Types Of Cleaners You Should Never Use On An Air Fryer

Air fryers cook by circulating hot air around food at temperatures up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, leaving it cooked inside and browned and crispy on the outside. Food cooked in an air fryer has up to 75% less fat than food cooked in a deep-fat fryer. The health benefits of cooking food without actually immersing it in oil are one of the reasons these small appliances have gained popularity. They work faster, use less electricity, and don't leave lots of used oil that you have to figure out how to dispose of. Most air fryer baskets have nonstick coatings, making them easier to clean, but there will be times when cleaning the appliance requires a little extra effort. Abrasive cleaners and stiff cleaning tools should never be used on an air fryer.

Abrasive cleaners contain small mineral particles such as silica and pumice that scrub surfaces clean. They're usually found in creamy liquids used to clean surfaces that can't be damaged by abrasives. If your cleanser feels gritty, it probably has abrasives in it. The fine particles can scratch the surface of your air fryer, rendering it ineffective. Depending on the type of nonstick material used in your air fryer, small particles of potentially dangerous chemicals can be released. When you're buying a new appliance, look for words like Teflon-free or BPA-free on the label if you want to be sure your air fryer doesn't contain any harmful chemicals. Air fryers made from glass or stainless steel can be cleaned by the same methods you use on other cookware made from these materials.

Stiff or abrasive brushes and scrubbers shouldn't ever be used on the non-stick coating on the interior of your air fryer. Steel wool, including steel wool Brillo pads, should be saved for cleaning your cast iron. If you find that grease or oil has built up on the surface of the basket that can't be wiped off, or that food particles are cooked onto the nonstick surface, don't scrub it. When your air fryer needs a deep clean, let it soak in warm water with a degreasing detergent like Dawn, rinse it, and then wipe it clean.

You usually shouldn't need to use cleansers on your air fryer if you wash it after every use. When the basket is cool enough to handle, wash the removable parts in warm, soapy water. Don't let food particles or grease sit in the air fryer basket, but if you're pressed for time, wipe it out with a paper towel or microfiber cloth and remember to come back to it before debris hardens and sticks. For tough cleanup jobs, make a paste of baking soda and water and rub it onto the mess. If it's hard to remove, let the mixture sit for a few minutes before wiping it off. You can also use parchment paper in your air fryer to prevent food from dropping onto the element.

Clean up messes on the outside of the air fryer as they happen. If the heating element gets dirty, use a stiff brush to scrub the dirt off. Remember to unplug the appliance before cleaning parts that aren't removable, and always keep your air fryer unplugged when it's not in use.