How to clean an air fryer: basket, inside and heating element

Step by step: how to clean an air fryer

Safety first. Unplug the air fryer and let it cool completely before cleaning; the heating element stays hot after the fan stops. Never submerge the main unit in water, and keep water away from the controls and cord.

1. 1

   Unplug and let it cool

   Unplug the air fryer and wait about 30 minutes, until the drawer and the inside are cool to the touch. Pull out the drawer or open the door so it cools faster.

2. 2

   Take out the basket and crisper plate

   Remove the basket, crisper plate or tray, and drawer. Pour out loose grease into a container for the trash, not down the drain, and wipe out crumbs with a paper towel.

3. 3

   Soak in hot soapy water

   Fill the sink or the drawer itself with hot water and a few drops of dish soap and let the parts soak for 10 to 30 minutes. KitchenAid recommends a soak to loosen grime before you clean. Baked-on grease softens enough to wipe off.

4. 4

   Wash the basket and mesh

   Wash with a soft sponge, and use a soft-bristle brush on mesh baskets and the holes in crisper plates. For spots that stay stuck, rub on a paste of baking soda and water, wait 15 minutes, and scrub gently. Rinse well.

5. 5

   Wipe the inside of the unit

   Wring out a sponge dampened with warm, soapy water and wipe the inside walls and the top of the cavity. Keep it damp, not dripping. Wipe again with a clean damp cloth to remove soap.

6. 6

   Brush the heating element

   Turn a basket-style air fryer upside down, or look up into the cavity, to see the heating coil. If crumbs or grease are stuck to it, brush them off gently with a dry soft brush or wipe with a barely damp cloth. Never spray cleaner onto the element.

7. 7

   Clean the outside

   Wipe the exterior, handle and control panel with a damp microfiber cloth and dry it. Do not use abrasive cleansers or scouring pads on the outer surfaces; they scratch the finish and wear off the markings.

8. 8

   Dry fully and reassemble

   Dry every part with a towel and leave them out for a few minutes to air dry. Put the basket back only when it is completely dry; water trapped under the crisper plate can damage the coating and make it smell.

What should you not use to clean an air fryer?

Avoid anything that scratches the nonstick coating or gets water into the electronics. Once the coating is scratched, food sticks more and the basket wears out faster.

• Steel wool, metal scouring pads and abrasive cleansers. KitchenAid’s instructions say not to use them on inner or outer surfaces because they scratch.
• Metal utensils or sharp tools to scrape the basket. Use a wooden or silicone spatula.
• Oven cleaner and other harsh chemicals. Breville warns they can leave residues that affect food.
• Submerging the main unit, which houses the motor, fan and heating element.
• Aerosol cooking spray on a nonstick basket, which can leave a sticky film over time. Check your manual, and brush on a little oil instead if you want it.

How often should you clean an air fryer?

Wash the basket and plate after every use, and deep clean the inside and element every one to two weeks. Breville splits it the same way: a quick clean after each use and a deep clean every week or two, more often if you cook fatty or battered foods.

Grease left in the drawer smokes the next time you cook and carries old flavors into new food. Breville also notes that grease buildup near the heating element raises the fire risk, which is the best reason not to skip the element check. If the air fryer starts to smoke, unplug it, let it cool, and check the drawer and element for grease or stuck food before you use it again.

Can air fryer baskets go in the dishwasher?

Many can, but hand washing is gentler. KitchenAid says its removable baskets are dishwasher safe but recommends washing them by hand, and other brands vary, so check your manual. To clean a Ninja air fryer, follow the same steps: the basket and crisper plate come out, and the manual for your Ninja model says whether they can go in the dishwasher.

Dishwasher detergent is harsh on nonstick, and repeated hot cycles wear the coating. If you do use the dishwasher, put the basket on the top rack when the manual allows it. Perforated parchment liners cut cleanup a lot, but never preheat with an empty liner inside: without food to weigh it down, the fan can lift it into the element. Oven-style air fryers clean much like a countertop oven; see how to clean a toaster oven.

Mistakes to avoid

• Pouring hot grease from the drawer down the sink, where it hardens in the pipes.
• Scrubbing the basket with steel wool or the scratchy side of a sponge.
• Ignoring the heating element until crumbs on it start to smoke.
• Putting the basket back while wet, which leaves water pooled under the plate.
• Preheating with an empty parchment liner that blows into the element.
• Rinsing the main unit under the tap.