Every kitchen seems to have an air fryer these days – and why not? They’re fast, easy to use, cheap to run and give us delicious results. Plus, compared to the oven, they’re a doddle to clean. Just give them a quick scrub in the sink and you’re done. But that will only last for so long.
With every use, fat and oils build up inside our air fryers to the point that the parts still feel greasy even after we wash them. If you own one, you’ll know what we’re talking about; the crisper plate feels slippery enough that you want to give it a second dose of washing-up liquid. But no amount of scrubbing seems to solve it, so what can be done? We’ve come up with a 5-minute cleaning routine to cut through this layer of grease and restore your air fryer. Here’s what you need to do.
Why is my air fryer so greasy?
As mentioned above, whenever we cook something greasy or fatty in the air fryer, it will drip, spit and splatter. The majority of the residue will gather in a puddle beneath the crisper plate, but other remnants will hit the walls of the basket and even the top of the housing within the air fryer.
We try to wash the parts thoroughly between uses (or at least, we’re encouraged to!), but crisper plates tend to have a lot of tiny holes and crevices where residue and oil can build up. The basket itself can be difficult to scrub precisely, too, because of its size.
If any residue remains after washing, it’s baked on to the surface with the air fryer’s next use and gets layered with fresh grease. In the end, even if you’re using one of the best air fryers, you’re left with a greasy air fryer basket – one which you can’t seem to get fully clean. Old grease is a fire hazard in your air fryer so you need to break this cycle.
The dishwasher will make a good go of it. It reaches temperatures our hands can’t handle, and if you use a dishwasher tablet that contains enzymes, that will help to cut through the grease. But it’s unlikely to thoroughly clean all the nooks and crannies. That’s one of the reasons cheese graters aren’t suitable for the dishwasher. So, what should you do when the parts look worse for wear?
How to deep clean your air fryer in five minutes
- If you’ve just used the air fryer, wait for it to cool then wipe away any grease with a paper towel and dispose. Do not pour this down the drain as it will lead to blockages.
- Separate the crisper plate and pan (depending on model) from the basket.
- Mix up a thick paste of bicarbonate of soda with water. Aim for a thick and gloopy consistency. You’ll only need a splash of water per tbsp of bicarb.
- Apply to the basket and accessories using an old toothbrush – give it a good scrub inside and out. Be prepared for it to splatter so do this step in the sink.
- Give it a spritz with distilled white vinegar and keep doing so until it stops fizzing.
- Scrub thoroughly with a nylon brush and rinse.
- For any niggling residue in the crisper plate holes, you can use a wooden toothpick to dislodge it. The toothbrush will help to reach any awkward nooks.
- Clean as usual to remove the vinegary smell and your air fryer basket will look as good as new!
Bicarb is an alkali, which helps it to cut through the grease. Plus, its abrasiveness will dislodge any baked-on residue. Then when the vinegar is applied, you get a chemical reaction to lift what remains. All in all, it’s a simple, but effective recipe.
How to avoid a greasy air fryer
With everyday use, grease is bound to collect in your air fryer. You could use a silicone liner to limit the grease in the basket – while these still need to be washed between uses, it’s a much easier task.
Otherwise, you should make sure you do wash your air fryer between uses. The longer you leave it, the thicker the grease gets and the more difficult it is to clean. Make sure you’re following the time and temperature recommendations from your recipes, too. This avoids the unnecessary grease from high temperatures and overcooking.
Air fryer cleaning kit
