To ensure safe and wholesome cooking, it is essential to learn how to clean an air fryer.
In addition to keeping the air fryer in good operating order, routine cleaning stops the accumulation of food particles and germs, which can produce unpleasant aromas and even pose health risks.
Cleaning an air fryer is not the same as maintaining one, which entails examining the fan and heating element, making sure all elements are working correctly, and replacing any worn-out or damaged parts.
This article will cover why it is important to clean an air fryer, the supplies required, a step-by-step cleaning guide, and typical cleaning mistakes to avoid, and extra advice for preserving the air fryer’s longevity.
Required equipment and supplies
You will require a few standard equipment and materials in order to thoroughly clean your air fryer.
The items you’ll need are listed below:
Soft sponge: The interior and outside of the air fryer should be cleaned using a soft sponge or cloth that isn’t abrasive. Anything too abrasive should be avoided since it can scratch the non-stick coating.
Hot water: For the majority of cleaning jobs, hot water is sufficient to dissolve and remove any food particles or stains.
Soap: Cleaning the interior and exterior of the air fryer with mild dish soap is possible. Anything too harsh should be avoided since it can harm the non-stick coating.
Baking soda: To get rid of difficult stains or stuck-on food, make a paste with water and baking soda.
Any leftover odors or stains can be eliminated with vinegar or lemon juice.
Brush: To clean the air fryer’s difficult-to-reach spots, use a small brush, like a bottle brush or toothbrush.
To dry the air fryer after cleaning, use paper towels or clean towels.
Additionally, it’s crucial to clean your air fryer according to the manufacturer’s recommendations because various models may have particular care and upkeep requirements. Additionally, make sure the components you plan to utilize in your air fryer are safe.
In conclusion, the cleaning supplies you’ll need for your air fryer are a soft sponge or cloth, hot water, mild dish detergent, baking soda, vinegar, or lemon juice, a brush, and paper towels or clean towels.
Step-by-step Guide on How To Clean An Air Fryer
Regardless on what type of air fryer you use, you need to clean them regularly. It is best to clean after every use with these best practices:
The straightforward way
Before cleaning, unplug the air fryer and allow it to cool.
Take out the drip tray and basket, then wash them in hot, soapy water. Scrub away any stains or food that has become trapped on using a tiny brush. Rinse them well, then pat them dry with a fresh towel.
Use a moist sponge or cloth to clean the air fryer’s interior and exterior. To get rid of any food particles or stains, use hot water and mild dish soap. Anything too abrasive should be avoided since it can scratch the non-stick coating.
For more serious stains
For regular food stains these should be enough but if we are dealing with something that needs some extra care try this:
Make a paste out of baking soda and water and use it to treat any stubborn stains or food residue. After letting it stand for a while, clean it with a brush and a moist cloth.
You can clean the inside of the air fryer with a combination of equal parts water and vinegar or lemon juice to get rid of any leftover scents.
According to the manufacturer’s recommendations, clean the heating element and fan.
With a fresh towel or paper towel, completely dry the air fryer.
To avoid the accumulation of food particles and bacteria, it is advised to clean the air fryer immediately after each use (when it cooled down of course) or at least once a week.
Additionally, it’s crucial to clean your air fryer according to the manufacturer’s instructions because different models may have particular maintenance requirements.
To maintain safe and healthful cooking, cleaning an air fryer is a quick process that should be done frequently. These detailed instructions will help you thoroughly clean your air fryer of food particles, stains, and odors. A soft sponge or cloth, hot water, mild dish soap, baking soda, vinegar, or lemon juice, a brush, and paper towels or clean towels are among the tools and products that should be used.
Additionally, it’s crucial to clean your air fryer according to the manufacturer’s recommendations because various models may have particular care and upkeep requirements. You may enjoy wonderful, healthy meals for years to come if you keep your air fryer clean in addition to making sure it keeps working properly.
Mistakes to avoid when cleaning an air fryer
Despite how easy it is to clean an air fryer, there are a few mistakes that people frequently do that might harm the device or reduce its efficiency. Here are some cleaning errors to avoid with your air fryer:
Using strong chemicals: Some cleaning agents may be too abrasive for the air fryer’s non-stick coating, which may result in damage over time. The best options are hot water and mild dish soap, or a mixture of water and vinegar or lemon juice in equal proportions.
Not drying thoroughly enough: After cleaning, the air fryer needs to be thoroughly dried to avoid the growth of rust or mold. Dry the air fryer’s interior and exterior using a fresh towel or paper towel.
Not cleaning the heating element and fan: To guarantee optimal operation, the heating element and fan are important components of the air fryer and should be cleaned frequently. If they aren’t cleaned, their performance may suffer or they may even get damaged. In my opinion it is not needed to clean the heating element after every usage but it is highly dependent on the foods you cook in your air fryer. You can use a straightforward approach here: If it gets dirty, clean it.
Disregarding the directions of the manufacturer: Specific cleaning and maintenance instructions may be provided for each model of air fryer. To ensure good maintenance and the long-term durability of the appliance, it’s crucial to adhere to these guidelines. For example for the Ninja AF100 you can see a complete section for it on page 12 if you click here.
Scratching the non-stick coating: Using abrasive tools, such as steel wool, scouring pads, or harsh brushes, will wear away the air fryer’s non-stick coating, causing food to stick and making cleanup more difficult.
Not checking for wear and tear: Regularly checking the air fryer for any signs of wear and tear and taking care of them as soon as possible will help to avoid damage and extend the life of the appliance.
You can make sure that your air fryer keeps working properly and continues to give you scrumptious, healthy meals for years to come by avoiding these typical cleaning blunders.
Additional Advice for Extending the Life of an Air Fryer
Here are some more hints and techniques to help keep your air fryer in good condition:
Preparing the non-stick coating for use: Preparing the non-stick coating for use can help to make it easier to clean and more resistant to harm. Simply apply a thin layer of oil to the air fryer’s interior and heat it to a high setting for 10 minutes to season the coating.
Proper storage is essential to preventing rust or mold from growing on the air fryer when it’s not in use.
Regularly monitoring the heating element and fan if there are food particles in it can help prevent damage and extend the life of the air fryer by ensuring that they are operating properly. Cleaning the heating element and fan as needed can also help.
Checking the air fryer frequently for wear and tear can help to prevent damage and extend the life of the appliance. Check the air fryer frequently for any wear and tear and treat it right away.
Making use of the right cookware: Using the suitable cookware might help to extend the life of your air fryer. Use rubber or wooden utensils instead of metals because they can scratch the non-stick coating.
Pro tip: Use parchment paper for more messy foods and it can spare you a lot of headache when it comes cleaning up afterwards. We have a full guide on parchment paper that is worth checking out.
You can make sure that your air fryer keeps working properly and continues to give you scrumptious, healthy meals for years to come by adhering to these advice and practices.
Wrap-up
In conclusion it is essential to learn how to clean an air fryer to ensure it will be your cooking partner for a long time.
You may successfully get rid of food scraps, stains, and odors from your air fryer by following the straightforward instructions provided in this article.
It’s crucial to follow the manufacturer’s directions for cleaning and maintaining your particular model, avoid typical cleaning blunders like using harsh chemicals, and dry the air fryer completely.
Additionally, you can help your air fryer last longer and make sure that it keeps giving you scrumptious, healthy meals for years to come by following the additional tips and tricks described in this article. Your air fryer will be a useful and dependable gadget in your kitchen if you take good care of it.
