How to Clean an Air Fryer

Overhead view of French fries cooked in an air fryer.

Air fryers are the latest kitchen craze, especially for fans of all things fried. These new kitchen must-haves offer a healthier take on some of your favorite fried foods with minimal grease and very little mess. It’s made preparing dinner more convenient than ever, but it does take some cleaning to keep it fired up for next time. We’ve put together a few air fryer cleaning tips to make the job easier!

How Often Should You Clean an Air Fryer?

Using your air fryer is so quick and easy, you might think that the minimal mess makes it something you don’t have to clean often. But do you have to clean an air fryer after every use? We’d recommend cleaning at least the removable parts every time you fire it up. This can help keep small bits of food out of places they shouldn’t be and keeps your food tasting great meal after meal. A dirty air fryer has a few drawbacks:

Takes longer to heat up
Uses more energy
Burned-on food will be even harder to clean the longer it stays on the air fryer
Food residue from a previous meal can alter the taste of what you’re cooking

There is also a health consideration. Using any dirty kitchen appliance runs the risk of contaminating your food and causing illness.

You should clean your air fryer’s basket, tray, and pan after each use.

The Best Way to Clean Your Air Fryer

For a quick after-use clean, simply wait for the fryer to cool down and wipe it with a damp cloth. For a more thorough clean, you’ll want to spend more time on each component, including the interior and exterior of the base.

Get Your Cleaning Supplies

Clean your air fryer without chemicals, if possible. Cleaning your air fryer regularly will reduce the chance of needing harsher chemicals to get it looking new again. If you do need a cleaning solution, make sure you read the label of the cleaning chemical to ensure it is safe to use on food preparation devices or surfaces.

For a deep clean, you’ll need:

Baking soda
Dish soap
A soft-bristle brush
A sponge or microfiber cloth

Be Cool (Or At Least Room Temperature)

Before attempting to clean your air fryer, make sure it has completely cooled down after use. It can take as long as 30 minutes for your air fryer to get to room temperature, so consider doing the other dishes first (or, hey, maybe just relax for a bit!).

Clean the Air Fryer Basket, Tray, and Pan

Either in the sink or a plastic tub, wash all the air fryer’s removable parts in warm, soapy water. It can be helpful to let them soak for 15 minutes or so to help break up burned-on grease or food. Use your soft-bristle brush to tackle hard-to-reach nooks and crannies. Making a paste out of your baking soda and water is also a good way to remove any food residue. Always make sure you’ve rinsed the components well to remove any soap particles. Depending on the manufacturer, some of these parts might even be dishwasher safe. If you use your air fryer regularly, make sure those make it on a rack!

Wipe Down the Inside of the Air Fryer

With a damp microfiber cloth or sponge and a small amount of dish soap, wipe down the interior of the air fryer. Use another damp cloth without soap to wipe the inside of the fryer dry. This is a good chance to wipe down any other components of the air fryer, including the screen that is built into some models.

Check the Air Fryer Heating Element

It’s okay to use a damp cloth on the heating element, but skip the soap. You’ll need to flip the unit upside down and scrub gently to remove any scorched food particles.

Wipe The Exterior of the Air Fryer

Remove the grease drip pan and empty it after each use and rinse it in the sink. Use a damp, soapy cloth and remove any stuck-on food. Just like the inside of the air fryer, you’ll also want to use another rag to wipe away any remaining soap; it’s often helpful to finish with a paper towel to make it shine!

Now You’re Cooking!

Leave the air fryer disassembled to air dry for 30-60 minutes. As you put it back together, inspect it to ensure it is completely dry to avoid any short circuits or other electrical issues.

An Immaculately Clean Kitchen

You tackle the air fryer—let Molly Maid^® handle everything else in your house! We offer kitchen cleaning services as well as whole-home cleaning services design to meet your needs and fit into your schedule. With our professional cleaning teams, you’ll get a custom cleaning plan that frees you up to spend more time with friends, family…or whipping something up in that freshly cleaned air fryer! Request an appointment today.