How to Clean Grease from an Air Fryer
Washing only the basket is not enough. Grease on the heating element causes smoke and smells. Soak, cool and flip to clean it.
What you need
Supplies
- Dish soap
- 1 tbsp baking soda
- Hot water
Tools
- Soft sponge
- Toothbrush
- Dry cloth
- Paper towels
How to do it
- 01
Unplug and cool
The unit and basket are very hot right after use. Unplug it and let it cool completely for at least 30 minutes.
- 02
Soak the basket and tray
Remove the basket and tray, place them in the sink and soak for 30 minutes in hot water with dish soap and 1 tbsp of baking soda. Baked-on grease softens.
- 03
Wipe gently
Wipe the grease off with a soft sponge and scrub between the tray holes with a toothbrush. Do not use steel wool; once the coating goes, food sticks.
- 04
Clean the heating element
When the unit is completely cool, carefully tip it on its side or upside down to expose the heating element on top. Wipe grease from the element and around it with a toothbrush or cloth dampened with a little soap and wrung out well.
- 05
Dry and reassemble
Wipe off the soap with a damp cloth, dry with a dry cloth and let the basket and unit dry completely before putting them back together.
Be careful
- Never pour water into or submerge the main unit. It contains electrical parts and a fan.
- The heating element is delicate and can bend if pressed hard. Wipe gently.
- An empty parchment liner can blow into the heating element during preheating and catch fire. Only use liners with food on top.
Malkkeum tips
- After cooking fatty foods, pour out the grease collected in the tray right away. Once it hardens it smokes and smells.
- A parchment liner or silicone insert in the basket makes cleanup much easier.
- White smoke while cooking means grease on the element is burning. Time to clean the inside.
Why cleaning the basket is not enough
An air fryer cooks by circulating hot air fast. Grease that splatters from food lands on the heating element and fan area above the basket. You may wash the basket every time, but this part is hard to see and easy to ignore for months. Each time that grease heats up, it smokes, smells burnt and flavors your food.
Making the coating last
Once the basket coating starts to peel, food sticks and cleaning gets harder. Soaking and wiping gently is the key. Use silicone tongs instead of metal ones and avoid knocking the basket when shaking it. Whether the basket is dishwasher-safe varies by model, so check the manual.
FAQ
The inside keeps smelling. If the smell remains after cleaning the element, put a heatproof dish of water with lemon slices in the basket, run it at a low temperature for a few minutes, then wipe it out. If it still smells, have it checked by the manufacturer.
