how to clean your air fryer.

Last year felt a bit like the year of the air fryer. 

They’ve become the UK’s most popular kitchen gadget (with annual sales increasing by 1,175% from 2022 to 2023)¹. So, why so much love for the air fryer? 

Well, they’re inexpensive, work quickly, heat food evenly and use less oil than deep fat fryers. 

But what about keeping them clean? Cooking in an unclean air fryer opens ourselves up to a build up of bacteria (which can transfer to our food), carcinogens (burnt on food bits) or pests/insects (who will be attracted to left over food residue). None of these issues sound great!

Thank goodness for our air fryer quick clean guide below. It will help keep your machine at its best, ensure your food is safe to eat and can even prolong the life of your appliance. But first…

how often should I clean my air fryer?

Just as we wouldn’t leave a saucepan or a frying pan after each use without a clean… ideally we should be cleaning our air fryers (at least the baskets/liners) after every use.

A regularly-cleaned air fryer will last MUCH longer. Burnt bits of food can stick to non-stick areas and this can cause damage when you come to remove them so ensuring these are removed after every use is going to guard against this.

The heating elements will only need cleaning after every 5 uses.

And the best news is that you don’t need to clean the outside of your air fryer quite so often! Once a week or once a month should be sufficient… depending on how often you are using your air fryer.

quick air fryer cleaning guide.

N.B. Before you clean your air fryer, make sure it has cooled down completely and unplug it from the mains. NEVER immerse your entire air fryer machine in water.

1. liners.

If you’ve adopted reusable liners you’re already winning! These are a great time saver when it comes to cleaning. They not only protect the air fryer baskets from getting so dirty, they are super quick to clean. 

Wash them in warm water with a little washing up liquid (smol plant-powered washing up liquid is perfect as it cleans away the grease but is gentle on the non-stick). Then let them drip dry or grab a tea towel and get busy.

2. baskets.

Take out the removable baskets and let them soak for a short time in warm water and washing up liquid. Washing up liquid is always the best detergent to use as it’s specifically designed for burnt on food bits and oily/greasy items. 

Gently scrub the baskets before rinsing and drying.

For really stubborn stains you can make up a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water - aim for the consistency of porridge. Apply the paste to the stained areas and using a dishbrush or old clean toothbrush, you can work the paste into the residue. Let the paste dry before washing the baskets again.

3. air fryer heating elements.

DO NOT get the heating elements too wet. 

The best way to clean your air fryer’s heating elements is to use a bicarbonate of soda paste and allow the paste to dry on the elements. Once it’s dried you can scrub the surface with an old toothbrush. 

some good-to-knows.

Don’t use metal scourers or tools to clean your non-stick baskets or heating elements. They can very easily damage the appliance and impact how well it works.

If your air fryer still smells after cleaning - sprinkle a thin layer of bicarbonate of soda on the bottom and let it sit for a few hours before wiping it away. It should absorb those unwanted cooking smells.

¹ Lakeland sales 2023