How to Clean Air Fryer- Here’s What You Need To Know?

My aunt bought an air fryer a few weeks ago as a wedding anniversary gift for my lovely parents. I absolutely love it. It is an awesome device that I can use to air fry, toast, and broil all sorts of food with ease and convenience.

However, I noticed the little tray and other parts can get dirty and make foods taste so bad. Like other kitchen gadgets, an air fryer will need frequent cleaning and maintenance in order to perform optimally as you probably expect. A dirty air fryer can build up grease, hence causing your device to smoke and reduce the quality of your food.

Today, I am going to show you how to clean an air fryer properly and keep it running at its best. Remember, you must cultivate a habit of cleaning your air fryer every time you use it to prevent smells and flavors from accumulating.

My guidelines below also cover how to clean air fryer Philips relatively quickly and easily.

Let us get started.

What You Will Need Clean Air Fryer

I promise that you do not need a lot of things to clean your air fryer. But, there are a few necessary essentials for cleaning an air fryer. These include the following:

Soft sponge
Hot water
Dish soap
Flexible cleaning brush
Soft or medium-bristle cleaning brush
Paper towels or soft cloth

How to clean the air fryer basket & pan

Switch off the device and unplug it from the wall socket. Allow it a few minutes to cool completely in order to prevent electrocution, injury or damage to your device. This seems obvious, but it will save you tons of repair expenses.

Now, using hot soapy water and a soft sponge, wipe down the outside and inside of the basket and pan. Some air fryer accessories like pans and baskets are dishwasher safe. If your accessories are dishwasher safe, simply pop them in the dishwasher for safe and effective cleanup.

If your air fryer pan has crusty bits stuck to the bottom, you might want to soak it in the sink filled with hot soapy water. Allow it up to 10 minutes to soak in order to loosen the crust and make it easier to remove using a sponge.

The air fryer models like Philips have baskets and pans with a non-stick coating. In this case, do not clean these appliances using abrasive cleaning materials such as metal kitchen utensils. Their non-stick coating can be damaged by these abrasive cleaning materials.

Kitchen gears like air fryers are increasingly becoming popular across the world as the demand for healthy eating increases. Unlike traditional deep fryers which often get messy, air fryers are easy to use and incredibly convenient. They are excellent alternative cooking options with the ability to promote better food choices.

However, like other kitchen gadgets, air fryers need proper cleaning and maintenance in order to perform as optimally. The air fryer basket is the main accessory that calls for frequent cleaning because it is usually exposed to food items as well as heat radiations from the air fryer. Fryer baskets can get dirty and greasy over time and proper cleaning is quite necessary.

Dirt and grease build-up in air fryer baskets can cause the unit to smoke thus impacting on the quality of food cooked in it. Cleaning the air fryer basket can be a hassle-free chore if you know the steps to follow while performing the task.

Below, we have compiled an easy and comprehensive cleaning guide to get your air fryer basket in a perfect working condition.

What You Will Need

Hot water
Clean cloth
Large sink/hose
Vinegar
Baking soda
Bowl

Steps for Cleaning Air Fryer Basket

Step 1: Unplug the Air Fryer to Cool

Before you start cleaning the fryer basket, unplug the device from the wall socket and give it a few minutes to cool. Be sure it has cooled completely before attempting to touch it. Allowing the device to cool prevents electrocution and damage to the air fryer.

Step 2: Remove the Air Fryer Basket

Gently take the basket out of the unit and wipe the outside using a damp clean cloth. Some new models of the fryer baskets are dishwasher safe. You can toss it in the dishwasher for secure and effective cleanup.

Step 3: Add the Cleaning Solution

Fill the air fryer basket with hot water and add the cleaning solution or baking soda. Allow the basket to soak in hot water for about 10 minutes to dissolve the materials attached to the bottom. Then, use hot water and a clean cloth to clean the inside of the fryer basket.

Step 4: Remove Caked-on Food Items

Sometimes crusty hard food gets stuck to the fryer basket. To remove caked-on food buildup, submerge the basket in a dish tub or sink and add 1 part vinegar and 9 parts hot water into the tub or sink. Allow up to 15 minutes to soak so that the embedded food particles can be loosened.

Step 5: Scrub the Fryer Basket

Using a dishwashing soap and a nylon scrubby sponge, scrub the air fryer basket. Make sure to use the scrubby sponge that is designed for cleaning nonstick pans to avoid damaging the basket. Scrubbing with this sponge will remove all grease and residue that never came out in the preceding steps.

Step 6: Rinse, Dry & Assemble

Finally, rinse off the air fryer basket with clean water and place it on a dish drying rack to dry. You might want to dry the fryer basket with paper towels if you want to use it immediately. Once it has dried completely, put it back in the air fryer unit and use it again.

Wrap-Up

Cleaning the air fryer basket along with other accessories is a sure-fire way to extend the life of your device. It is best to do this task after every use or after every few days. Always apply the above guidelines each time you plan on cleaning and maintaining your air fryer basket for best results.

How to clean air fryer coil

Cleaning the heating element of an air fryer may seem like a hard task, but it is not. First, turn the device upside-down to expose the heating element or air fryer coil. Then, wipe down the coil using a non-abrasive sponge and hot water.

If there are any food particles stuck on the coil, remove them using a soft- or medium-bristle brush. On Phillips air fryer models, you will find the heating element near the top of the unit. Avoid using a hard bristle brush or a steel wire brush to clean the coil or heating element because they can damage the coating.

After you clean the device, allow all parts to air dry completely before you can reassemble and use. You can also use a clean cotton cloth or paper towels to dry the pan, basket, and main unit prior to reassembling the air fryer. Finally, make sure to clean your air fryer after every use to prevent food elements and grease from building up and to ease your next cleaning task.

The air fryer models like Philips and Ninja have baskets and pans with a non-stick ceramic coating. In this case, do not clean these appliances using abrasive cleaning materials such as metal kitchen utensils. Their non-stick coating can be damaged by these abrasive cleaning materials.

Warning – Do not remove stuck-on food items using utensils. The air fryer basket is lined with a nonstick coating that gets scratched with abrasive cleaning materials. Use non-abrasive cleaning materials like a sponge to remove any residual food particles wedged to the basket.