Whether you use your air fryer daily or only a few times a month, your air fryer can get coated with filthy grease and burnt-on food remnants. As you continue using your air fryer, additional grease, crumbs and food spills are added to the stinky layer of filth. This mess gets more difficult to clean over time.
In addition, the odors that it emits stink up your house and infiltrate your food. Cleaning your air fryer regularly is essential, but how do you clean it?
Why It’s Important to Keep Your Air Fryer Clean
Often, people enjoy cooking with an air fryer because it is easier and healthier than other methods. However, the foods that you place in your air fryer may produce grease, such as is the case with meats. Some foods are coated in oil, fat or butter.
The greasy mess drips down into the drip pan and sometimes splatters on the walls of the air fryer. Some foods, like onion rings, French fries, chicken nuggets and others, leave crumbs behind. These crumbs gather in the grease.
This mess smells horrible when you use your air fryer. It is also unhealthy. More than that, the vents in your air fryer are critical to its performance, and they can get clogged by the mess. This leads to inadequate heating and eventually to the premature need to replace the air fryer.
Do I Have to Clean the Air Fryer After Every Use?
In most cases, your food will leave behind a mess each time you use your air fryer. It is far easier to remove the mess before it completely hardens. The cleaning job becomes more difficult when you have layers of grime built up from weeks or months of cooking. Because of this, it is recommended that you wipe away grease and food remnants after each use.
What Is the Best Way to Clean an Air Fryer?
Your air fryer likely has a non-stick surface. This can be damaged by abrasive scrubbers as well as some cleaning chemicals. In addition, when you use chemical-based cleaning products, some remnants will likely be left behind. This can affect food quality.
The safe way to tackle greasy build-up in your air fryer is with liquid dish soap and water. You can also add white vinegar to the solution for an added boost of grease-fighting power. Simply fill a bowl with your cleaning solution, and use a sponge or cloth to wipe away the greasy mess.
In some cases, the air fryer’s basket can be machine-washed. However, always check the manufacturer’s instructions before doing so.
How Do You Get Baked-On Grease Off an Air Fryer?
If you’re dealing with baked-on grease, you can tackle this tough cleaning job with a pre-treatment. Cleaning vinegar, which is stronger than distilled white vinegar, is a safe and effective product to use. While you don’t want to consume cleaning vinegar, it is a food-safe cleaner.
Spray cleaning vinegar inside your air fryer, and allow it to sit in place for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, use a soft nylon scrubber to remove the mess with friction. Remember to wipe away the mess with a clean, damp cloth.
Tips for Maintaining a Clean Air Fryer
It’s much easier to maintain a clean air fryer than to scrub off layers of grease and baked-on food. How can you maintain your air fryer?
- Line the lower air fryer tray with foil before using the air fryer. Replace the foil after each use.
- Remove the air fryer’s removable parts after each use, and wash them according to the air fryer’s owner’s manual. Remember to let the air fryer cool before attempting to clean it.
- Focus on the interior of the air fryer before returning the moving parts to their places. Wipe down the surfaces with vinegar and a clean cloth.
FAQs
Can I Clean My Air Fryer by Putting Water in It and Turning It On?
In some cases, the steam emitted from water heating up in the air fryer can loosen baked-on grime. However, this does not work in all cases. In addition, some air fryers can be damaged by exposure to excess moisture. It’s best to wipe down the air fryer using vinegar and a cloth or non-abrasive scrubber.
Can I Put Air Fryer Parts in the Dishwasher?
Some models of air fryers have dishwasher-safe parts. Before placing the removable parts in your dishwasher, read your manufacturer’s instructions for details specific to your model.
Can I Use Oven Cleaner on My Air Fryer?
Oven cleaner can be used on an air fryer, but it is not recommended. Remnants of the cleaner can be left behind in small crevices of your appliance. When the air fryer turns on, traces of the oven cleaner can circulate in the air and over your food. It is best to use a food-safe cleaning product in appliances that heat your food.
Cleaning the baked-on mess in your air fryer is a tough job, and it is only one of the challenges you face while cleaning your house. If you are looking for a better way to maintain a tidy home, Tidy Here can help. To schedule professional cleaning service with our hardworking, skilled housekeepers, contact us today.
