‘It works while you eat’ foodies reveal failsafe way to make sure your air fryer looks brand new after every use
THERE’S loads of stuff to love about air fryers, they can cook just about anything in a fraction of the time and can even offer a slightly healthier alternative cooking option.
But it’s no secret that keeping the gadgets clean can be a bit of a chore, especially when you come back to the task hours later.
Not only that, but working out the best method for keeping them spick and span isn’t that easy, since there’s a lot components you shouldn’t get wet.
Don’t worry though, according to some home chefs there’s a super simple way to get your trusty air fryer looking as good as new after every use.
There is a slight catch though – you can’t put off cleaning it for too long.
Taking to a popular Reddit forum, one person asked for tips on the “laziest/best way to clean your air fryer.”
Fellow foodies agreed it all comes down to cleaning sooner rather than later.
“You’re probably not going to like this but,” one person warned, ” but if you want your basket to last you’ll need to clean it as soon after cooking as you can.”
They went on to suggest letting the basket soak in “hot soapy water” while eating, then cleaning it properly immediately after.
“It will be super easy to clean,” they added.
A second agreed: “I mean it’s just simple cleanliness as you would with any cooking and it’s not onerous at all, to be honest.”
“They are usually a simple soak, wipe and rack dry away from being ready to go again. Five mins tops,” a third chimed in.
If you’re still unsure how to get your handy air fryer sparkling clean, check out the advice below.
How to clean your air fryer
Unplug it
This is really important as you don’t want water splashing around on the electrics, especially when it’s plugged in.
Ensure it’s turned off and unplugged and that it has cooled completely before you start giving it a once over.
Give removable parts a clean
Now it’s time to pull out the pan, tray, and basket.
These bits can be washed like the rest of your dishes, with dish soap and water.
They can also normally be placed in the dishwasher if you have one, but check with the manufacturer beforehand.
Most air fryers will have a removable tray which you can simply pull out of the machine.
Others have different designs where you life the pan out from the top of the machine.
Wipe down the main unit
It’s very important that you don’t immerse the fryer in water, as this could damage it.
For this part of the fryer, simply use a damp cloth to wipe down the control panel and the whole unit to rid it of greasy stains and food spatter.
Most air fryers collect grease from food like bacon at the bottom of the tray and it can turn solid when cooled down.
It’s best to try and get rid of such stains as soon as you cook your food.
The warmer the stains, the easier they are to remove and that way they won’t stick and give you a hard time removing them.
Check the device’s heating coil
Every time you use the fryer, make sure you check its heating coil.
This can normally be found at the top of it.
If there’s any residue or oil on it, make sure that it is unplugged and has had time to cool, then wipe it with a dish brush or a damp cloth.
Make sure to you’re extra careful when you clean around buttons and controls.
Dry and put back together
Once the device has been cleaned, towel-dry all the parts or allow them to air dry.
After that, simply reassemble it so it’s ready to use again!
How does an air fryer work?
Despite its name, air fryers don’t actually fry food as hot oil isn’t used.
The appliance operates something like a convection oven.
Hot air is created by the heating element which is circulated around the food by a fan.
The meat or vegetables you put in there are held up in the basket, and this allows the – very – hot air to move round all sides of it.
Through this process, you can ensure your food is browned and crispy without having to use much oil, though you may use some to prevent food from sticking to the basket.