Food safety expert explains air fryer food poisoning risk and how to avoid it
We just can’t get enough of air fryers, can we? If you aren’t using one, there’s a decent chance you’re reading about them.
Or writing about them, as the case may be.
You know the score: they’re cheaper, quicker, and less fat-intensive than conventional cooking methods. Everyone and their mum has got one, and if you haven’t joined the throng yet then there’s a high chance you will soon.
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After all, in these economically troubled times, who can turn their nose up at cheaper and quicker cooking? It’s a no-brainer.
But with a surge in popularity comes widespread misuse, especially where hygiene is concerned.
There’s one simple mistake you could be making that could be putting you at risk of food poisoning. It’s the kind of thing you never want to get, and if you’ve had it before then you’ll be doubly cautious.
Convenient as they are, and confident as you might be that a device reaching 200 degrees celsius will handily blast microbes to pieces, you really mustn’t skip washing your air fryer’s basket between uses.
If you’ve cooked meat in one, or attempted to, then it’s absolutely vital that you clean the basket before putting anything else in there.
Meat can harbour plenty of nasties that can cause serious illness if it’s not cooked properly, such as the dreaded salmonella which can live on surfaces for as long as 32 hours.
Certified food safety professional Janilyn Hutchings told The Mirror that “old food particles and germs will build up in the basket and contaminate the food you put in it”.
Leftover crumbs are a safety hazard too; the dryer they get, the more flammable they become. They can also get lodged around the element, which is a recipe for some unwanted smokiness at the very least.
Hutchings continued: “Aim to clean your air fryer after every meal that's cooked in it. It might seem like a big mess, but it's quite easy.”
Thankfully, cleaning an air fryer is a piece of cake.
Simply wait for the basket to cool down after use, then give it a thorough wipe with a sponge, hot water, and soap. Don’t use a rough sponge or bristle brush as this could damage the non-stick coating.
If you’re in the mood for a particularly comprehensive clean, you can also remove various components to give them a clean too.
Make sure to check your manufacturer’s cleaning instructions before trying anything more complicated than cleaning the basket.
For stubborn grime, a baking soda and water paste is a great option. Coat the offending areas in the paste, give it some time to do its thing, then wipe it away.
Rachael Davis