Can I put my air fryer basket in the dishwasher?

Most baskets and trays are rated dishwasher-safe, but hand-washing keeps the nonstick coating in good condition far longer. Check your manual, and treat the dishwasher as the occasional option, not the routine.

How do I remove burnt-on grease from the basket?

Soak the basket in hot water with dish soap for 20 to 30 minutes, then use a soft sponge. For stubborn spots, a paste of baking soda and water, left for 15 minutes, lifts residue without scratching.

Why does my air fryer smoke when I cook fatty food?

Usually old grease on the heating element or fat pooling under the tray. A full clean of the interior and element almost always fixes it. A small piece of bread in the bottom can also catch drips during cooking.

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

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

Let it cool, then unplug it. Warm is fine; hot is not.
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.
Wipe the interior with a damp cloth while it is still slightly warm.
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:

Burnt-on spots in the basket: soak in hot soapy water for 20 to 30 minutes. Anything still stuck gets a paste of baking soda and a little water, left for 15 minutes, then a soft sponge. Never use metal scourers or abrasive pads on nonstick — every scratch is where the next layer of food will weld itself.
The crisper tray and its edges: grease hides in the rim and under the tray. A soft brush (an old toothbrush is perfect) clears it.
The interior walls: wipe with a cloth dampened with warm water and a drop of dish soap, then wipe again with a clean damp cloth so no soap film remains.

Cleaning the heating element

The element is the part everyone forgets — and the part that causes smoke and old-grease smells.

Make sure the unit is unplugged and completely cool.
Turn the air fryer upside down (or tilt it) so you can see the element.
Brush away loose crumbs and debris with a soft, dry brush.
Wipe the element gently with a cloth or sponge dampened with warm water. A little baking-soda paste helps on greasy film. Wring the cloth well — you want damp, never dripping.
Let it dry fully before you use the machine again.

Never spray cleaner directly onto the element, and never immerse the main unit in water. The electrical body gets a wiped exterior only, full stop.

Keeping it clean longer

Empty crumbs after fatty cooks. A 20-second shake-out over the bin prevents the next smoke session.
Catch the drips. A slice of bread or a little water under the crisper tray during very fatty cooks absorbs splatter before it bakes on. (Check your manual allows it for your model.)
Fix smells with heat and air. If a clean machine still smells, run it empty for 3 to 4 minutes, then leave the drawer open to air out.

What never to do

Do not use oven cleaner inside an air fryer. Do not use steel wool or abrasive powders on the basket. Do not put the main unit under a tap. And do not skip drying — a closed, damp air fryer develops odors faster than a dirty one.

Fifteen minutes every week or two, three minutes after each cook — that is the entire secret to an air fryer that cooks clean and smells like nothing at all.