Care and cleaning

• How to Clean an Air Fryer: Basket, Tray, and the Heating Element

  Oct 22, 2026

  An air fryer cooks with fast-moving air, which means it throws tiny amounts of grease everywhere inside itself. Leave it a few weeks and you get smells, smoke, and food that picks up yesterday’s flavors. The good news: a full clean takes about fifteen minutes, and the after-every-use routine takes three.

  The 3-minute routine after every use

  1. Let it cool, then unplug it. Warm is fine; hot is not.
  2. Wash the basket and tray in warm water with dish soap and a soft sponge. This is when grease comes off with almost no effort — it is only stubborn once it has been reheated a few times.
  3. Wipe the interior with a damp cloth while it is still slightly warm.
  4. Dry everything and leave the drawer open for a while. Trapped moisture is what makes a clean air fryer smell musty.

  The deep clean, every week or two

  Start with the routine above, then go further: