Chan and Kudler agree that soaking is the best method for cleaning more stubborn air fryer messes, and share what they call “an enhanced version of the 'let it soak' method”: Mix dish soap and about an inch of water in the basket. Put it back into the slot and turn to 200 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 to 15 minutes.
It's important to note that you should never fill the air fryer with water or any other liquid. Doing so could cause serious damage to your appliance and even be a fire hazard. Additionally, adding too much water could also lead to soggy food that won't crisp up properly in the air fryer.
Make Air Fryer as dirty with grease and food debris as possible. Run the drawer under some warm water, drizzle in some detergent. Pop the drawer back in and switch the machine on, as if you are making something. Pop it on for 15 minutes and 200 degrees.
But, you cannot boil or steam in a traditional air fryer. These appliances are designed as convection ovens and the inside cannot reach a high enough temperature to boil the water — that's why raw rice grains are one of the things you should never put in an air fryer.
Can you steam food in an air fryer? The short answer: no. An Air fryer is not meant for steaming food and you should avoid adding lots of water or any excessive amounts of liquid to the air fryer.
Remove the basket. Add hot water and some dish soap to the tray in the basket—it should be filled up almost half way. Place the basket back in your air fryer and turn it on for 5 minutes to heat up the soapy water solution.
Submerge them in hot, soapy water for around 30 minutes than lightly scrub them with a soft-bristled toothbrush. You can also use a toothpick to (gently) get at tough-to-clean places, like the holes in the grate. However, you should never submerge the whole air fryer in water.
Create a paste by mixing 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water. Let it sit in the air fryer for 30 minutes, scrub with a toothbrush, then rinse. You can use this mixture as a substitute for the Dawn Powerwash Spray. Personally, I like to use the Dawn Powerwash Spray instead.
For light use, give your air fryer a good wipe down every time you use it to get rid of charred food and gunk. Give it a good deep cleaning after 4-5 uses. This could be every month or even every three months if you use it rarely.
Ideally, your air fryer should be cleaned after every use in order to avoid charred food and gunk buildup. But there are certain parts where an occasional clean will suffice. "The parts of your air fryer that must be washed after each use are the basket, tray and pan," says Bedwyr.
An air fryer is simply a small oven that runs on convection heat. The heat is circulated around a tight space by a powerful fan that lies just below or behind the heating element. Just as in a standard oven, it is perfectly safe to use aluminum foil in the air fryer.
Fill a bowl with warm soapy water and place it next to your fryer. Take your sponge and, using a circular motion, get cleaning. Finally, fill your fryer with hot water and leave for around 30 minutes to loosen any stubborn grime.
Soak your fryer basket in a vinegar solution
Mix a solution of half-vinegar, half-water and soak your basket for 15 minutes before scrubbing with your brush and rinsing.
Vinegar and Water
Vinegar is a very safe cleaning solution that you can use all over your kitchen, including inside your air fryer. The most reliable cleaning solution is 3 parts water and 1 part vinegar. So if you use 1 cup of water, just add 1/3 cup of vinegar.
Air Fryer Cleaning Tips
Mix together baking soda and water to form a paste. Then use a scrub brush or an old toothbrush to thoroughly scrub the interior of the air fryer.
Don't submerge the deep fryer in water. Use a measuring cup or some other vessel to pour water into the deep fryer.
Yep! You really can make hard boiled eggs in your air fryer, and the process couldn't be any easier. It's as simple as placing your eggs in the basket, air frying at 135ºC for 15 minutes, and then soaking them in an ice bath. THAT'S IT.
White vinegar can remove grease. Wet a rag or sponge with vinegar and saturate the greasy area. Then, wipe it up. It should cut the grease almost immediately but it's important to only use it on glass, metal and other non-porous surfaces.
Vinegar's acidity helps cut through grease easily. Spray some vinegar and water mix onto a splattered stovetop, let it sit for 10 minutes, and then scrub down with soapy water. It should wipe right off. If not, leave it to sit a bit longer.
Use a 50:50 mix of boiling hot water and white vinegar. The hot water will melt the fat; the vinegar removes it from the lining of the pipes, and the flow of the water will carry it away down the pipe, so follow up with more hot water in a few minutes.
So, the question many people are asking is, can you put paper towels in air fryer? The answer is no; you can not! If you want to use them, they will pose a fire hazard and cause a fire in your home and your air fryer to combust. So, never, ever use a paper towel in the air fryer!