How to Clean an Air Fryer in 6 Steps
To clean an air fryer, unplug it and let it cool, wash the basket, pan, and tray in warm soapy water (many are dishwasher-safe — check your manual), wipe the cavity with a damp cloth, and gently clear the heating element with a soft non-metal brush. Never submerge the main unit. Dry every part before the next cook so leftover moisture does not steam odd smells into food. Here’s a six-step reset plus a deeper grease clean.
Quick start: clean an air fryer in 6 steps
- Unplug and cool. Hot baskets burn hands and warp some coatings if blasted with cold water.
- Remove basket, crisper plate/tray, and pan. Knock loose crumbs into the trash.
- Wash removable parts in hot water and dish soap, or run the dishwasher if the maker says yes. A soft sponge beats steel wool.
- Wipe the interior and exterior of the body with a damp cloth and a drop of dish soap. Rinse the cloth and wipe again so no soap film remains.
- Clean around the heating element with a soft brush or cloth — no metal tools that scratch or bend the coil.
- Dry fully, reassemble, and optionally run an empty 3–5 minute warm-up to evaporate leftover moisture.
No body photos shipped with this post originally; the steps above are the whole method. Skip YouTube embeds that used to sit in the middle of the article — the written checklist is enough.
How to deep clean grease from the basket
Sticky polymerized oil is what makes baskets look permanently brown.
- Soak removable parts 10–20 minutes in hot soapy water.
- Scrub with a non-scratch sponge or soft brush. Baking soda paste helps on stubborn spots on many baskets — test a small area if your coating is delicate.
- For dishwasher-safe parts, a hot cycle after a soak often finishes the job.
- Avoid oven cleaner sprays inside the electrical cavity unless the manufacturer explicitly allows a product — most do not.
Tools that actually help
- Dish soap and hot water
- Soft sponge / nylon brush
- Microfiber cloth for the cavity and exterior
- Optional baking soda for paste scrubbing
- Soft bottle brush for tight mesh drawers on some XL models
Large air fryers, dual baskets, and Ninja-style drawers
Bigger units follow the same rules: cool, remove drawers and trays, wash removers, wipe the chassis, dry. Dual-basket models need both drawers cleaned so grease from one side does not perfume the other. Silicone liners and parchment liners cut mess but are not a substitute for washing the basket — oil still runs underneath. Always confirm dishwasher icons on your specific trays; “Ninja” and other brands vary by generation.
Classic mistakes to avoid
- Submerging the main housing or getting the control panel soaking wet
- Metal scouring pads that scratch nonstick coatings
- Cooking the next batch while parts are still wet
- Ignoring the heating element until smoke appears mid-cook
- Aerosol oven cleaner inside an electrical cavity
Frequently asked questions
How often should I clean an air fryer?
Wipe crumbs after every use. Wash the basket when you see oil film — often every few cooks, not once a month.
Why does my air fryer smoke?
Usually leftover grease on the element or basket hitting high heat. Cool, unplug, and clean before the next run.
Can I use vinegar?
A mild vinegar wipe on a cool, unplugged exterior is fine for some people; keep acids off damaged nonstick and never soak electrical parts. Dish soap handles most grease better.
Keep the fryer honest the same way you treat other hot appliances: cool first, soap on removers, dry before power. Related kitchen care: oven cleaning, pizza stone care, and cast iron. When the whole kitchen needs a reset, Pro Housekeepers’ deep cleaning or regular cleaning covers the counters around the appliance too.