7 air fryer cleaning mistakes professional chefs avoid to swerve damage, toxic particles leeching into food and a shortened appliance lifespan

For a lot of people, an air fryer is the ultimate kitchen savior. Small, portable and quick to use, they make meals a breeze and save on energy costs, but common air fryer cleaning mistakes can easily compromise their performance and longevity.

Our in-house appliance expert and professionally trained chef reveals there are seven crucial cleaning errors to avoid to keep your best air fryer in top shape for as long as possible. These include abrasive cleaning tools and cooking with a damp basket, plus what to do instead.

The crucial air fryer mistakes professional chefs and cleaners avoid

1. Using abrasive cleaning tools

When it comes to cleaning an air fryer, one of the most common cleaning mistakes is using abrasive sponges, or wire metal scourers on non-stick baskets and crisper plates.

Professionally trained chef Lydia Hayman, our Kitchen Editor and in-house appliance pro advises against using all of them. She says, 'This rough cleaning will damage the lining, which can be potentially toxic.'

Non-stick coating layers can peel, particularly if you haven't invested in one of the best non-toxic air-fryers made from steel or ceramic.

Additionally, mom of eight and air fryer cookbook author Cathy Yoder, known far and wide as the "Queen of Air Fryers," explains that removing or damaging the non-stick coating with the wrong cleaning tools leaves you at risk of consuming this coating as you eat food cooked in a damaged basket.

Instead of abrasive pads, use a soft sponge, such as the Scotch-Brite Gentle Clean Delicate Scrub Sponges available at Amazon, and mild dish soap.

You should also never be tempted to put your air fryer basket in the dishwasher, as this can cause irreparable damage to the non-stick coating.

As David Miloshev, appliance technician and licensed electrician at Fantastic Services says, 'This is something I’d advise against because the non-stick coating lasts longer when the parts are hand-washed more regularly.'

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2. Not cleaning after every use

Cleaning your air fryer after every single use might seem like overkill, but, as Lydia explains, 'Grease and food residue tends to build up at the bottom of the basket or crumb tray.

'If you leave it, it will burn and cause a bad smell. Plus, you don’t want to consume that bacteria with your next air-fried meal. You should make regular cleaning a habit,' to avoid any air fryer mistakes that could put your health at risk.

To do so, Alicia Sokolowski, green cleaning specialist and president & co-CEO of AspenClean, advises, 'Wipe down the basket and tray after each use with a damp cloth or sponge. For deep cleaning, soak removable parts in warm, soapy water.'

You can also use vinegar to clean grease from an air fryer, but Chiana Dickson, content editor for Solved here at Homes & Gardens recommends diluting the vinegar before use to prevent damaging the rubber seals, particularly when using a vinegar with a high acidity, such as the Great Value Distilled White Vinegar available at Walmart.

3. Forgetting to wipe down the exterior

As important as it is to clean the splatter guards of your air fryer, Lydia points out that forgetting to wipe down the exterior 'is not just a major mistake,' but can leave your air fryer gathering dust and greasy fingerprints after a while.

Appliance expert David directs, 'Wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth after every use once the appliance has been unplugged and cooled down.'

If you have exterior elements that are stainless steel, which is prone to showing up every fingerprint or point of contact with something greasy, you can use essential oil to clean stainless steel perfectly. Punteha van Terheyden, Head of Solved, tried this with great results:

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4. Using harsh chemicals

Cleaning expert Alicia assures that you certainly don't need, and shouldn't use, harsh cleaning chemicals to clean your air fryer, explaining, 'Using strong cleaners like bleach or oven cleaners can damage the air fryer's coating and leave harmful residues.'

To avoid this, she suggests using a mild dish soap with warm water, recommending the AspenClean Unscented Dish Soap Natural, available at AspenClean, as 'it is a perfect chemical free and safe solution to clean your appliance without damaging the surfaces.'

Alternatively, Alicia adds, you can opt for an all-natural solution, such as cleaning with vinegar.

5. Not using an air fryer liner

Liners are one of the air fryer accessories Lydia wouldn't be without, as she says neglecting to use one is another of the biggest air fryer cleaning mistakes you can make.

'Not using one of the best air fryer liners when you cook sticky foods, like cheese or chocolate is a mistake – they catch the majority of the cooking mess, and make life a lot easier when it comes to clean up,' she points out.

Lydia also spoke to nutritionists, who revealed their air fryer secrets for healthier cooking, recommending using BPA-free liners, such as the Air Fryer Paper Liners available at Amazon, to minimize potential health risks from non-stick coating, so using one is a win win.

6. Soaking electrical elements

We all know that water and electricity definitely don't mix, and cleaning expert Alicia warns that this absolutely applies when cleaning your air fryer, but particularly where the heating element or digital interfaces are concerned.

Alicia says, 'Submerging the air fryer base or heating element in water can damage the appliance. Instead, wipe the outside and inside with a damp cloth, avoiding direct water exposure to electrical parts,' recommending the All Purpose Microfiber Cloth available at AspenClean.

You should, however, ensure you don't disregard cleaning the heating element, as Alicia adds, 'Ignoring grease or good splatters on the heating elements can cause smoke and affect performance,' posing a common fire risk in your home.

Always unplug your air fryer before attempting to do so, let it completely cool, and gently wipe the heating element with a damp cloth or soft brush.

7. Not thoroughly drying the basket before reassembly

Finally, Lydia advises against not waiting until the basket is fully dry after cleaning to put it back into the air fryer.

She says, 'Some people think that turning the fryer on will help to evaporate any lingering water, but it actually just gets splashed around by the fan.'

Again, Lydia stresses the danger of mixing water with electricals. Allowing your basket to fully air-dry is a reliable way to avoid this risk, while making your air fryer last longer, prolonging spotting any signs it's time to replace your air fryer.

FAQs

How do you get baked on grease off an air fryer?

If you're tackling a particularly tricky cleaning job, you can clean with baking soda and vinegar by mixing a paste, applying it, leaving it for a few minutes, and scrubbing off with a scratch-free soft scrubbing brush, available on Amazon.

Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer?

You can put foil in an air fryer, as long as you never allow the foil to touch the heating element, make sure the foil is weighted by the food to prevent it blowing around the basket, and avoid using it when cooking any acidic foods, which may cause potentially harmful foil particles to leach into your cooking.

It's not just the basket, heating element and exterior that needs a bit of cleaning and TLC. Cleaning your air fryer splatter guard well will stop old cooking grease and smells ruining your next meal.