How to clean your air fryer's splatter guard – 5 expert-approved steps to a fresh fryer

Air fryers are by far one of the most convenient kitchen appliances, helping to cook food in half the time of a conventional oven. However, they can be more awkward to clean.

One of the most overlooked parts of the air fryer is the splatter guard. Over time, grease, food debris, and residue can accumulate, limiting your air fryer's performance, risking bad odors and even a fire.

Here, professional cleaners and chefs explain how to clean an air fryer splatter guard, why it’s so important, and how to tell if your appliance has one in the first place.

How to clean an air fryer splatter guard

Air fryer splatter guards help to prevent grease and food from splattering upwards onto the heating elements, which are usually housed in the lid area. Whilst the splatter guard is fine to clean, you should avoid touching or cleaning the heating element itself to prevent damage.

Using and cleaning an air fryer splatter guard regularly can help to ward off signs it’s time to replace your air fryer.

What you'll need to clean the splatter guard

• Dish soap, such as Dawn from Walmart.
• Warm water.
• A soft bristled scrubbing brush, from Walmart.
• White vinegar, also at Walmart.
• A kitchen towel.

1. Let it cool and remove the guard

To safely clean kitchen grease from a splatter guard, Jenny Catton, owner of The Air Fryer Kitchen blog begins, ‘Make sure your air fryer has completely cooled down before touching the splatter guard. Most splatter guards are removable. Check your air fryer manual for instructions on how to detach it safely.’

Use oven gloves or mitts if you're unsure it has completely cooled down.

2. Let the guard soak

Jenny Catton continues, ‘Fill your sink with warm water and dish soap, then let the splatter guard soak for 10 to 15 minutes. This helps loosen grease and stuck-on food.’

Air fryer splatter guards are one of the many things you can clean with Dawn Powerwash. The concentrated soap spray will coat the mesh, getting into all the nooks and crannies to help ‘eat’ away at stubborn grease.

For a natural way to fight grease and grime, Jessica Randhawa, owner and head chef at The Forked Spoon adds, ‘To make sure the splatter guard is completely clean and grease-free, consider cleaning with vinegar and water for the final rinse.

'Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water and use this natural DIY cleaning solution to rinse the guard. The acidity of the vinegar helps dissolve any remaining grease and neutralizes odors. This method will leave your splatter guard clean and fresh without any chemical residue.’

When picking cleaning vinegar, available at Walmart, opt for a minimum of 5% acidity.

3. Scrub with a soft brush

A common air fryer mistake is using rough cleaning tools to remove grease. This risks damaging the materials and could lead to food contamination. To avoid this, use soft sponges and brushes only, such as an old toothbrush.

Jessica continues, ‘After soaking, use a soft-bristled brush [available at Amazon] or a non-abrasive scrubber to gently scrub the mesh. This will help remove any remaining grease and food particles without damaging the fine mesh.

'Be sure to clean both sides of the guard and pay special attention to the edges where grease tends to accumulate. Rinse thoroughly under hot running water to remove any soap or loosened debris.’

4. Rinse and dry

Before putting your splatter guard back into your best air fryer, Debra Clark, recipe developer at Bowl Me Over says, ‘Once clean, rinse the splatter guard thoroughly with warm water to remove any soap or residue, then pat it dry immediately with a clean towel. Air drying can sometimes leave water spots or cause rust if the material isn’t fully dried.

‘If you use your air fryer regularly, a quick clean after each use prevents grease from building up, and a deeper clean like this once a week keeps it in top condition.’

5. Repeat monthly

Forrest Webber, cleaning expert and owner of Bear Brothers Cleaning says, ‘You should be cleaning your splatter guard at least once a month, and that's a minimum. If you're using your air fryer multiple times a week, then I recommend at least cleaning it once a week. The greasier the food you eat, the greasier it will be!’

It is a super simple task to add to your checklist when deep cleaning a kitchen.

Punteha van Terheyden, Head of Solved at Homes & Gardens and a daily air fryer user adds, 'If you cook something in your air fryer that's particularly pungent, greasy or splatter-prone, give the guard a quick clean when you're done. I find anytime I cook burgers in there, I have to add an extra clean to my schedule as the smell of the burgers can permeate my next cook.'

FAQs

How do you prevent food splatter in an air fryer basket?

When trying to limit food and grease splatter in an air fryer, the main thing to do is avoid overcrowding the basket. A full basket places the food too close to the heating elements, resulting in spitting and splatters.

Are splatter guards worth it?

Splatter guards, available on Amazon, are worth buying if you use your air fryer a lot and want to protect the delicate heating elements to extend the life of your air fryer. They are especially useful if you regularly cook very greasy food that is prone to spitting.

Debra Clark adds, ‘The best way to clean an air fryer splatter guard is to tackle it immediately after use before grease has a chance to harden.

‘To avoid excessive grease build-up in the first place, lightly coating the splatter guard with a thin layer of oil before use can help create a barrier that prevents food particles from sticking too much. Just make sure to wipe it down when cleaning a kitchen after dinner to keep things manageable.’

If during cleaning any part of your air fryer you notice the non stick coating flaking, it is time to replace it. Consider investing in a non-toxic air fryer to avoid the risk of ingesting non stick coating or other nano-particles that can be harmful to human health.