How To Wash An Air Fryer | Fast Steps For Safe Cleaning

An air fryer turns weeknight dinners into quick, crispy meals, but grease and crumbs build up fast. If you skip cleaning, baked-on oil can smoke, food tastes off, and the machine works harder. Learning how to wash an air fryer keeps flavors clean, cuts odors, and helps the appliance last. Here you get everyday washing steps, deeper cleaning for tough build-up, and simple habits that keep scrubbing time low.

Why A Clean Air Fryer Matters

A clean air fryer cooks more evenly because hot air can move around the basket and the heating element without hitting sticky residue. Grease in corners and under the tray burns during the next cycle and sends smoke into your kitchen. Leftover crumbs trap flavors, so yesterday’s fish sticks may show up in today’s fries. Regular washing cuts that build-up before it hardens and keeps the non-stick coating from turning dull or patchy. Wiping handles and buttons also lowers the chance of contamination between batches of food.

Air Fryer Cleaning Methods At A Glance

Before jumping into detailed steps, it helps to see the main air fryer parts and how often each one needs attention. Use this quick reference as your base plan, then adjust the schedule for how often you cook and how fatty your recipes tend to be.

Part	When To Wash	Basic Method
Basket Or Drawer	After each use	Soak in warm soapy water, wash with a soft sponge, rinse, and dry.
Crisper Plate Or Rack	After each use	Remove from basket, scrub mesh and edges with a brush, rinse well.
Pan Or Drip Tray	After greasy cooks	Soak to loosen fat, wash with dish soap, avoid abrasive tools.
Interior Cavity	Weekly or as needed	Wipe with a damp cloth and mild soap, then wipe again with clean water.
Heating Element	Every few weeks	Unplug, cool, brush off crumbs, wipe gently with a damp cloth.
Exterior Surfaces	Weekly	Wipe with a damp microfiber cloth, dry to prevent streaks.
Accessories And Inserts	After use	Wash with warm soapy water or place on the top rack of the dishwasher.

If you cook sticky sauces, fatty meats, or breaded snacks, you may want to bump some of these tasks to every use. Light use, such as reheating fries or toasting bread, may let you stretch interior cleaning to every few sessions.

How To Wash An Air Fryer Basket And Drawer

The basket and drawer pick up most of the crumbs and grease, so they deserve the most attention when you plan how to wash your air fryer. Once you build a simple routine, the job turns into a quick rinse instead of a long scrubbing session.

Gather Safe Cleaning Supplies

Gather your supplies before you start so you are not hunting for a sponge with wet hands. You need mild dish soap, warm water, a soft sponge or non-scratch dish cloth, and a small brush such as a bottle brush or soft toothbrush. If your basket has stubborn grease, keep a small amount of baking soda nearby to make a gentle paste. Avoid steel wool, magic erasers, and powdered cleaners, because they can scratch the non-stick coating inside the basket and pan.

Cool And Unplug The Air Fryer

Always start by turning the air fryer off and unplugging it from the outlet. Let it cool down fully before washing; many manufacturers suggest waiting at least thirty minutes after cooking. Pull the basket or drawer out while it cools so heat can escape and stuck-on food does not continue to bake onto the surface.

Soak Removable Parts

Once the basket, tray, and pan are cool, remove each piece and shake out loose crumbs into the trash. Fill your sink or a large basin with warm water and a small squeeze of dish soap, then submerge the removable parts. Let them soak for ten to fifteen minutes to soften dried bits of batter and oil. If the parts are marked as dishwasher safe, you can place them on the top rack instead, but a short soak first helps protect the coating.

Wash The Basket And Tray

After soaking, use a soft sponge to wash every surface of the basket and tray, including the underside of the crisper plate where grease collects. Pay special attention to corners, screw heads, and mesh sections, since crumbs love to hide there. Use the small brush to sweep through holes and around the rim of the basket until no residue remains. Rinse thoroughly with warm water so no soap stays behind, then let the parts drip on a rack or towel.

Dry Parts Completely

Drying fully matters just as much as washing. Pat the basket, tray, and pan dry with a clean cloth, then leave them out in the open air to finish drying. Moisture trapped under the tray or near the handle can lead to musty smells or tiny rust spots over time. Wait to slide the basket back into the machine until every surface feels dry to the touch.

Cleaning The Air Fryer Interior And Heating Area

While the removable parts soak, you can take care of the interior. The outer shell of an air fryer holds electrical components, so it should never sit in a sink full of water. Instead, treat it like any other countertop appliance with a heating element.

Wipe The Interior Cavity

Turn the unit upside down over the sink or trash and gently tap to knock loose crumbs from the cavity. Use a slightly damp cloth with a drop of dish soap to wipe the interior walls, moving around the basket rails and corners. If you notice sticky patches, hold the cloth in place for a few seconds to soften the grease before wiping again. Follow with a second cloth dampened with clean water to remove soap residue, then leave the drawer space open so the interior can dry.

Clean The Heating Element Safely

For the heating element, a gentle touch matters. Turn the air fryer upside down on a soft towel so you can see the metal coil. Use a soft brush or toothbrush to knock loose dry crumbs, then wipe carefully with a cloth dipped in warm, soapy water and wrung nearly dry. Avoid spraying cleaner directly onto the coil or flooding the area with water. If your model has special directions for this step, follow the manufacturer’s guide. Brands such as Philips publish detailed air fryer cleaning instructions that show how far you can go when washing near the element.

Polish The Exterior

Once the inside is under control, wipe the exterior walls, handle, and control panel. A damp microfiber cloth with a small amount of dish soap removes fingerprints and grease near the fan vents. Run your cloth between buttons or around the dial so crumbs do not work their way inside. Dry with a second cloth to keep the finish looking fresh on the counter.

Deep Cleaning A Greasy Air Fryer

Sometimes a quick wash is not enough. If you see sticky brown patches that stay in place after a normal scrub, notice smoke during preheating, or smell old oil when the machine heats, it is time for a deeper clean. The goal here is to break down baked-on grease without scratching non-stick surfaces or damaging the heating area.

Use Baking Soda As A Gentle Helper

Baking soda helps when parts feel tacky even after soaking. Mix a spoonful with a little water to form a spreadable paste, then smooth it over stained sections of the basket or pan. Let the paste sit for fifteen to twenty minutes, then scrub lightly with a soft sponge or brush. Rinse thoroughly so no grit remains, and avoid oven cleaners, bleach sprays, or strong degreasers unless your manufacturer specifically approves them.

Deep Clean Around The Heating Element

For heavy residue near the heating element, unplug the unit and make sure it is completely cool. Use a brush to loosen dry bits first, then wipe with a damp cloth, repeating as needed until the metal looks clear. Move slowly; gentle strokes work better than pressing hard. Once everything is clean and dry, you can run the air fryer empty for a few minutes to burn off any traces of cleaner or moisture.

Tie Cleaning To Food Safety

Grease and crumbs can trap bacteria if they sit for days between cooking sessions, especially if you air fry raw chicken or seafood. Washing removable parts with hot, soapy water and drying them thoroughly fits neatly with the general guidance to clean, separate, cook, and chill food safely. You can read more about those kitchen rules on official food safety pages from national health agencies.

Drying, Reassembly, And Odor Control

Once every part is washed, rinsed, and dry, you can put the air fryer back together. This step seems minor, yet small choices here make the next cleaning easier.

Reassemble The Basket Correctly

Before inserting the basket, double-check the pan and tray for trapped water under any silicone bumpers or metal lips. Slide the tray fully into its slots so air can flow properly during the next cooking cycle. Push the drawer all the way in until it clicks, then wipe the handle one last time so it feels clean when you grab it later. If you use paper liners or perforated parchment sheets, store them nearby so you remember to add them before greasy recipes; they cut down on stuck bits without blocking airflow.

Clear Lingering Odors

To clear lingering smells, place a small bowl of water with a slice of lemon or a spoon of vinegar in the basket. Run the air fryer at a moderate temperature for a few minutes, then let it cool with the drawer slightly open. This gentle steam loosens light film on the interior and leaves the basket smelling fresher. You can repeat this step every few weeks if you cook strongly seasoned foods.

Routine Care To Keep Cleaning Easy

The best way to cut deep cleaning time is to build simple habits into your cooking routine. Think of them as small shortcuts that save you from scrubbing burnt grease later.

Simple Cleaning Schedule

After each use, empty crumbs from the basket and give removable parts a quick rinse. Wash with soap and water when food is greasy or breaded. Wipe the interior cavity once a week if you cook often, and check the heating element every few weeks for splatters. Plan a deeper clean once a month, including the back, underside, and power cord.

Task	How Often	Why It Helps
Rinse basket and tray	After each use	Stops crumbs from burning and mixing flavors.
Wash removable parts	Every few uses or after greasy food	Clears oil film before it hardens.
Wipe interior cavity	Weekly	Keeps splatters away from the heating element.
Check heating element	Every few weeks	Reduces smoke and helps the fryer heat evenly.
Clean exterior	Weekly	Clears grease near vents and on the handle.
Deep clean inside and out	Monthly or when smoke appears	Resets the appliance before the next batch.

Common Mistakes When Washing An Air Fryer

Even careful home cooks slip into habits that make cleaning harder. Learning what to avoid can save time and protect the appliance.

Habits That Damage The Air Fryer

One common slip is scrubbing the basket with metal pads or sharp tools, which can strip the non-stick layer and make food stick more. Another problem is leaving the basket to soak for days; long soaking can weaken glue or seals in some models. Some owners also forget to unplug before washing around the controls or spray cooking oil directly onto the heating element, both of which can lead to trouble. Skipping regular washing after cooking raw meat is another habit to drop, since it raises the odds of cross-contact between batches.

Learn To Wash Your Air Fryer Before Trouble Starts

Finally, some owners learn how to wash an air fryer only when something smells burnt or the machine starts to smoke. Starting earlier, when the fryer is still in good shape, keeps each cleaning session short and keeps food tasting the way it should.