Getting a new air fryer can be a little confusing, especially when it comes to cleaning your air fryer for the first time. One of my most asked questions is “where is the filter” as most people incorrectly assume there is a filter somewhere.
Air fryers don’t have filters. Most air fryers will have an opening on the side, allowing a small amount of air to circulate. These are purposefully open without a filter to allow maximum airflow and allows for more efficient and cleaner operation.
With that said, it’s important to remember air fryers are deliberately made to be simple. When working with fat and grease, it’s essential to eliminate as many potential fire hazards as possible. Which also has the added benefit of making air fryers super easy to clean and maintain!
Now we know there isn’t a filter to worry about and keep clean, you may be wondering – If there isn’t a filter, how do I clean my air fryer?
Thankfully, cleaning an air fryer is a pretty easy task. All it takes is a little warm water, some dish soap and a thin cloth.
The inside of an air fryer with the basket removed.
Before we start, it’s worth remembering that due to the amount of oil and splatters which occur in an air fryer, it’s crucial from a safety standpoint to keep your air fryers completely clear from any oil residue.
Firstly remove the basket and wash in the sink with warm water and soap. Most air fryer baskets are dishwasher safe – However, I prefer to wash in the sink. This ensures I get all crevices clean and clear from oil and keep the non-stick coating intact.
If you notice any chipping or wearing thin of the coating, you should replace any affected parts. Any parts worn will encourage rusting, which will only get worse. It will also promote food debris sticking and the inevitable bacteria growth.
Most units have the element open to the food, so it’s essential to pay attention to not only the part of the element you can see but the top side of the element (the part which is awkward to get to)
Most food will splatter and hit the element. Thankfully, any food which comes into contact with the element will usually bun to a crisp, making a quick wipe-off easy.
To clean, you must first ensure the unit is 100% cool. I would suggest leaving your air fryer an hour or two after using it – This is a lesson I have learnt the hard way – getting a little too excited to clean up after meal time.
Take a cloth and spray some anti-bacterial surface cleaner onto a cloth. You should carefully work your way around the element, paying particular attention to the parts you can’t see. These are usually the worst affected.
Heating Element and Fan
Be careful not to pull on the element. Most newer units are built pretty sturdily. However, older units can either be slightly corroded or tend not to be built to the same quality as more recent units.
Be sure to use a damp cloth, and never use steel wool or wire cleaners.
Once you have cleaned the element, you should set the air fryer aside to dry naturally, rather than turning the unit on to dry (as you would in a conventional oven)
The fan in an air fryer is usually obstructed by the heating element, but more importantly, these are typically encased also. Meaning accessing the fans will require a certain amount of disassembly.
Unless you think there is a problem with your air fryer – You should leave the fans untouched. Due to the nature of the casing and the element being in front of the fan, it is highly unlikely that your fan will need regular cleaning or maintenance.
If you need to access the fan, you should consult your manual – If, like me, you have an aversion to keeping anything remotely important, most units have manuals online. Check your manufacturer’s website.
If for some reason, you can’t find your specific model’s manual, Airfryersonline has a fantastic catalogue of manuals you can look up.
Air fryers don’t have filters are you would expect. However, air fryers are one of the most straightforward kitchen appliances to keep clean and maintain.
You should first clean the basket in the sink with warm soapy water, then move to the internals and gently clean with soapy water. Paying attention to any defects or wear and tear.
