By ShowMeStepByStepPublished Updated
Based on a video by Clean That Up.
Air fryers are great until you look inside one that hasn't been cleaned in a while. Grease splatters, crumbs pile up, and baked-on residue builds up on the heating element. The good news: it doesn't take long to get one clean if you do it right.
This tutorial follows the method from Clean That Up, covering both basket-style and toaster-oven-style air fryers. The process is the same for both - disassemble, dry-wipe the crumbs first, soak the removable parts with a good degreaser, then tackle the interior and heating element. Total hands-on time is about 20 minutes, plus a 10-20 minute soak.
One thing worth knowing upfront: don't reach for oven cleaner. It works too well - it'll strip the non-stick coating off your basket and trays. Dawn Power Wash is strong enough to cut through air fryer grease without causing damage.
Unplug the air fryer before you do anything else. Pull out the basket, tray, rack - anything that comes out. Both basket-style and toaster-oven-style air fryers come apart the same way. You'll probably find grease and crumbs all over the bottom once the parts are out. That's normal. The point is getting full access to every surface before you start cleaning.
Tip
If your toaster-oven style air fryer has foil on the drip tray, peel it off and toss it before cleaning.
Before any cleaner goes on, wipe out the loose crumbs with a dry paper towel. A vacuum with a brush attachment works even better - run it along the bottom and sides to suck up the dry debris. If you skip this and go straight to spraying, you end up pushing wet greasy crumbs around instead of actually cleaning anything. Get the dry stuff out first.
Take the basket, rack, and tray to the sink. Spray them down with Dawn Power Wash and let them sit for 10-20 minutes. The degreaser needs time to loosen the baked-on grease - trying to scrub without soaking first just means more work. Don't substitute oven cleaner here. It's too strong and will damage the non-stick coating on your basket and trays.
While the parts sit in the sink, work on the inside of the unit. Spray the interior walls and bottom with Dawn Power Wash. Use a damp cloth or non-scratch sponge to scrub the surfaces. For stubborn spots, let the cleaner sit a few minutes before wiping. Use a toothpick to get grime out of the edges and corners. A pipe cleaner works well for the vent slots along the bottom where a regular scrubber can't fit.
Tip
For really stuck-on grime, use 0000 grade steel wool with the cleaner. Keep the surface wet and scrub lightly - it won't scratch if the surface is lubricated.
After the soak, most of the grease should come off without much effort. Use a non-scratch sponge on the flat surfaces and a soft brush to work through the mesh holes and basket bottom. Rinse thoroughly - run water over everything until no soap foam remains. If your basket still isn't coming clean, fill it with 2-3 cups of water and a squirt of dish soap, put it back in the air fryer, and run it for 5 minutes at 300 degrees. The steam loosens the remaining buildup.
Flip the unit upside down to access the heating coil. Use a damp cloth or a soft brush to gently remove any splattered grease from the element. Go easy with moisture here - you don't want water sitting on the coil. Some grease around the heating element is basically permanent after heavy use, and that's fine. Just get the loose stuff off. Let the unit sit open for a few minutes to air out before reassembling.
Tip
Don't spray cleaner directly onto the heating element. Apply it to a cloth first, then wipe.
Wipe the interior dry with a clean cloth. Let the basket and removable parts air dry for at least 30 minutes, or towel dry them. Everything needs to be dry before you put it back together - running a damp air fryer causes smoking and can damage the unit. Once everything is dry, reassemble, run the air fryer empty for 5-10 minutes to burn off any remaining residue, and you're done.
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