Air fryers are one of the most popular methods for cooking delicious foods more healthily. One of the few drawbacks of using an air fryer is the same disadvantage that every cooking appliance has—you have to clean it! If you’re new to using an air fryer, you might be wondering if you can just toss the frying basket in the dishwasher. Well, we brought you the answer so that you can avoid making any mistakes!
For most air fryers, it is safe to put the basket in the dishwasher. With that said, there are still some things you’ll want to keep in mind during cleaning so that you don’t damage your frying basket. There may also be tougher cleaning situations that your dishwasher might not be able to handle. After the basket, it’s important to know how to clean every part of your air fryer properly.
Keeping your air fryer and its basket clean is an essential part of ensuring that it stays in good shape for as long as possible! For the best chance at achieving that goal, you should have all of the information you can get. That’s why you should stick with us down below so that you can get the most out of your air fryer!
Cleaning An Air Fryer And Its Basket
Traditional frying baskets are usually mesh-like and can be too fragile to place in the dishwasher. Part of the design of air fryers is to make them more user-friendly and convenient.
A big step towards that was to make their baskets and other removable parts dishwasher-safe. When it comes to the rest of the appliance, you might have to be a little more careful!
What To Avoid When Cleaning Your Air Fryer’s Basket
Thankfully, there isn’t a lot that can go wrong when cleaning an air fryer’s basket. The main thing is to make sure that you don’t damage it if you clean it by hand or pre-clean it before putting it in the dishwasher.
Most air fryer parts have non-stick and protective coatings. These coatings can be easily damaged if scrubbed with things like steel wool or the abrasive side of a sponge. It’s best to stick to soft cloths or sponges for cleaning it.
How Do You Clean An Air Fryer Basket?
The easiest way to clean an air fryer basket is to place it gently in a secure position in your dishwasher.
If you decide to clean it by hand, just remember to use something soft like a cloth and a small amount of dish soap. Also, keep an eye out for stuck-on crumbs or residue that might need further attention.
Then let it dry thoroughly before placing it back in the air fryer.
How Do You Get Baked On Grease Out Of An Air Fryer Basket?
You won’t want to put your air fryer basket directly into the dishwasher for tougher baked-on grime like this.
There are some different methods for the best way to clean a basket in this situation, but a good start is soaking it in warm soapy water. After it has soaked, you can wipe it with a soft cloth or sponge.
If that doesn’t do the trick, then you can try covering the basket with a thin layer of dish soap. Next, sprinkle some baking soda on it and use a very soft bristles brush to spread the baking soda around and activate it.
After it has sat for a while, you can try wiping it clean. Repeat as needed until it’s clean enough to go in the dishwasher.
Is The Drawer Of An Air Fryer Dishwasher Safe?
Just like the basket, your air fryer drawer is dishwasher safe. If the drawer has any baked-on crumbs or residue, you may want to remove those first, though.
Even if you couldn’t put it in the dishwasher, it’s quick and easy to clean by hand. Just put some soap and warm water on it and wipe it clean with a soft cloth or non-abrasive sponge!
How Do You Clean The Crisper Plate On An Air Fryer?
Since the crisper plate is also a removable part of an air fryer, it is also usually dishwasher safe. If you prefer, then you can also hand-wash it. Use the same rules for the parts above when cleaning, and it will be a quick and simple process!
How Do You Clean The Air Fryer Parts That Aren’t Removable?
First, you’ll want to unplug the air fryer and make sure that it is cool. It can take up to 30 minutes to completely cool down after being used.
Next, remove the parts you can and put those in the dishwasher or sink to be cleaned. Now you can focus on the outside and inside of the appliance as well as the heating element.
Cleaning The Outside And Inside Of The Air Fryer
You may be able to wipe down the outside of the fryer with a damp microfiber cloth if it’s not very dirty. However, if it has any dried-on mess or bigger concerns, you may need to use some dish soap and baking soda.
Just remember to keep the water use as minimal as possible. Make sure that you never submerge your air fryer. Since it’s an electrical appliance, this can cause a lot of serious issues.
For the inside of the appliance, you can follow the same steps as with the outside.
You might want to use a damp non-abrasive sponge since there may be a little more grime and crumbs on the inside. Just make sure that all possible crumbs are removed from the inside of the fryer.
Cleaning The Heating Element
The heating element shouldn’t be too dirty, but since anything stuck to it will burn, it’s crucial to check it and do a once-over wipe. Lay the air fryer either on its side or upside down to get to the heating element more easily.
Now take a damp cloth and wipe it off, but only if it is completely cool. If you’re not sure, then let it sit for another half an hour for good measure.
Do You Clean An Air Fryer After Each Use?
This is a highly debated topic. Some say you only need to clean the basket out of crumbs each time, and others say you should do a complete cleaning. It can depend on several factors like what you usually cook in it.
In your household, you may also have to think about cross-contamination. In the end, you have to analyze your situation and decide what’s best for you and your air fryer.
For the health of your air fryer, it’s usually better to be safe than sorry. Cleaning it after each use will help to ensure that it lasts as long as it can.
It might be a pain at the moment, but it can easily save you from a headache later on. Cleaning it each time ensures that nothing can build upon it.
If you wait a while to clean it, you may find that you have to spend way more time getting it clean because of how dirty it is.
Or even worse, the built-up mess might damage it in some way or hinder its cooking ability. You might have to purchase a replacement part or a whole new air fryer.
In Closing
Most air fryer baskets can be safely washed in the dishwasher. All removable parts such as the crisper plate and drawer are also dishwasher safe. To clean the rest of the appliance, you’ll want to do it safely with little water and never submerge it.
Ensure that if you do clean any of the removable parts by hand, you never use anything abrasive. This will damage the non-stick coating and shorten the life span of your fryer.
Finally, you have to decide if you want to clean your fryer after each use, or roll the dice and only clean it once in a while!
