How do you get baked on grease out of an air fryer?

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So you got an air fryer? If you've already put it to use, you know that these trendy kitchen gadgets allow you to still enjoy all your favorite fried foods with less fat and fewer calories. But you're still frying after all, which means you're going to have some grease to deal with afterward. The good news? It's an air fryer, so you're going to have way less greasy residue to clean than you would using a deep fryer. Learn how to clean your air fryer using items you likely already have on hand.

Tips for Cleaning Your Air Fryer

Before you deep clean your air fryer, learn the dos and don'ts of air fryer maintenance.

• Don't use metal utensils, abrasive sponges, or steel wire brushes to remove food particles and residue from your air fryer. This could damage the non-stick coating on the cooking surface.
• Don't submerge your air fryer in water. The main unit is an electric appliance, so this will damage it.
• Make sure your fryer is unplugged while you are cleaning.
• If you notice a foul odor coming from your air fryer, try cleaning the crevices with a wooden skewer, toothpick, or even an old toothbrush, to knock out stuck-on foods. These hidden crumbs can burn over time, causing the machine to smoke and smell.
• You can also cut half a lemon and rub the cooking surface and basket to help with residual odors. Let it sit for about 30 minutes before cleaning.
• Use food-safe cleaners. Avoid disinfectants that aren't approved for food contact.

How Often Should You Clean Your Air Fryer?

After Each Use

Each time you use your air fryer, wash the basket, tray, and pan with soap and warm water, or place them in the dishwasher. (Refer to the owner's manual to be sure these parts are dishwasher safe.) You should also quickly clean the interior using a damp cloth with a bit of dish soap over the area. Dry all the parts and reassemble.

After Every Few Uses

Though it's not necessary to take these steps after every use, washing the other main parts on occasion will keep your air fryer functioning properly. Use a damp cloth to wipe down the exterior every once in a while. You should also check the heating coil for oil or residue. If you notice some build-up there, wipe it with a damp cloth when the machine is cool.

How to Deep Clean an Air Fryer

If it's been a minute since you've given your air fryer a good clean, or you just don't know where to start, read on for our instructions on how to clean an air fryer from start to finish.

Having fried food is not exactly healthy, but that doesn’t stop us from indulging in it from time to time! But thanks to air fryers, it’s possible to have our favorite fried foods, with less oil, fewer calories, and more goodness.

Let your air fryer cool for 30 minutes, unplug it, and wipe it with a damp cloth. Clean the heating element with a cotton swab and sponge. Apply baking soda to bits of grease that are still baked on, and wash the air fryer basket in the dishwasher.  

We are here to tell you how to quickly clean your air fryer, no matter how bad it looks. Read through for an in-depth guide on.

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Why It’s Important To Remove Grease From Air Fryers

There are plenty of benefits to having a spotless air fryer, but primarily people do it because they love how good the food tastes as a result of it. After all, you wouldn’t want the baked-on grease getting on to your food, right?

Keep your air fryer clean and free from grime and grease to ensure that it lasts for ages and continues to deliver that flawless fried flavor for years on end.

How Often Should I Clean The Air Fryer

It may sound like too much work, but it is essential to clean the fryer everytime you use it.

Truth be told, cleaning your unit isn’t all that difficult. It only takes a bit scrubbing, rinsing, and wiping to get rid of any grease that may have accumulated on it.

However, if you haven’t cleaned the fryer in a long time, the chances are that the grease is all dried up and, therefore hard to remove. Now you may have to work harder to get the air fryer to shine like new.

Signs That The Air Fryer Needs To Be Cleaned NOW!

Here are some sure-fire signs that you should get started ASAP:

• The food doesn’t taste as good as it used to.
• There’s smoke coming out of the air fryer since it’s burning the built-up grease in the basket.
• The fried food keeps sticking to the base, even though you know your air fryer is non-stick.

What NOT To Do When Cleaning The Air Fryer

It’ll take plenty of elbow grease to remove the actual grease that’s baked( or fried) onto your air fryer. Take care of the following factors to ensure that you don’t end up damaging anything in the process of cleaning it:

• Make sure you exert just enough force and no more; you don’t want to scrub too hard and damage the non-stick base.
• Try to wash by hand and limit dependency on the dishwasher as it may damage the parts of your air fryer.
• Don’t use steel wool or scourers; they can leave scratches on the Teflon surface.

A word to the wise: while using your air fryer, please make sure you never leave it out on a laminated countertop as it may damage the material because of the heat.

How To Clean Baked-On Grease From Air Fryer

What You’ll Need

Before getting started, make sure the following items are within easy reach:

• Baking Soda
• Microfiber soft cloth
• Cotton
• Dish Soap
• A toothbrush or any brush with soft bristles
• Vinegar
• Paper towel
• Dish soap

Regular Clearing

Follow these steps to clean your air fryer:

Step 1 — Remove Power Source

Please switch off the air fryer, and remove the plug from the socket. If you’ve used it recently, let it cool down for about half an hour. Pro Tip: take out the pan and basket, and the machine will cool down much faster.

Step 2 — Initial Wipe

Use a soft damp cloth to wipe the outer body. Then use hot water along with a soft, non-abrasive sponge to clean the unit’s inside.

Step 3 — Heating Element

Once satisfied with the initial wipe-down, flip the air fryer and use a cotton swab and non-abrasive sponge to brush off any residue on the heating element.

Step 4 — Eliminate Hard-To-Remove Leftovers

Time to bring some baking soda into the equation. Make a baking soda/water paste and apply it to the stubborn spots. Scrub using a soft bristle brush and then wipe off using soft cloth or cotton.

Step 5 — Work On The Pan And The Basket

Most air fryers feature pans and baskets that are dishwasher safe, so a simple toss and wait may do the trick. However, we strongly suggest cleaning them by hand with soapy hot water and a soft sponge.

Step 6 — Let It Soak

If the basket and pan are riddled with stubborn stains, time to take your cleaning up a notch. Top the pan with hot water, and lay the basket within. Let it breathe for up to 10 minutes, use a sponge to clean loosened stains and mineral-deposits.

Step 7 — Dry Out

Before you begin frying again, make sure that each part is as dry as it can be. Firstly, wipe everything off with a clean cotton cloth and leave the air fryer for a couple of hours to air dry.

Deep Cleaning Using Vinegar

If the above steps have not done much justice, and still some stubborn baked-on grease remains present, take the following steps:

Step 1 — Initial Cleanup

Use a paper towel to wipe all grease on the inside and out. If a recent item your prepared had a considerable amount of oil or was rich in fat, put in some force to jolt anything stuck.

Step 2 — Vinegar Bath

Now, put a stopper in a tub or a sink so that the water does not move to the drainage. Keep a 9:1 ratio, i.e., nine parts water and one part vinegar or 90% water and 10% vinegar. Fill the sink or tub with this solution and submerge the flyer’s basket in it for 15 minutes.

Step 3 — Scrubbing

Use a nylon-based, non-abrasive sponge to scrub the basket. It would be best to use good dish soap for better results. Keep scrubbing until you are sure that all left-behind food and grease has gone away.

Step 4 — Baking Soda Application

Despite using vinegar, still, if you spot residual food and baked-on grease, the chances are that the stubborn stains have loosened up, but they need a push to be removed. Therefore, pour a bit more than a pinch of baking soda on a non-abrasive sponge, and get to scrubbing.

Step 5 — Thorough Drying

Once satisfied with the results, thoroughly rinse the pan and basket with clean water. It would be best to keep rinsing until you can’t smell any vinegar or dish soap.

Then, wipe it all with a soft cloth and paper towel, and then leave it aside for an hour or more so that the air fryer can air dry.

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Related Questions

What Is The Best Homemade Degreaser?

Vinegar has proven its worth when it comes to removing hardened grease; all you need is some distilled vinegar, aka white vinegar mixed with water. Soak a cloth in it or fill it up in a spray bottle to apply it.

Let it sit for five minutes, and be impressed by the results.

What Are Air Fryers Good For?

Here are some of the many benefits of using an air fryer:

• Less oil is required as opposed to a deep fryer
• The heat nicely crisps up the food
• The prepared food is healthier, as it is low in fat and calories
• Cleaning the unit is swift and painless, etc.

What Are The Disadvantages Of An Air Fryer?

A few disadvantages of air fryers include:

• Slight overcooking can lead to a burnt taste
• Food dries up quickly as it uses less oil and fat
• The basket is small, so you can only fry small portions at a time

Apart from an air fryer, if you are also interested in an infrared grill for a complete BBQ experience, please refer to this article.

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