Making delicious food in an air fryer brings instant happiness! But the sight of the grease on the basket and griddle is a nightmare—greasy, sticky, and impossible to scrub off even with red hands, it’s more tiring than cooking! Don’t worry! Today I’ll teach you a few tricks to clean them sparkling clean without any effort. The whole process is ridiculously simple, even for those with no hand skills!
First, remember this: the key is not to wait for it to cool completely! Immediately after using the air fryer, unplug it. Don’t rush to use it, or you’ll burn yourself. Wait about 10 minutes for it to cool down until it’s no longer hot to the touch. Then, start cleaning. The grease is still soft at this point, making it 10 times easier to clean than when it’s hard and dry, saving you a lot of effort.Air-fry ribs for a crispy exterior and tender interior
–
no mistakes!
Step 1: Rinse off the surface residue. Take the fryer basket and grill rack, and rinse them under running water to remove any food residue—such as crumbs from French fries or chicken wing skin. Leaving these residues in will only make them stickier and harder to remove later. Don’t rinse too vigorously, otherwise the residue will get stuck in the crevices and be even harder to clean.Can you make cakes in an air fryer?
Then, give them a quick soak. Find a large bowl, pour in some warm water, add a spoonful of dish soap, and sprinkle in some baking soda (you probably already have this at home, no need to buy it separately). Stir well. Place the fryer basket and grill rack in the bowl and soak for 20 minutes, ensuring the water completely covers the greasy areas.Air Fryer Egg Tarts: Super Easy Recipe You Can Master!
Don’t underestimate this step. Baking soda and dish soap have a powerful degreasing ability, almost like a “cleaning miracle.” After soaking, the grease will be as soft as tofu, easily brushed off with a gentle touch, without any scrubbing effort and without even sore hands. If the grease is particularly thick, such as after grilling pork belly, soak for an additional 10 minutes for guaranteed results.
After soaking, start scrubbing. Find a soft-bristled brush (an old toothbrush will do, it’s great for cleaning crevices) and brush along the grain of the air fryer basket, paying special attention to the crevices of the grill rack—for example, residue easily gets trapped in the mesh of the grill rack; use a toothbrush to poke and remove the dirt. Never use a steel wool pad! Scrubbing with it will scrape off the coating of the air fryer basket and grill rack, making them even more greasy and dirty over time—you’ll regret it!
After scrubbing, rinse again with clean water to remove all the foam. After rinsing, touch the surface; if it’s still a little sticky, squeeze in a little more dish soap, gently scrub, and then rinse clean. Finally, wipe with a dry cloth or let it air dry in a well-ventilated area. Don’t put it in the air fryer with water droplets on it, otherwise it will have an unpleasant smell next time.
Here’s another little trick that works wonders for dealing with stubborn grease! If there are still some stubborn oil stains after soaking, soak a paper towel in white vinegar, apply it to the grease, leave it for 5 minutes, then scrub with a brush. It will be clean immediately. White vinegar also removes odors; after washing, the fryer will have a light vinegar scent, much better than dish soap.
Also, remember not to put the frying basket and grill rack in the dishwasher! Many people, for convenience, just throw them in, unaware that the strong water flow can easily scratch the coating and cause the grill rack to rust, breaking it off quickly – a complete waste of money. Manual washing is more reliable, faster, and safer.
Actually, washing the air fryer basket and grill rack isn’t difficult at all; the key is finding the right method and not forcing it. Follow these steps, and each time you wash it, it will be like new. Next time you use your air fryer, you won’t have to worry about cleaning anymore; just focus on making delicious food!