A lot of households now have at least one air fryer ever since it started gaining popularity. It is one of the most versatile kitchen appliances as it can fry, bake, roast, dehydrate, and more. In order for the air fryer to last, you'll need to clean it regularly, and you must do so properly. Here are tips on how to do that.
1. Forgetting to Unlpug It
Before you clean the air fryer, you have to make sure that it is unplugged to avoid any slim chance of electric shocks or burns. You might also want to wait a couple of minutes, especially if you just used it. It would be so much easier to clean it if it's at room temperature, not to mention safer.
2. Not Soaking the Removable Components
The parts of the air fryer such as the frying basket or tray can be removed from the appliance itself. If the tray has hardened debris on them like burnt crumbs, you should soak it for at least 20 minutes in warm soapy water to loosen it. You can do the same for the oil tray if your air fryer has one.
3. Wiping the Exterior, Interior with the Same Cloth
While some of the parts are soaking, you can go ahead and wipe down the exterior of the air fryer, especially the handle. A lightly damp cloth would be good enough. As for the interior, use a different, also damp cloth to prevent leaving dust inside the air fryer that you might've wiped off the exterior. The inside will likely have food residue, stains, and oils.
4. Not Cleaning the Heating Element
It might depend on the brand and model of the air fryer, but the heating element of most models is located at the top of the unit. You can use a dry soft brush or cloth to wipe it off if it has food residue on it. Since air fryers cook food with hot air, it's possible that some food might've gotten to the heating coils, and it could cause your air fryer to stop working, maybe even cause a fire.
5. Using Abrasive Sponges
As for the components that are soaking, you can start wiping the debris off once they have become loose. Avoid using harsh brushes or sponges as they may damage the non-stick layer of your frying basket or tray. Without it, you'll find more food residue as they will start sticking to the metal. You can always use parchment linings or silicone trays to avoid this.
6. Immediately Reattaching Removable Components
Before you reattach the air fryer parts back to the unit, make sure that they have been completely dry. The process will be faster if you wipe them off with a soft cloth or towel. This can also help you tell if you missed a spot as stains will show on the wiping material. If so, just repeat the soaking process. Once it's done, put it back together and wait a few more minutes to be sure.
