How air fryers work
In a nutshell, an air fryer fries your food minus the extra oils and grease. They still surround your food with heat, but instead of using oil, it cooks your food with air.
Why do you need to clean your air fryer?
Like any appliance used to cook food, crumbs, grease, and residue build up, making it essential to keep your air fryer clean. It's also possible for bits of food and grease to build up on the fan, affecting your cooking over time and possibly damaging your appliance.
Best way to clean your air fryer
Step-by-step instructions for cleaning your air fryer:
Step. 1 - Unplug your air fryer
Unplug your air fryer and ensure it has cooled down completely before cleaning it. Next, you want to take out all of the removable parts.
Step. 2 - Clean the air fryer basket
Pull your basket and tray out and rinse or soak in warm soapy water. It's essential to avoid using harsh or abrasive cleaning utensils as this can ruin the non-stick coating.
If food is caked in the holes, you can try a soft-bristled brush to loosen crumbs or a toothpick.
To keep your air fryer in excellent condition, it's recommended to wash your air fryer basket after each use.
The good news is that some air fryer parts are dishwasher safe, but check the manufacturer's instructions first.
Step. 3 - Clean the interior and main unit
Never place the central unit in water. The inside of an air fryer can be wiped down with a damp microfiber cloth and a bit of soapy water if needed.
Don't forget to clean the heating element. To make this task easier, turn your air fryer upside down to have a good look at the element and wipe it over with a damp cloth.
How do you get baked on grease out of an air fryer?
If you're sick of scrubbing your air fryer basket, one UK woman shared a convenient tip on TikTok that has gone viral.
@TanyaHomeInspo revealed that all you need is a little washing liquid and water.
The video shows the woman squirting dishwashing liquid into the drawer and adding a splash of water before turning the air fryer on for three minutes. When the dirty water is rinsed out, the tray is clean!
Watch the video here.
How do you clean an air fryer with vinegar?
Another way to clean your air fryer basket is to soak it in vinegar. Mix a solution of half vinegar and half water and let the basket soak for 15 minutes before cleaning.
How to get smells out of your air fryer
If your air fryer has started to smell, check the heating element is clean. If there's no apparent cause for the smell, you can try putting some vinegar or lemon in the basket and turning it on for a few minutes.
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