However, if it isn’t cleaned after each use, the leftover food particles inside it can get stuck in places they shouldn’t, potentially messing up the appliance. For example, a dirty air fryer will heat up slower, consume more energy and is going to be a nightmare to clean.
Read below to understand what makes cleaning your air fryers regularly important.
How often should you clean your air fryer?
Creating and maintaining a clean place for the entire family includes having a spotless kitchen, and that also means every single appliance in it, with the air fryer beUpgrading your kitchen by buying a brand new appliance such as the air fryer is an excellent idea. It is not only one of the most convenient and healthy ways to cook but also to save on cooking oil and energy.
ing no exception.
Especially if you use it every single day.
First and foremost, it’s much easier to cook small items in the air fryer as opposed to the oven, as that will save quite a bit on your energy bill. Not to mention anything about convenience.
Still, depending on the type of food, some messes are unavoidable, and they need to be cleaned if you want your appliance to keep functioning correctly.
An air fryer should be cleaned after every use to avoid charred food and gunk building up. However, there are parts of an air fryer that you can just clean occasionally as well.Â
So let’s take a look at what needs to be cleaned after each use and what occasionally.
What to clean after each use
The parts of the air fryer that must be washed after each use are the basket, tray and pan. These can either be washed by hand with soap and warm water or, in some cases, simply thrown into the dishwasher.Â
However, before placing anything in the dishwasher, read the instruction manual for your particular model to ensure that your air fryer’s pieces are safe.
Once each part has been cleaned, also clean the interior of the air fryer with the help of a damp cloth or a soapy sponge. Then wipe it dry with a paper towel because you don’t want this area to be wet if you use the appliance soon.
What to clean occasionally
Since air fryers require a minimal amount of oil to work, there isn’t much greasy residue left behind after each use of the appliance. Therefore, you don’t need to clean the appliance’s exterior as frequently as its interior. Still, if you’re doing some spring cleaning and you’re going through the entire kitchen, it’s recommended that you don’t skip the fryer. Wipe down the appliance’s exterior after every few uses with a damp cloth.
Also, make sure to check your air fryer’s heating coil every couple of months for oil residue. If you notice that it has become a bit dirty, unplug the appliance and clean it with a damp cloth. Let it dry properly before using the fryer again.
What should you not do when cleaning/maintaining your air fryer, and why?
Whatever you do, don’t try to remove baked-on gunk from your air fryer’s basket or pans using metal utensils, steel wool or an abrasive sponge, as those can damage the appliance’s non-stick coating.
Also, avoid submerging your air fryer in water, as the main unit is an electric appliance, and water will just short-circuit it. Of course, all of the removable, non-electric parts of the appliance can be cleaned in water or thrown in the dishwasher.
Step-by-step instructions to clean an air fryer
Since ensuring proper care and maintenance is the best way to take care of your air fryer (and all other appliances in your home, for that matter), you have to be prepared to do that on a regular basis. That way, you will ensure not only the longevity of your air fryer but also that it consumes less energy, which will save you money in the long run.
Before you start cleaning your air fryer, you will first need to gather all the necessary tools and supplies for the cleaning.
You will need the following:
- Damp microfiber cloth or a non-abrasive sponge;
- Soft-bristle scrub brush;
- A clean, dry cloth;
- Baking soda;
- Dish soap.
Once you have those at hand, follow these steps:
- Unplug your air fryer from the power outlet and let it cool for around half an hour.
- Take all of the removable parts out of the appliance, i.e. the baskets and pans, and wash them in warm soapy water. If you notice that there’s some baked-on grease or charred food on the parts, let them soak in hot soapy water for around 10-15 minutes, after which simply scrub them using a non-abrasive sponge.
- If your parts are dishwasher safe, you can always clean them easily by simply putting them inside the dishwasher.
- Wipe down the interior of the air fryer using a damp microfiber cloth with a splash of liquid soap on it. Afterward, wipe away any soap residue with a clean damp cloth.
- Turn your air fryer upside down and use a damp non-abrasive sponge to wipe its heating element.
- Same as the interior, go ahead and wipe the exterior as well using a damp cloth with a bit of soap. Then wipe away any remnants of the soap with a paper towel.
- Wait for all the elements to dry off before assembling the removable parts into the main unit.
If the air fryer smells terrible or begins to smoke, it’s possible that you gunked up a heating element. That happens when you overstuff the appliance and/or you cook something that splashed.
When that happens, you need to deep clean your air fryer or hire professional cleaners to do that for you, along with the interiors of the rest of your kitchen appliances.
Conclusion
Cleaning your air fryer after each use can ensure it works optimally, doesn’t consume any additional energy, and that your food always tastes good.
It’s an easy but nonetheless important task that lots of people tend to put off. However, now that you know how to conduct it properly and why it’s important, you simply have no excuse for putting it off.
