Deep frying is a treat to your taste buds but can create a mess out of your air fryer and (if you are clumsy) your kitchen. Though an air fryer makes your job relatively easier than frying stuff on a stove, you still have to get the work done.
With a few steps and regular care, you can clean your air fryer sans additional stress.
3 Easy Steps to Clean Your Air Fryer
Cleaning an air fryer is not as overwhelming a task as it sounds like. You just have to maintain a routine and stick to it no matter what.
Procrastination Is Your Worst Enemy
The more you put off cleaning your air fryer, the more you are going to regret it. This will lead to the accumulation of oil and food, which will become messier over time.
As you are done cooking, enjoy your meal and let the air fryer cool. Now wipe the air fryer while removing bigger crumbs and food particles sticking to the surfaces.
This may feel like regular work but trust us, it is so much better and faster than cleaning an air fryer after multiple rounds of cooking.
Take the Help of Soap
Sometimes merely wiping the air fryer will not make the cut. You should use a soft cotton kitchen towel or a sponge to clean the air fryer properly from all corners.
Use warm soapy water to clean the insides of the air fryer properly and to avoid any stuck food and bad smells.
Poke Out Food
It is easier to poke out food stuck in the drawers of the air fryer using a toothpick or a sharp knife. This makes wiping the air fryer easier.
Additional Tips for Cleaning Your Air Fryer
Here are some additional tips to help you clean your air fryer.
Stay Away from Abrasive Substances
You should not use abrasive substances to clean your air fryer as it can lead to corrosion of its surface and make a dent in its surface.
Even if you are tempted to use steel wire brushes and knives, do not give in to the temptation. These may be harmful to the non-stick coating on your air fryer.
Too Much Water Is Bad
Never make the cardinal sin of immersing your air fryer in water in an attempt to deep clean it. Remember, it is an electrical appliance and runs the risk of damage due to prolonged exposure to water.
How to Remove Odors from Your Air Fryer?
Removing odors is very important to maintain the flavor and taste of your food. You don’t want to have your food taste like stale oil or plastic, do you?
Maintaining regular hygiene is going to stand you in good stead but occasionally you will have to take steps to deal with heavy odors that build up due to consistent cooking.
Here is what you can do to keep air fryer odors at bay.
- Take a mixture of lemon juice, vinegar and water together. The lemon juice and vinegar need to be of the same proportion while water needs to be double the quantity.
- Set your air fryer to 300 degrees and leave it on for 2 minutes.
- Let it cool down.
- Now take the texture and with the help of a soft cotton cloth, wipe down the air fryers from all corners to remove the odors.
You may need to repeat the process a couple of times for the best results.
How Often Should You Clean Your Air Fryer?
Well, the simple answer is pretty much regularly. However, the intensity of deep cleaning and regular cleaning can vary.
Regular Cleaning
Make it a regular practice to wipe your air fryer after every use. Take a cue from your air fryer’s manual to get the process right for your model.
This will prevent the accumulation of grime and stubborn odors in the machine making deep cleaning easier.
Deep Cleaning
Once every 15 days, go for deep cleaning of your machine wherein you use lemon and soda to give it a thorough clean. This will keep it in pristine condition and make your food smell amazing.
Deep cleaning can also make use of a soft scrub brush to give the air fryer a thorough scrubbing to remove any particles.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Your Air Fryer
Here is a step-by-step guide to help you clean your air fryer.
Prepare the air fryer: Start by turning off the machine. Unplug it from the power source and wait for it to cool down completely.
Clean the exteriors: Wipe down the exteriors of the air fryer using either a spray bottle or a damp soft cloth. If it is not too dirty, you don’t need soap for this.
Clean the interiors: Take soapy water in a damp cloth and start wiping down each and every element of the air fryer. Use a toothpick to remove stuck pieces of food.
You can either go for a store-bought detergent for an air fryer or have a DIY cleaner get the job done.
Give attention to the coil: This is something many people ignore but while you are at it, you must make sure to check the coil for any residual oil. Wipe it properly with the help of a cloth.
Deep clean the removable parts: Take out the removable parts of the air fryer and wash them thoroughly using a soft scrub. This will remove any accumulated particles and make the air fryer look like a new one.
Please consult your air fryer’s user manual before removing the trays and parts to ensure you aren’t doing anything wrong.
Pat it dry: This is the last and final step and once you are done wiping the interiors and exteriors of the air dryer, make sure to pat it dry before next use.
An air fryer is a wonderful addition to your kitchen. A few simple steps and you can ensure it remains in pristine condition.