🔧 Air Fryer Maintenance

Air Fryer Maintenance & Cleaning Guide

A clean air fryer performs better, lasts longer and cooks more evenly. With the right routine, everyday cleaning takes a few minutes. Here’s how often to clean each part, how to shift baked-on grease, and when it’s time to replace the basket.

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Dealing With Smoke or a Burning Smell Right Now?

Regular cleaning prevents most smoking problems in the first place — but if it’s happening mid-cook, go straight to Why Is My Air Fryer Smoking? for what to check first. The Cleaning Scheduler builds a routine around how often you actually cook, so build-up doesn’t get the chance to become a problem again.

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After Every Use

Unplug, let it cool, empty the grease and wash the basket and crisper plate in warm soapy water. Grease is far easier to shift before it sets.

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Regular Deep Clean

Soak the basket and drawer in hot soapy water and use a soft brush on the mesh — weekly if you cook daily, about monthly for most homes.

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Clean the Heating Element

With the unit unplugged and cold, wipe the element with a damp cloth or soft brush. Never submerge the main unit or spray water into it.

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What NOT to Do

No aerosol cooking sprays, metal scourers or oven cleaner on the basket — they wear away the non-stick coating. Use a pump spray or brush for oil.

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Check for Damage

Look over the basket coating, cord and plug every month or so. Light scratches are normal; flaking coating or a damaged cord are not.

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Your Schedule

How often depends on how often you cook. The Cleaning Scheduler gives you a personalised routine based on your usage and air fryer size.

Quick Answer: How Often Should You Clean an Air Fryer?

Wash the basket and crisper plate after every use, deep clean the basket and drawer regularly — weekly if you cook daily, about once a month for most households — and clean the heating element every few weeks to every few months depending on use. Ten minutes of routine cleaning prevents most smoking, smells and sticking, and keeps the non-stick coating lasting longer.

Air Fryer Cleaning Schedule

Task	Cook most days	Cook a few times a week or less	Time needed
Empty grease, wash basket and crisper plate	After every use	After every use	3–5 mins
Wipe the outside and control panel	After every use	After every use	1 min
Soak and deep clean basket and drawer	Weekly	Every 1–2 months	10–30 mins (mostly soaking)
Clean heating element and interior	Every 2–4 weeks	Every 2–3 months	10 mins
Check coating, cord, plug and vents	Monthly	Every few months	2 mins

For a routine matched to your exact usage and air fryer size, use the Cleaning Scheduler.

How to Clean an Air Fryer After Every Use

Unplug it and let it cool — about 30 minutes. Cleaning a hot basket risks burns and can warp the coating.
Empty the drawer. Pour off grease into the bin, not the sink, and tip out crumbs.
Wash the basket, drawer and crisper plate in warm soapy water with a soft sponge or cloth. Many baskets are dishwasher-safe — check your manual — but hand washing is gentler on the coating.
Wipe the outside and control panel with a damp cloth.
Dry everything fully before putting it back, so moisture doesn’t sit in the drawer.

How to Remove Baked-On Grease

If grease has been left to set, don’t reach for a scourer. Soak the basket and drawer in hot soapy water for 20–30 minutes, then work at the mesh with a soft-bristled brush — an old toothbrush is ideal for corners. For stubborn spots, a paste of bicarbonate of soda and a little water, left for 10–15 minutes before brushing, lifts grease without scratching. Rinse well and dry.

Avoid oven cleaner, wire wool and harsh abrasive creams on any non-stick part. They remove the coating along with the grease, and a damaged coating makes food stick more and grease build up faster.

How to Clean the Heating Element and Interior

Grease spatter on the element is the most common cause of smoke and a burnt smell. To clean it:

Unplug the air fryer and make sure it is completely cold.
Remove the basket and drawer. If your manual allows, turn the main unit upside down to see the element clearly.
Wipe the element and the cavity with a damp (not wet) cloth or a soft brush. Use a little washing-up liquid on the cloth for greasy patches.
Never submerge the main unit or spray water or cleaner into it — it contains the electrics and fan.
Let it dry completely before plugging it back in.

Our step-by-step Air Fryer Deep Clean covers the full monthly routine, including the door seal and vents, and the signs you’re overdue.

Preventing Build-Up in the First Place

Use the right oil. A pump or mister bottle, or a pastry brush, instead of aerosol sprays — the propellants leave a sticky residue that bakes onto the coating.
Trim excess fat from meat and don’t overfill the basket with fatty foods like sausages or bacon.
For fatty foods, line the drawer (not the basket) with a little water or a piece of parchment to catch drips and reduce smoke.
Use liners safely. Parchment and foil must be weighed down by food and kept clear of the element — see Can You Put Foil in an Air Fryer? and Can You Put Paper Towel in an Air Fryer?
Empty the grease every time. Old fat left in the drawer is what smokes the next time you cook.

When to Replace the Basket or the Air Fryer

Light surface scratches on a non-stick basket are normal. Replace the basket — most brands sell spares — if the coating is flaking, peeling or worn through to bare metal, or if it is warped and no longer sits properly. Our guide Are Air Fryers Toxic? explains why a damaged coating is worth replacing.

Stop using the air fryer and contact the manufacturer if the cord or plug is damaged, it trips the electrics, it produces black smoke or a chemical smell, or it no longer heats properly after cleaning. If it won’t start at all, run through Air Fryer Won’t Turn On or Heat Up? first — it’s often a basket that isn’t fully closed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put my air fryer basket in the dishwasher?

Many baskets and crisper plates are dishwasher-safe, but check your manual first. Even when it’s allowed, hand washing with a soft sponge is gentler and helps the non-stick coating last longer.

Why does my air fryer smell or smoke?

Usually it’s old grease on the drawer, basket or heating element burning off. White or grey smoke from grease is common and fixed by cleaning; black smoke or a chemical smell means you should stop, unplug it and check it. See Why Is My Air Fryer Smoking?

Can I use washing-up liquid on the heating element?

A little washing-up liquid on a damp, well-wrung cloth is fine for greasy patches, as long as the unit is unplugged and cold. Never pour liquid onto the element, and let it dry completely before use.

How long does an air fryer last?

With regular cleaning and a basket replaced when the coating wears, an air fryer typically gives several years of everyday use. Grease build-up and damaged coatings are the two things that shorten its life most.