Whether you’ve just unboxed your brand-new air fryer or you’re a seasoned pro, there’s one aspect of air frying that’s absolutely essential for everyone: keeping your air fryer clean. Regular cleaning not only keeps your air fryer in tip-top shape but also ensures that your food is always safe and hygienic. There is nothing worse than investing your hard-earned cash into something and then only getting mediocre results.
Keeping your air fryer clean is a must for multiple reasons.
- Cook to perfection every time.
- Keep unwanted smells out of the kitchen.
- Keep bacteria and other bugs at bay.
- Ensure meals don’t become contaminated with previously cooked food stuffs.
- Prolong the life of your air fryer.
Imagine this: you’ve just cooked a delicious batch of crispy chips or perfectly golden chicken wings, but the leftover grease and food particles are still lurking in your air fryer. Not only can this affect the taste of your next meal, but it can also lead to unwanted smoke, smells, and even potential health hazards. I don’t know about you but that does not sound appealing at all, too long between cleans, too much grease and left over build up, and you’ll soon be abandoning your air fryer and seeing it go to waste. That’s why it’s crucial to give your air fryer the TLC it deserves.
In this post, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step guide to keeping your air fryer sparkling clean. We’ll cover everything from safety tips and disassembling the parts to regular maintenance routines. Here’s a sneak peek at what we’ll go over:
1. Unplug and Cool Down: Safety first! We’ll talk about the importance of letting your air fryer cool down completely before cleaning.
2. Disassemble the Removable Parts: Learn how to carefully remove and handle the basket, tray, and other detachable components.
3. Soak in Warm, Soapy Water Discover the benefits of soaking the removable parts to loosen stubborn food particles and grease.
4. Clean the Removable Parts: Get tips on the best cleaning tools and techniques to avoid damaging your air fryer’s surfaces.
5. Tackle the Heating Element: We’ll show you how to safely clean the heating element without causing any damage.
6. Wipe Down the Interior: Keep the inside of your air fryer spotless with our easy cleaning methods.
7. Clean the Exterior: Don’t forget the outside! Learn how to keep the exterior looking as good as new.
8. Dry All Parts Thoroughly: Find out why drying all parts completely is essential to prevent mould and ensure proper functioning.
So, let’s dive in and make sure your air fryer is always ready for your next culinary adventure. By the end of this post, you’ll be equipped with all the knowledge you need to keep your air fryer clean, efficient, and ready to cook up those delicious meals you love. Let’s get started!
Cleaning your air fryer
- Always unplug your air fryer and allow it to cool down after use before you start your cleaning routine – you don’t want to get any accidental burns or risk any electrical accidents.
- Disassemble any removable parts once fully cooled, so if you have been using trays, baskets, liners or anything else pull them all out so that everything can be thoroughly cleaned. These are the parts used the most and exposed to food particles and grease the most, so they need lots of attention.
- Soak all removable parts in warm soapy water, this is going to help loosen any stuck-on food and also start to cut through any grease. By pre-soaking all of these parts you are going to find it much easier to get them clean.
- Grab a non-abrasive sponge or cloth and get to work making sure that every nook and cranny of those removable parts gets a good scrub – no that you’re well into the clean you don’t want to leave anything behind. Finish with a good rinse and set aside to ry.
- If your heating element is visible and accessible, then ensure to give that a wipe over with a damp cloth but be careful not to get it too wet or cause any damage by being too abrasive.
- With all of the removable parts out you should now have good access to the interior. Use a damp cloth or sponge to clean any other areas of the interior that you can access – you might be surprised where you small splatters of food or grease!
- Don’t forget to clean the exterior. It might seem like it, but the exterior is just as important as the interior, keeping it dust and grime free will help with unwanted germs and other potential issues. Plus, it’s going to look much nicer if you keep it clean, meaning that you’re more likely to use it on a regular basis.
- Now that everything is sparkling clean you can set about ensuing that all parts are thoroughly dried and reassembled ready for you to whip up your next culinary masterpiece.
To keep your air fryer is top condition it’s wise to give it a wipe down after every use and then schedule in deep cleans, like the above, at least once a month or more often if you are using your air fryer multiple times a week – which, once you see how versatile it is, you surely will be.
Check out the other articles in my blog for more expert air fryer advice and tips or visit my Amazon shop to order your copy of my Sunday Times number one best seller The Ultimate Air Fryer Cookbook.