Air fryers need to be cleaned more often than you might think

Air fryers have taken kitchens up and down the country by storm, with time, cash and energy to be saved over traditional appliances.

From cooking up some fish fingers to rapidly roasting some veggies, there aren’t many things an oven can do that an air fryer can’t.

But as much as many of us have taken these little beauties into our homes and hearts, we probably aren’t giving them the much-needed TLC they deserve.

In other words, have you allowed your relationship with your air fryer to become one-sided? That’s a recipe for toxicity later down the line. Literally.

As convenient as they are, they still need a good wash. It’s all too easy to leave it on the side and forget about it for hours, or even days at a time.

Crumbs and grease can build up in an air fryer quicker than you think (Getty Images/Grandbrothers)

If that’s your habit, best to nip it in the bud. Experts say it’s vital to get your air fryer washed after every use if you want to spare yourself a build-up of nasties in your trusty cooker.

Proper care should also help it to last longer, too, so it’s worth it for both your health and wallet.

In its guide for giving air fryers a good clean, BBC Good Food stresses the importance of cleaning your basket every time it’s used in order to prevent food, grease and grime from getting baked onto the insides.

Small crumbs get blown around the basket as well, and those can end up lodged around the element if you’re not careful.

Over time, along with grease, that debris can become a fire hazard.

Here’s everything you need to do the thorough job your air fryer deserves:

1. Washing up liquid
2. Baking soda
3. An all-purpose cleaner
4. An old toothbrush
5. A soft sponge or cloth

You don’t need to whip all of this out with every use, but setting a regular deep-cleaning schedule is a good idea if you want to keep your air fryer in good nick.

Step one: make sure your air fryer is unplugged. Nobody wants to end up in A&E because of some good-natured air fryer scrubbing.

If you’ve just used it, make sure you’ve left time for it to cool down, too.

Take out all the removable parts and then clean each one with warm water and soap. Be sure to use the soft side of the sponge or cloth, and get into every crevice you can find.

The rough side of your sponge could damage your non-stick coating, so avoid using that.

Burned-on crumbs will need a good soaking, and it’s best to do that with a baking soda and water paste coated over the offending areas.

After twenty minutes, use the toothbrush to give them a gentle scrub and lift off those baked-on crumbs.

After that, give it all a rinse and leave it to dry.

Lastly, just rinse out the component parts and leave it to try.

For clarity: don’t soak any electrical components. If you need to clean the element and the surrounding area, wipe these areas down with a damp cloth once you’re done cleaning, then go over it again with a dry cloth.

After that, leave those parts for a little while so they can completely dry before you cook up your next storm.

Simple, right? Go forth and give that air fryer the love it deserves, and you might just find it gives the love back ten-fold.