How To Properly Clean Air Fryer | Beat Grease And Smell

An air fryer does its job in a tight space: hot air, bubbling fat, and tiny crumbs. That combo leaves a film fast. If you stay on top of it, food tastes clean, smoke stays low, and the basket keeps its nonstick finish longer. This guide lays out a routine you can keep in ten minutes, plus a deeper clean for the days when things get messy.

Cleaning Map By Part And Timing

Area	What builds up	When to clean
Basket or drawer	Oil film, browned bits	After every cook
Crisper plate or rack	Crumbs, sticky glaze	After every cook
Pan bottom	Rendered fat	After every cook
Cooking chamber walls	Grease mist	Every 2–4 cooks
Heating coil area	Spatter, crumbs	Weekly, or when you see spots
Door glass (oven-style units)	Steam haze, splashes	Weekly
Exterior and controls	Fingerprints, dust	Weekly
Air intake and vents	Dust lint	Monthly

The goal is simple: remove grease before it bakes on. Most “air fryer smell” complaints come from old oil on the pan or coil. The routine below keeps that from turning into smoke the next time you preheat.

Gear That makes cleaning quick

You don’t need a shelf of products. A few gentle tools do the work while keeping coatings intact.

• Soft sponge or microfiber cloth
• Non-scratch brush or silicone scrubber for basket mesh
• Wooden or silicone spatula for stuck sauce
• Dish soap and hot water
• Baking soda for paste on stubborn spots
• White vinegar for odor and light mineral film
• Cotton swabs for corners and around the coil shield

Skip steel wool and harsh powders. Many brands warn against abrasive tools because they can scratch nonstick surfaces and make them harder to clean later.

How To Properly Clean Air Fryer After Each Use

This is the core routine. It’s the one that keeps your next batch from tasting like yesterday’s wings.

Step 1: Cool, unplug, and pull the parts

Unplug the unit and let it cool until the basket and chamber feel safe to touch. Then remove the basket, crisper plate, and any racks. Philips’ own cleaning guidance starts with unplugging and cooling, then cleaning with a soft sponge and hot water, including the heating element when needed. Philips Airfryer cleaning steps

Step 2: Dump oil and crumbs before washing

Tip the pan into the trash or a heat-safe container. If you let oil cool and thicken inside the pan, it clings. A quick pour saves scrubbing time.

Step 3: Wash removable parts the safe way

Most baskets, pans, and trays are either dishwasher safe or fine to hand-wash. The safe default is hand-washing with hot, soapy water and a soft sponge. If sauce is stuck, soak the parts in hot, soapy water for ten minutes, then wipe again. Use a non-scratch brush in corners where the sponge can’t reach.

Step 4: Wipe the chamber, then check the coil

Use a damp cloth with a drop of mild dish soap. Wipe the walls, the ceiling area, and the lip where the basket slides in. For the heating coil area, work gently. A soft brush or damp cloth is usually enough. Philips notes that stuck residue on the heating element can be removed with a soft-to-medium bristle brush, not a steel wire brush.

Step 5: Dry fully before reassembly

Dry the basket and pan with a towel, then let them air dry for a few minutes. Moisture left on coatings can leave spots. Moisture near the coil can make the next heat-up smell off.

Deep Cleaning When Grease has baked on

Even with daily rinses, a deeper clean helps if you cook bacon, sausages, or anything with sugary marinades. Plan for 20–30 minutes, most of it idle.

Loosen grime with a warm soak

Fill the sink with hot water and dish soap. Soak the basket and plate. If the pan has a sticky ring, lay a soapy towel over the spot to keep it wet.

Use a baking soda paste on stubborn spots

Mix baking soda with a little water to make a thick paste. Spread it on the stain, wait 15 minutes, then wipe with a soft sponge. This works well on the underside of the crisper plate where oil carbonizes.

Clean the coil area with a careful angle

Many units let you reach the heating area by turning the air fryer upside down on a soft towel, once it’s cool and unplugged. That’s the method Philips outlines for reaching the heating element safely. Work slowly, keep the cloth damp, and keep water out of vents.

Finish with a short empty run

After wiping, run the air fryer empty for a few minutes to dry hidden moisture and loosen any tiny flecks that drop into the pan. Philips also suggests running the unit briefly after cleaning to catch loosened residues in the pan.

Odor control that doesn’t perfume your food

If your fries pick up a stale smell, it’s usually old grease, not the machine itself. Start with the pan bottom and the coil area. Then try one of these quick resets.

• Vinegar steam cup: Place a small heat-safe cup with a splash of vinegar in the basket, run 3 minutes, then air it out.
• Lemon wipe: Wipe the basket and chamber with a cloth dampened with lemon water, then rinse the parts.
• Charcoal rest: Set an odor absorber near the cooled unit overnight with the drawer slightly open.

What to avoid so you don’t damage parts

Air fryers are simple machines, yet the coatings and heating area need some care. These are the common slip-ups that shorten the life of the basket.

• Don’t soak the main unit or put it under running water.
• Don’t use metal scouring pads or steel brushes on nonstick parts.
• Don’t use oven cleaner inside the chamber.
• Don’t scrape coatings with a knife or fork.
• Don’t reassemble while parts are wet near the heater area.

Dishwasher or hand wash: Picking the safer route

Plenty of baskets and trays are labeled dishwasher safe, yet the dishwasher can dull some nonstick finishes over time. If your basket has a crisp, smooth feel and releases food well, hand-washing helps keep it that way. Use the dishwasher when you’re in a rush, then keep an eye on the finish and switch back to hand-washing if it starts to feel tacky.

Some models have mixed rules: Instant’s Vortex Plus manual notes that cooking trays can be dishwasher safe while certain drawers should be wiped clean only, so it pays to check the manual for your unit. Instant Vortex Plus cleaning section

Model notes worth checking before you scrub

Air fryers share the same basics, yet baskets and bodies vary. Some drawers have a finish that dulls in a dishwasher. Some oven-style units have a crumb tray that slides out, plus door seals that trap grease. A few manuals say certain drawers should get a wipe only, while racks and trays can go in the dishwasher. Read the cleaning section once, then keep it handy.

Also watch where water can hide. Controls, fan vents, and the cord entry area are not wash zones. Use a lightly damp cloth there, then wipe dry. If you use a wet cloth near the heating area, let the unit sit open, then run it empty for a couple minutes.

Fixes for common messes

Problem	Fast fix	Prevention
Sticky sugar glaze on basket	Hot soapy soak, then baking soda paste	Light oil spray, flip food midway
White spots on pan	Vinegar wipe, rinse, dry	Dry right after washing
Smoke on preheat	Wipe pan bottom and coil area	Pour off fat after cooking
Crumbs under plate	Remove plate and brush out	Shake basket once during cook
Fish odor after cooking	Wash, then short vinegar run	Use parchment with holes for fish
Basket won’t release food	Soak, gentle brush, avoid metal tools	Don’t cook sugary sauce at max heat

How often should you deep clean

Frequency depends on what you cook. If you air fry frozen fries and veggies, a weekly wipe-down of the chamber and coil usually holds up. If you cook fatty meats, check the pan and coil area every few cooks. A simple rule: if you can see a sheen on the ceiling area, it’s time.

Small habits that keep cleaning easy

These habits cut down the mess without changing how you cook.

• Preheat only when you need it; less time hot means less baked-on grease.
• Use a light, even coat of oil instead of pouring oil into the basket.
• Keep sauces thick and add them late, so they don’t splatter as much.
• Don’t overfill the basket; airflow keeps drips from pooling.
• Let the unit cool with the drawer cracked open for five minutes, so moisture escapes.

Quick cleaning checklist to print or save

Run this list after a cook, then do the weekly items on a set day. If you stick with it, you’ll spend less time scrubbing and more time cooking.

After every cook

• Unplug and cool the air fryer.
• Dump oil and crumbs from the pan.
• Wash basket, pan, and plate with hot soapy water.
• Wipe the chamber lip and rails with a damp cloth.
• Dry parts fully before putting them back.

Weekly

• Wipe chamber walls and ceiling area.
• Check the heating coil area and brush off spots.
• Wipe exterior, handle, and control panel with a damp cloth.

Monthly

• Dust the intake and vents with a dry cloth.
• Check the cord area for grease splashes and wipe.

Use this page as your routine: do the quick wash right after cooking, then set aside a calmer day for the deeper wipe-down. If food starts tasting off or you see smoke, go straight to the pan bottom and the coil area, then reset with a short empty run.

When you keep up with regular cleaning daily, week after week, you’ll notice the payback fast: less smoke, fewer stuck bits, and a basket that stays easy to rinse. And if you ever doubt a step, your model’s manual is the final word on what parts can soak, what parts can go in the dishwasher, and what parts need a wipe only.

One last reminder: how to properly clean air fryer isn’t about strong chemicals. It’s about timing, gentle tools, and drying well so the next batch tastes like the food you cooked, not the cleanup you skipped.