in the basket. Rinse with warm water after washing and leave to dry.
Read More: How to Clean and Descale an Iron?
How to Clean Air Fryer Heating Element?
To clean the air fryer heating element or the coil inside it, dip a sponge or cleaning cloth in a solution of warm water and washing up liquid. You can also use all-purpose kitchen cleaners but we recommend using eco-friendly or green solutions that are free of potentially harmful chemicals.
Gently clean the heating element with the sponged dipped in the solution and dry it with a clean soft cloth. Remember that some air fryers have more than one heating coil. In most cases, there are two heating elements on the top and underside of the air fryer where the cooking basket sits. Therefore, clean the other one with a similar method if your air fryer has more than one heating element.
How to Clean Air Fryer Body?
To clean the air fryer body and the cavity where the cooking basket sits, dip a soft sponge or cleaning cloth into a solution of warm water and mild dish soap. Then gently scrub the body and inside. You can use a small brush or an old toothbrush to clean hard-to-reach spots and hard-to-clean gaps.
Next, use a clean and soft microfibre cloth to rinse and dry the appliance. When fully dried, reassemble all the parts.
Are Air Fryers Dishwasher Safe?
While most air fryer cooking baskets are dishwasher safe, it is not recommended. If you clean the basket after each use, it takes less than 5 minutes and uses a lot less water or detergent. Also, dishwasher detergents may not be suitable for the non-stick coating of the cooking basket and may damage it in the long term.
Conclusion
Air fryers have become a popular kitchen appliance and cooking gadget during the past few years. With increased popularity, it is essential to maintain and clean them. In this article, we provided an easy DIY method to safely clean the air fryer and its components at home without causing any damage. We also discussed whether it is safe to use a dishwasher to clean the air fryer basket.
The information provided by this article will help you to correctly and safely deep clean and maintain your air fryer and remove hardened and burnt food bits from its cooking basket.
