Air fryers will be spotless in 20 minutes with ‘simple’ homemade solution (Image: Getty)
Air fryers have been around for many years, but their popularity has surged in recent years, with an increasing number of households now owning and using them regularly. They can cook a variety of foods, including meat, chips and certain baked goods.
Proper care and regular cleaning are the best ways to ensure appliances, including air fryers, last longer. Compared to an oven, air fryers are significantly smaller and heat up faster, resulting in lower energy consumption. This is just one reason why they’re so popular. With frequent use comes the need to clean it frequently.
It’s important to clean air fryers regularly (Image: Getty)
The experts at Good Food recommend cleaning the basket of your air fryer after every use to prevent dirt and grime from becoming baked on.
Small crumbs can also burn if not cleaned out, which can also taint the flavour of whatever you’re cooking in the air fryer.
Luckily, there is an easy way to clean air fryers with minimal tools, including washing-up liquid, baking soda, all-purpose cleaner, an old toothbrush, and a soft sponge or cloth.
The experts said: “Unplug the air fryer after use and allow it to cool down completely, and then take out all the removable parts and detach the component parts.
“Clean each part with warm water and a simple washing-up liquid solution. Use the soft side of the sponge or cloth to avoid damaging the non-stick coating. Work into the gaps of the basket to ensure it’s thoroughly cleaned.”
To make the washing-up liquid solution, simply mix some warm water with the washing-up liquid to create a bubbly solution.
If there are any burned-on bits of food that can’t be removed by the sponge alone, make a paste of baking soda and water and apply it to the stubborn parts.
Leave this to work for 20 minutes, or, if you’re short on time, gently buff this solution with an old toothbrush.
Once complete, simply rinse the component parts and let them dry before reassembling them in the appliance.
When performing a deeper clean, be aware that the main unit of the air fryer cannot be submerged and must be cleaned by hand.
Use a sponge with water and washing-up liquid, or an all-purpose cleaner, and check the heating coil on the underside of the air fryer for specks of grease and dirt.
The experts added: “If your air fryer comes with a rotisserie basket, this can be cleaned in the sink with water and washing-up liquid, using a toothbrush to work into the gaps.”
It’s important to clean all parts of an air fryer by hand, as using the dishwasher may damage it.
