Air fryers are one of the most popular kitchen appliances because they are perfect for quickly cooking food or achieving a crispier texture than a traditional oven. However, the biggest downside is that they can be annoying to clean and tend to become greasy easily.
Leftover crumbs, grease, and bits of food can build up in an air fryer after just one use, and this debris can become a perfect breeding ground for mould and bacteria. Not only will this make an air fryer unsanitary, but the buildup can stick to the heating element in the air fryer, which can be a fire hazard and eventually cause it to break down.
How to prevent grease build up in a air fryer?
However, the cleaning experts at Instant Pot has shared there is a easy way to stop air fryers becoming caked in grease and that is to wipe it down after each use.
The expert said: “Cleaning your air fryer after each use might sound like a chore, but trust us—it’s much easier than dealing with built-up grease and stubborn stains later.”
They added: “By making this a habit, you’ll avoid deep cleaning as often and keep your air fryer in top condition.”
It might seem simple, but taking the time to wipe the inside stops grease from becoming trapped in the machine.
All you need to do is unplug the air fryer and make sure it has completely cooled down before cleaning, otherwise you can risk bring burned.
Use a hot water and washing up liquid to remove any grease on the inside and then place any baskets or trays in the sink to soak.
How to remove stubborn stains in a air fryer?
Grease stains left inside an air fryer can be tough to clean, especially if they have become baked on during cooking, as they often will not come off with just scrubbing.
If you have enough tough air fryer stains then all you need is baking soda, as is a alkaline substance can dissolve acidic grease and burned food stains when used properly.
The expert said: “Baking soda is a natural, non-toxic cleaner that cuts through grease without damaging your air fryer.
All you need to do if mix two tablespoons of baking soda together in a bowl with water until it forms a thick paste.
Apply the paste to the stains on your air fryer and then leave it alone for 10 minutes to give the cleaning solution time to break down the grease.
Then all you need to do is wipe the baking soda residue away with a damp cloth, and you will have a sparkling clean air fryer without any hassle.