At times, while cooking something appetizing in your air fryer, you might suddenly find yourself surrounded by a cloud of burnt grease, leaving you perplexed about the cause.
As I observed white, blue, and grey smoke emanating from my air fryer, I wondered if it was normal. Consequently, I reached out to the manufacturers to inquire about the situation.
What is the reason for smoke emanating from my air fryer?
If there is any remaining grease residue from previous uses, it can lead to smoking in your air fryer as the residue may overheat during cooking and produce smoke. Similarly, if you cook fatty foods, the grease from the food can burn and cause smoking.
To prevent smoking while cooking fatty foods in your air fryer, simply add a tablespoon of water.
Although it is the most frequent problem, there are other reasons why an air fryer might produce smoke. We will discuss all potential issues and their corresponding solutions.
Why Is There Smoke Coming Out Of My Air Fryer?
As previously stated, the smoking issue with your air fryer may be due to residual grease or cooking foods with high fat content; however, there are additional factors that can contribute to this problem.
Examining the problems your air fryer is experiencing can help you identify the issue.
Your Air Fryer May Be Smoking When You Are Cooking Fatty Foods
Excessive amounts of grease in fatty foods are a frequent cause of white smoke emanating from an air fryer. As the temperature increases, the grease accumulates at the bottom of the fryer and may burn, resulting in the release of white smoke.
If you choose to add oil to your food, remember that various types of oils and fats have their own distinct smoke points, which is the temperature at which they start to smoke. This is important information when you’re using an air fryer. Knowing the smoke point of an oil or fat can help you prevent your air fryer from smoking.
Additionally, each type of food has its own smoke point, which is important to consider when using an air fryer that can reach temperatures up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. To prevent smoking, it is crucial to select an oil with a higher smoke point than the air fryer’s temperature setting; otherwise, the oil will burn and produce smoke.
To prevent smoking in your air fryer, it is advisable to choose an oil with a smoke point of around 450 degrees Fahrenheit. According to a chart, avocado oil, peanut oil, extra light olive oil, rice bran oil, and safflower oil are all safe options for use in the air fryer.
Note: It is important to confirm that you possess Extra Light Olive Oil and not Virgin Olive Oil since the smoke point of virgin olive oil is less than 400, whereas extra light olive oil has a smoke point above 400.
Although having smoke-filled apartment is unpleasant, it does not cause any damage to your air fryer. Therefore, here are some ways to avoid this situation.
What To Do If Your Air Fryer Start Smoking When Cooking Fatty Foods
Turn off the air fryer
Extract the drawer from the air fryer and eliminate the basket from it.
Take a paper towel and wipe away any extra oil that may have accumulated at the base of the drawer.
Insert the basket into the compartment and reinsert the drawer into the air fryer.
What To Do If Your Air Fryer Starts Smoking When You Aren’t Cooking Fatty Foods
Assuming you are cooking oil-free, low-fat foods such as chicken breasts or french fries, your air fryer should not produce smoke due to the lack of grease. However, if it does emit smoke, it is probably due to residual grease from previous cooking sessions.
To clean your air fryer and prevent smoking, take out the parts of the air fryer and soak them in soapy water to eliminate any remaining grease. Use a gentle sponge to scrub the components until they are spotless, then rinse them with water and dry them with a paper towel. After that, clean the interior of the air fryer.
To prevent smoking in your air fryer, start by wiping the interior with a paper towel and then gently scrubbing it with a dampened soft sponge dipped in a mixture of water and soap (avoid soaking the sponge).
Conclude the cleaning process by using a paper towel to scrub the interior one final time, resulting in an air fryer that appears brand new.
It is essential to clean an air fryer periodically; otherwise, it will accumulate grease residue that can damage the non-stick coating on the basket. Therefore, it is recommended to clean the air fryer frequently.
Other factors may also result in smoke emanating from your air fryer:
You’re Not Using The Fat Reducer Accessory (If You Got One)
If you want to prevent white smoke from forming in your Philips air fryer, make sure to use the fat reducer accessory that comes with it by placing it in the pan.
Although the fat reduction accessory is highly efficient, it is still necessary to take preventive measures to avoid smoking. Therefore, it is recommended to clean your air fryer frequently, even if it includes the fat reducer accessory.
The Air Fryer Is Malfunctioning
If you observe blue smoke emanating from your air fryer, it is advisable to immediately disconnect the appliance as this could signify electrical problems and malfunctioning.
For the purpose of guaranteeing your and others’ safety, my suggestion is to immediately disconnect the equipment from its power source.
Additionally, it is recommended that you reach out to the manufacturers to inquire about receiving some form of compensation.
Ingredients Aren’t Weighed Down And Are Therefore Sucked Into The Heating Coil
The convection mechanism is used by the air fryer to cook food by circulating hot air, which has enough force to move small bits or thin slices of food.
There is a small chance that food may come into contact with the very hot heating coil of an air fryer while circulating inside it.
Smoke is produced from your air fryer when the heating coil burns the ingredients, which emits a strong odor compared to the white smoke caused by leftover grease.
To prevent smoking in your air fryer, it is important to wait for the appliance to cool down completely before removing any food from the heating element, as even if the exterior feels cool, the heating element may still be warm.
After the air fryer and its heating element have cooled down, attempt to eliminate the lodged food item from the heating component.
To avoid smoking in your air fryer, ensure that all food items, especially small or thin pieces, are properly weighed down or secured during cooking to prevent them from being tossed around by the air fryer.
There are certain accessories available for air fryers, such as splatter lids and snack covers, that can prevent smoking.
Important: To prevent potential risks, ensure that parchment paper, aluminum foil, or other covers used in the air fryer are weighed down by the food and do not end up in the heating coil.
Herbs Or Breading Hasn’t Stuck Properly To The Food
If the food is not properly coated, a small amount of oregano or breadcrumbs may fall onto the heating coil during cooking.
When the heating coil comes in contact with a lone oregano piece, it may not produce much smoke, but it will still generate smoke.
Consider a scenario where the heating coil of your air fryer comes into contact with a significant amount of oregano or breadcrumbs, resulting in a considerable amount of smoke.
To prevent smoking in your air fryer, ensure that the breading or herbs stick to the food by moistening its surface with sauce, marinade, water, eggs, or any other suitable ingredient.
Is It Normal For an Air Fryer To Smoke?
It is subjective to define “smoke” in the context of air fryers. However, if we compare the smoke generated by an air fryer with that produced by an oven during cooking, then it is considered normal.
However, when the air fryer is producing a significant amount of smoke, and the smoke is denser than usual, it indicates that there is an issue.
Proper usage, cleaning, and maintenance of an air fryer should prevent it from producing smoke; therefore, thick smoke emanating from the appliance indicates a problem that requires troubleshooting, starting with disconnecting it from the wall socket.
To prevent smoking in your air fryer, it is recommended to ventilate the room by opening windows. If the appliance overheats, the smoke may be caused by melted plastic that contains harmful compounds if inhaled.
If your air fryer produces more smoke than an oven, it is not normal and you should contact customer service for assistance.
Can Air Fryers Catch on Fire?
Although there is a small possibility of fire, the likelihood of your air fryer catching on fire is minimal, so you need not be overly concerned.
Providing a specific answer to why an air fryer is smoking is difficult due to the numerous potential causes, including external factors beyond the appliance itself.
If there is an electrical malfunction, your air fryer may be at risk of catching on fire. However, if it is simply overheating, it could still pose a potential fire hazard. It’s important to note that when used correctly, an air fryer should not catch on fire.
It is important to keep in mind that the air fryer involves both electronics and high temperatures, making it necessary to exercise caution at all times. Prioritizing safety over tasty food should be the primary concern.
Should You Clean an Air Fryer After Every Use?
You must clean the removable components of the air fryer, including the basket where the food is cooked, after every use.
Not cleaning the parts of your air fryer can harm the non-stick coating, lead to a buildup of oily residue, and potentially create bacteria. However, if you clean the components regularly, it will extend the lifespan of your air fryer basket.
Preparing a warm water and soap bath for the components of the air fryer takes only 2 minutes, followed by scrubbing them with a soft sponge until they are clean, and allowing them to dry before reinserting them into the air fryer.
Related Questions
What causes excessive smoke in an air fryer? Typically, if your air fryer is emitting significant amounts of smoke, it is usually due to either a substantial accumulation of oil or grease residue from prior usage that has overheated, potentially caused by inadequate cleaning methods. Alternatively, it could be due to contact between the heating element and an object within the air fryer.
What can I do to prevent my air fryer from smoking and triggering the smoke alarm? To avoid smoke formation, follow the guidelines provided in the article and position your air fryer in a suitable spot at home, ideally near a window or fan. Nevertheless, it is crucial not to conceal your air fryer from the smoke detector as this could pose a severe hazard if it ignites.
Why is there a plastic smell in my air fryer? When using a new air fryer for the first time, the hot air circulating inside it can create an odor that resembles plastic or chemicals. The duration of this smell depends on the specific model and the type of food being cooked. Nevertheless, rest assured that it will eventually dissipate.
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