How to Clean an Air Fryer and Get Rid of Grease
When I first bought my air fryer, a gorgeous 6.3 quart model from The Pioneer Woman line with its charming vintage floral design, I was obsessed. It promised healthier cooking with less oil, turning high-fat food no-nos like French fries and chicken wings into guilt-free pleasures. However, the ease of whipping up delicious air fryer recipes comes with its own challenge: tackling hot grease buildup. Contrary to popular belief, cleaning your air fryer isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s crucial for maintaining its functionality and ensuring that every batch of chicken parmesan is as perfect as the last.
Experts and chefs alike emphasize the importance of thorough washing, not just for the sake of kitchen appliance hygiene but to keep the trend of healthier cooking alive. Their advice is like a workout for your air fryer – rigorous, yes, but absolutely rewarding. They provide step by step instructions that make the process surprisingly easy, ensuring that your beloved kitchen tool remains in top condition, ready for your next culinary adventure. As someone deeply obsessed with the magic of rapidly circulated hot air, I’ve come to see cleanup not as a chore but as an essential part of the cooking process, ensuring every meal is a testament to the versatility and brilliance of the air fryer.
What Is The Easiest Way to Clean An Air Fryer?
As an avid user of air fryers, having experimented with everything from the market’s most beautiful, well-designed models to Ree’s own, I’ve learned that the key to maintaining these kitchen marvels lies in their cleaning. Ree’s owner’s manual offers specific directions for each model, emphasizing that light cleaning after every other use is crucial, especially if you’re fond of messy sauces or marinades. These should ideally be cleaned the same day to avoid any stuck-on mess. Chelsea Mae Plummer, a recipe developer from Mae’s Menu, underscores how sticky residues that sit in the air fryer become harder to clean off over time. Regular cleaning not only makes the task easier but also prevents built-up bits of food, odors, malfunctions, and even fire hazards. The easiest way to keep your fryer in pristine condition involves light cleaning sessions that become a part of your cooking routine.
Here’s how I tackle it, using a systematic approach right after letting my fryer cool down and unplugging it:
- Wash the basket, pan, and tray in the sink with warm water and dish soap to remove any greasy buildup.
- Set these parts aside to dry overnight, ensuring they are thoroughly air-dried to prevent any moisture from causing issues.
- Wipe down the interior of the fryer, including the heating element, with a damp, soapy cloth, sponge, or paper towel to capture any lingering grease.
- Wipe again with a clean damp cloth followed by a dry cloth to remove any soap residue, and don’t forget to wipe the exterior of the fryer with a soft cloth to keep it looking as good as new.
- Once the fryer’s removable parts are dry, place them back in the fryer for your next culinary adventure.
Also Read: How to Cook Farm Rich Boneless Chicken Bites in Air Fryer?
How Do I Deep Clean My Air Fryer?
The journey from light cleaning to deep cleaning your air fryer involves a few added steps beyond regular maintenance. Air fryers, essentially mini convection ovens, require attention to their nonstick drawer and areas where caked-on food may hide.
Sylvia Fountaine, a chef and recipe blogger at Feasting at Home, shares a simple method involving water and heat to lift off cooked-on grease and debris. Just a cup of water in the air fryer basket, set on a high setting for a few minutes, then open the drawer to find the debris and gunk effortlessly lifted away.
For scrubbing away gunky residues, submerge the fryer’s removable parts in hot, soapy water for 30 minutes. Then, lightly scrub with a soft-bristled toothbrush or toothpick to gently tackle tough-to-clean places, like holes and the grate.
Michelle Morey, a food blogger at Barefoot in the Pines, cautions against submerging the whole air fryer in water and advises consulting the air fryer’s instruction book. While some removable parts may be dishwasher safe, hand washing is often more effective and prevents weird spots or rust on the basket.
How Do You Remove Sticky Residue From An Air Fryer?
Dealing with sticky residue in the interior of your fryer can seem daunting. Yet, a half-cup of baking soda mixed with water to create a thick paste can tackle even the toughest stuck-on messes. Apply this paste to the sticky patches, let it sit for a few minutes, then gently scrub off with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Finally, wipe down the inside of the fryer with a wet cloth, and follow up with a dry cloth to ensure no residue is left behind.
How Do You Degrease An Air Fryer?
For degreasing, Fountaine’s trick leverages the grease-fighting power of dish soap like Dawn Ultra. Mix it with water and use it to clean the inside of your air fryer after cooking. To make future cleanup easier and minimize greasy buildup, consider using disposable aluminum foil or parchment paper liners, ensuring they’re appropriate for your model by checking the owner’s manual. This not only helps keep your air fryer clean but also extends its life by preventing excess grease from collecting.
How To Clean An Air Fryer?
Determining how often to clean your air fryer involves understanding the balance between usage and maintenance. Parts of the air fryer, especially the basket and drawer, should be cleaned after every use to prevent grease buildup. A more thorough deep clean is recommended once a month to keep your appliance in optimal condition. Using air fryer accessories like parchment liners or silicone baskets can make clean-up easier, necessitating less cleaning in between uses. Ultimately, the best way to maintain your air fryer is by ensuring its basket and drawer are cleaned as often as possible, aligning with the frequency and type of cooking you do.
Also Read: How to Cook Banquet Chicken Pot Pie in an Air Fryer?
How To Clean Baked-On Grease From An Air Fryer?
Tackling baked-on grease in an air fryer can be daunting, but I’ve found different ways to make this chore less of a headache. A combination of dish soap and hot water, specifically Dawn Powerwash Spray, has been a game-changer for me. For those stubborn spots, a toothbrush dipped in a baking soda and water mixture or a direct spray of my favorite, Dawn Powerwash Spray, does the best job. In my experience, this method clears away 80-90% of the baked-on grease with minimal scrubbing.
When the grease is particularly stubborn, alternating between a soft toothbrush and a medium toothbrush with the baking soda and water mix tackles about 40% of the remaining grease. This approach not only cleans the air fryer basket but also represents the easiest way to maintain it, ensuring your appliance stays ready for your next culinary adventure.
What Is The Best Cleaning Brush For An Air Fryer?
In learning how to effectively clean an air fryer, I’ve discovered that the key tool isn’t one of the countless specialized cleaning brushes on the market but rather a good, trusty toothbrush. This trick might not sell gadgets, but the humble toothbrush does the job done efficiently and is the least expensive option. It’s perfect for reaching into those tight spaces and scrubbing away grease without damaging your appliance.
How I Tested the Methods to Clean a Dirty Air Fryer Basket?
In my quest to find the best ways to clean an air fryer basket, I embarked on an experiment with five methods, using ingredients like Dawn dish soap, Dawn Powerwash, baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, and hydrogen peroxide. Each method was put to the test in a week-and-a-half period where my air fryer saw everything from greasy bacon to a garlicky slice of pizza and my favorite pastries. I even threw in an everything bagel to round out the challenge. To test the method’s effectiveness, I used an oven-safe ceramic ramekin to steam some of the solutions, assessing the various cleaning methods based on how well they tackled the aftermath of my culinary adventures.
The ratings: The ratings were based on a scale from 1 to 5, with 1 being the worst and 5 the best. Factors considered included the simplicity and ease of the method, time taken, and the ability to get rid of stuck-on food, grease, and grime without excessive scrubbing of the air fryer basket. This approach allowed me to objectively evaluate each cleaning technique, providing a clear picture of which methods are most effective and user-friendly.
Note: It’s important to check the manufacturer’s instructions before cleaning your air fryer, and always Spot test if you’re unsure about a particular method. My experiment aimed to demystify the cleaning process, offering a guide to maintaining your air fryer in pristine condition, ensuring it continues to produce your favorite dishes without the hassle of baked-on grease and grime.
Air Fryer Cleaning Method: Baking Soda + Lemon Paste
The method: I discovered a reliable and effective way to tackle grease build-up using a baking soda paste. This mixture, a winner in the realm of magical cleaners, combines the fine abrasive grit of baking soda with the natural antibacterial properties of lemon, making it good for cleaning without scratching the surface. In a small bowl, I mixedtwo tablespoons of baking soda with the juice of half a lemon and a teaspoon of hot water. This concoction was poured over the air fryer basket and lightly scrubbed with a soft toothbrush I dedicate specifically for cleaning—a sponge works too.
How it went: The paste impressively scraped off the stuck-on food and the top layer of grease along with some old, dark grime. Although the DIY paste did not work as expected for some of the more stubborn areas, I was disappointed yet found solace in the light, lemon scent it left behind. This natural aroma effectively neutralized a heavy, garlic odor that was lingering in my air fryer basket, making the cleaning process somewhat enjoyable despite its limitations.
Air Fryer Cleaning Method: Vinegar + Lemon Juice Steam
- Cleaning time: 42 minutes
- Rating: 3 / 5
The method: After recently finding success with cleaning my microwave using a vinegar and lemon steam method, I figured a similar method could effectively clean my air fryer basket. I mixed 1/4 cup of white vinegar with the juice of half a lemon I used earlier in a ceramic ramekin. This was then placed in the air fryer, set to 400 degrees for five minutes to heat up the machine, and let it sit with a closed basket for half an hour allowing the steam to do its job.
How it went: The method was great at loosening grease and oil in the air fryer basket, but it was not as effective at removing stuck-on food. It took the longest, a downside when you’re busy, but a redeeming part was the lingering fresh lemon scent, which added a pleasantness not found in chemical cleaners. The stronger lemon scent compared to the previous method I tested makes this recommendable for home cooks who use their air fryer frequently to cook fish or other pungent foods.
Also Read: How Long to Cook Meatloaf in Air Fryer?
Air Fryer Cleaning Method: Dawn Steam
- Cleaning time: 5 minutes
- Rating: 4 / 5
The method: Curious about a straightforward approach, I tried the Dawn Steam method for my air fryer. It involved filling the basket with water, adding a few drops of Dawn dish soap, and then turning the appliance on for two minutes before rinsing. Initially apprehensive about such a simple method, I wondered if it could truly be effective without any scrubbing.
How it went: To my surprise, this technique worked wonders, underscoring Dawn’s grease-cutting power—a property I’ve relied on for tough cleaning jobs around the house, from cleaning cabinets to removing grease stains from clothes. I was pleasantly surprised by the results, realizing that sometimes the remaining methods might just need a bit more cleaning power than expected.
Air Fryer Cleaning Method: Dawn + Baking Soda + Vinegar
- Cleaning time: 12 minutes
- Rating: 4 / 5
The method: Exploring a variation of the method to clean the air fryer basket, I found a particularly effective approach. I squirteddish soap around the basket, sprinkled about two tablespoons of baking soda, and then poured hot water close to the brim, letting it sit for a minute. To this mixture, I added two tablespoons of white vinegar, creating a powerful combination. My favorite apple blossom-scented Dawn dish soap contributed a pleasant scent to the bubbling solution, efficiently breaking down stuck-on food and grease.
How it went: As I expected, this method worked exceptionally well to get rid of grease and grime. After pouring out the solution and rinsing the air fryer basket, a bit more dish soap and the soft side of a sponge—a Sponge Daddy in my case—made everything clean as possible. It’s crucial to avoid damaging the coating by using the non-scrubbing side of the sponge, ensuring a thorough clean without any harm.
Air Fryer Cleaning Method: Dawn Powerwash + Baking Soda + Hydrogen Peroxide
- Cleaning time: 3 minutes
- Rating: 5 / 5
The method: Embarking on a speedy-but-efficient cleaning endeavor, I found my last inkling of hope in what seemed to be the most powerful concoction yet: a mix of two tablespoons of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, finished with two sprays of Dawn Powerwash in the air fryer basket. To create a paste, I combined these ingredients in a bowl, then dabbed and gently cleaned the entire basket using a soft toothbrush and the non-abrasive side of a sponge, before rinsing off the paste with water.
How it went: I was seriously impressed with the results; stuck-on food, grease, smells, and dark grime were all gone after being fully rinsed from the air fryer basket. The Dawn Powerwash provided a gently abrasive quality, with the baking soda and hydrogen peroxide boosting its abilities. This DIY mix turned out to be a winning combo, making me like how, in just a few minutes, I could consistently and regularly use this method to keep my air fryer baskettotally clean and ready to go.
Conclusion
In conclusion, keeping your air fryer free from grease build-up is crucial for its longevity and the quality of your meals. From experimenting with various cleaning methods like the innovative Dawn Powerwash + Baking Soda + Hydrogen Peroxide mix, to employing natural solutions such as vinegar and lemon, I’ve found that regular maintenance is key. Each technique has its merits, whether it’s for a quick clean-up or a deep degrease, proving that a clean air fryer is the secret ingredient to healthier, tastier cooking. Embrace these methods and watch your culinary creations soar, all while ensuring your beloved kitchen companion remains in pristine condition.
FAQs:
Can You Use Degreaser In An Airfryer?
Yes, Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner is a safe cleaner, degreaser, and deodorizer to use on your air fryer. It can effectively clean grease from both the basket and trays, as well as remove grime and stains from the inside and outside of the appliance. Its formula is designed to not leave behind chemicals that could be absorbed by food.
Is It Bad to Leave Grease in Air Fryer?
Leaving grease in your air fryer is not recommended. It’s important to clean the air fryer basket after every use. Cooking oil and spray can accumulate, creating a pool or film that lifts out eats and food bits, which must be thoroughly cleaned to maintain the appliance’s performance and hygiene.
What Catches The Grease In The Air Fryer?
A slice of bread placed at the bottom of the air fryer acts as a green alternative to foil for catching grease drips, making for an easier clean-up and helping to minimize food waste. This technique is particularly useful when cooking especially greasy foods like bacon; just use slices of stale bread.
What Is A Good Natural Degreaser?
A mix of a cup of vinegar, water, baking soda, and a squirt of dish soap in a bowl creates a solution that’s best used right away. Dip a clean cloth into this mixture, apply as a degreaser, scrub the greasy surface, then rinse afterward and wipe the surface to finish.