The Right Way to Clean an Air Fryer, According to Appliance Experts

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Air fryers are true MVPs in the countertop appliance category. There's no need to mess with oil or blast your kitchen with heat from the oven when you can push a button and let an air fryer work its crispy-crunchy magic. Essentially a mini convection oven, an air fryer is a clever kitchen appliance that works by circulating super-hot air to give a nice crunch to everything from chicken thighs to Brussels sprouts to your favorite goodies from the Trader Joe's frozen-food aisle.

If you've got one of these hardworking little appliances at home, you've probably wondered how to clean an air fryer the right way. Air fryers may not use much oil, but they still "fry" food—which means they create spatter and oil. They need regular upkeep to keeping turning out your favorite weeknight dinner recipes reliably.

Appliance makers and housekeeping experts agree: Air fryers should be cleaned after every use. Otherwise, the crumbs that get left behind will burn and stink up your kitchen the next time you use it. Grease can also build up over time and zap your air fryer's efficiency. Knowing how to clean an air fryer will help you keep yours in tip-top shape.

Ahead, experts share their best tips and tricks on how to clean an air fryer, plus some hacks to make the chore more manageable.

How to Prevent an Air Fryer From Getting Dirty

As with cleaning your oven, avoiding spills and buildup in the first place is the best way to make cleaning your air fryer easier.

You can buy air fryer liners for the basket or pan, which will ultimately make for an easier cleanup. However, these liners tend to block air flow, which means your meal will probably take longer to cook, explains Lynda Musante, a senior product manager at Hamilton Beach who oversees the air fryer category. So it comes down to what matters the most to you: easy cleaning or fast cooking?

You can also use parchment paper, especially for foods that tend to stick to the pan or basket's grates, like fish with the skin on. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the size of your fish filet and then playing the fish on it to minimize sticking, Musante suggests.

Or you can put a little cooking oil on the basket. "Brushing the air fryer's cooking surface lightly with your preferred cooking oil can reduce food sticking," she says.

Common Air Fryer Cleaning Mistakes

Unplug your air fryer before cleaning it.

The most important thing to remember is to be sure to unplug your air fryer before cleaning it. You also need to let the air fryer cool down first, Musante says. "It doesn't need to be 'cold,'" she adds. "Some warmth will make removing food oils and spatter easier to clean off."

Avoid harsh chemicals.

Avoid harsh chemicals like bleach-based cleaning products because these could leave a residue inside your air fryer and leech into your food, says Toby Schulz, CEO and cofounder of Maid2Match cleaning service.

Thoroughly dry all parts before reassembly.

"Let your air fryer parts fully dry before putting them back together," Schulz says. "Any remaining moisture could seep into the electrical elements, which will damage your appliance."

How to Clean an Air Fryer

Finished dinner and ready to give your air fryer a good cleaning? The cleanup process is pretty simple. Here's how to clean an air fryer after you use it, according to Musante.

Materials:

Mrs. Meyer's Liquid Dish Soap

World's Best Dish Cloth - Set of 6

Step One: Wipe the Interior

Unplug your air fryer. When it has cooled slightly but it still warm to the touch, use a soft, damp cloth to wipe down the entire interior. A common mistake people make is not turning their air fryer upside down or on its side to wipe off spatter in the top of the cooking space. A lot of oil can hit the top when it's creating that "fried" finish. If you leave spatter on the inside of the air fryer, you may see a small amount of smoke or smell an odor when you start it the next time because the leftover oil will heat up and start to burn.

Step Two: Hand Wash the Parts

Wash the air fryer pan, cooking insert, and any accessories by hand in hot soapy water. Rinse them well, then wipe the parts dry with a kitchen towel. (Some air fryer parts may be dishwasher safe, but hand washing the parts will help them last longer.) Always make sure parts are completely dry before reassembling your air fryer.

Step Three: Wipe the Exterior

Use a soft, damp cloth to wipe down the outside surface of the air fryer. Don't use any abrasive sponges on your air fryer because they can damage the material.

Air Fryer Cleaning Hacks

Want to learn how to clean an air fryer faster? Try a grease-cutting product like Dawn Powerwash dish spray, which can dissolve baked-on oil quickly and spare you a lot of scrubbing, says Morgan Eberhard, senior scientist for home care at Procter & Gamble.

Step One: Spray Dawn Powerwash Dish Spray into the cooled air fryer basket. The nozzle allows for even, targeted spraying to help you reach nooks and crannies.

Step Two: Let the solution sit for a few minutes.

Step Three: Wipe away the grime with a cleaning cloth or paper towel.

Step Four: Rinse the basket clean with warm water, and wipe it dry.

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