The best way to clean an air fryer with baked-on grease isn’t as hard as it seems. All you need are the right tools and a bit of patience!
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Why you need a Clean Air Fryer
You should clean your air fryer more often than as, say, your microwave. That way you don’t get that stuck, baked-on grease that tends to build up over time. Your air fryer will run a lot better if it’s clean!
If you want to learn how to clean an air fryer and get baked grease off for good, there are a few tried and true solutions. Knowing the best way to clean an air fryer, and more specifically, how to clean an air fryer basket are essential to owning one!
You should make a habit out of cleaning at least the basic components of your air fryer every time you use it. Leftover food particles can get into nooks and crannies where they shouldn’t be, and this could cause your air fryer to malfunction.
Or worse—if you have a very dirty air fryer, you could break it!
How to Clean Air Fryer
The best way to clean an air fryer involves taking some parts out. Before you get started, make sure that you’ve removed all of the large food particles from the air fryer. Take out the basket and drawer from the air fryer and fill them with hot water and Dawn dish soap. The dish soap will act as a great degreaser.
While the air fryer basket and drawer soak, dig into whatever delicious meal you just whipped up in your air fryer!
After you’ve eaten, here’s how to clean an air fryer basket and drawer. Take a non-abrasive sponge and give the basket and drawer a good scrub.
Don’t be tempted to let the basket and drawer soak overnight as this could cause baked-on grease to become even harder to remove.
Hacks for How to Clean Air Fryer Oven
Is there anything worse than sticky grease inside of an air fryer? When it comes to cleaning kitchen appliances, there isn’t much that’s more frustrating than that! Here are some air fryer cleaning hacks you’ll want to remember:
- Do not use anything abrasive, including certain products and scrubbers.
- It’s important to remember that most air fryers are not dishwasher safe, even if the manual says so.
- Let your air fryer cool down before you clean it to avoid burning yourself.
- A very dirty air fryer can lead to a kitchen fire.
- Proper maintenance will make your air fryer last longer!
How Often Should You Clean Your Air Fryer?
There are some parts of your air fryer that need to be cleaned more often than others. It’s really important that you know how to clean an air fryer basket and drawer since this should be done after every use.
You should also do a deep clean about once a month. Be aware that air fryer accessories like parchment liners, silicone liners, and silicone baskets can help with clean-up. If you use them, your air fryer will require less cleaning in between!
The best way to clean an air fryer is to ensure that the basket and drawer are cleaned as often as possible.
How to Deep Clean an Air Fryer
You should deep clean your air fryer at least once a month or after cooking something super greasy, like Air Fryer Bacon or Air Fryer Hamburgers.
Follow these directions if it’s your first time deep cleaning your air fryer, or if it’s time for its monthly scrub down! You’ll need:
Remove the air fryer basket and drawer and fill them with hot water and Dawn dish soap. Let sit, then use the non-abrasive sponge to gently remove any sticky grease.
Next, spray with Dawn Powerwash Spray. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes then use a toothbrush to really get in there and scrub your air fryer to get that caked-on grease. Rinse the air fryer, then let dry.
Note: Before you use the Dawn Powerwash Spray, test a small part of your air fryer. All air fryers are made differently so it’s important to know how yours will react to the spray.
Can I use vinegar and baking soda to Clean Air Fryer?
Don’t be tempted to use vinegar and baking soda if you’re wondering how to clean an air fryer. Vinegar and baking soda should not be mixed for cleaning, as this will cause a chemical reaction that can damage the metal coating. You can use baking soda and water!
Create a paste by mixing 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water. Let it sit in the air fryer for 30 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush, then rinse. You can use this mixture as a substitute for the Dawn Powerwash Spray.
Personally, I like to use the Dawn Powerwash Spray instead. I find that the baking soda and water mixture isn’t quite as good as getting rid of baked-on grease as the cleaning spray!
Best Way to Clean Air Fryer heating element
Before you begin, make sure that the air fryer is completely cool. Take the Dawn Powerwash Spray or baking soda mix and spray only the bottom section of the air fryer, then scrub clean with a toothbrush or non-abrasive sponge. Be careful to not put the cleaner on the coils.
Turn the cool air fryer upside down and use a wet, non-abrasive microfiber cloth to scrub as best as you can around the heating coil and top of the air fryer. You should only use water and make sure that you clean gently around the air fryer heating element or you can break the coil. This method works great for an air fryer basket and an air fryer oven!
If you’re looking to clean a wall oven with an air fryer, use this guide instead.
How to Clean Baked-on Grease from an Air Fryer
There are a few different ways of how to clean baked on grease from an air fryer. You can use a combination of dish soap, hot water, Dawn Powerwash Spray, and a toothbrush. Or, you can make a baking soda and water mixture and use that instead of the spray.
My favorite? I find that the Dawn Powerwash Spray does the best job. In my experience, it gets rid of 80-90% of that baked-on grease after scrubbing with a soft or medium toothbrush! The baking soda and water mix only removes about 40% of the grease. If you’re wondering how to clean an air fryer basket, the easiest way is with Dawn Powerwash Spray.
How to Clean Air Fryer Basket: Best degreaser and cleaning spray
If you’re in the market for a new air fryer, chances are you want one that is easy to clean! Below are some of the best options out there for an easy-to-clean air fryer:
- Cosori 6.8QT Dual Blaze Air Fryer: comes with a removable and dishwasher-safe basket. This is the exact air fryer I use as well.
- Ninja AF101 Air Fryer, 4 Qt: features a dishwasher safe basket, crisper plate, and multi-layered rack. When you’ve finished cooking, simply take out the removable sections and throw them in the dishwasher for the easiest way to clean your air fryer!
- Cuisinart AFR-25 AirFryer: the basket, baking pan, and oven rack are easy to remove and clean.
What is the Best Air Fryer Degreaser and Cleaning Spray?
If you’re reading this article, you’re probably wondering how to clean baked on grease from an air fryer. I’ve tried multiple different air fryer degreasers and cleaning sprays and the best — hands down — is the Dawn Powerwash Spray. It cuts through the baked-on grease that other cleaners leave behind, and will save you a lot of unnecessary scrubbing.
What is the Best Cleaning Brush for an Air Fryer?
Knowing which kind of brush to use is key when learning how to clean an air fryer. If you’re looking for a cleaning brush for your air fryer, chances are you’ve seen countless!
I’m here to tell you: a good, trusty toothbrush will do the trick! I’m not going to sell you something that I don’t use. A toothbrush gets the job done and it’s the least expensive option out there!
Summing up How to Clean Air Fryer
An air fryer is one of the best kitchen appliances out there for so many reasons. It makes cooking a breeze, and with the right tips and tools, cleaning up can be just as easy.
You don’t need to spend a fortune on expensive cleaning supplies either. With a non-abrasive sponge, toothbrush, Dawn Powerwash Spray, and a microfiber cloth, you’ll have everything you need to keep your air fryer sparkling.
Remember, always refer to your air fryer manual before you clean it, take it apart, or use any sort of product on it. If you’re still in the market for an air fryer, check out the best easy to clean air fryers above for some inspiration!
I have the same air Fryer you have, how do you get in there to clean the fan area? I can get at everything else.
Hi Barbara, I use a damp micro cloth that’s just damp with water. I use this once the air fryer has cooled down and is unplugged, but within a few hours of being used last. I find the grease comes off a little easier then. This will not get ALL of the grease off, but just do your best with the cloth. Please do not try to unscrew or move the coils at all.