Getting rid of lingering smells
Once the element is clean, most odours disappear on their own. If a trace remains, leave a small open bowl of bicarbonate of soda inside the cold, unplugged machine overnight with the drawer closed — it absorbs a surprising amount. A cloth dampened with a weak vinegar solution, wiped over the interior and then removed with plain water, helps too.
Do not pour water into the drawer and run the machine to steam it, unless your manufacturer explicitly says the model allows it. Most air fryers are not designed to hold liquid during operation. And check the outer body as well: the vents at the back release the cooking air, and a greasy film gathers on the wall or cupboard behind them.
Can you put an air fryer basket in the dishwasher?
Some are dishwasher safe and some absolutely are not, so the manual is the only reliable answer — look for the symbol on the underside of the basket if the booklet is long gone. Even when it is permitted, repeated dishwasher cycles are hard on non-stick coatings, so hand-washing usually keeps a basket in good condition for considerably longer. The main unit, with its element and electronics, must never go anywhere near water.
How often should you clean an air fryer?
Wash the basket and drawer after every single use, even if you only reheated something dry, because a thin fat film builds up faster than you would think. Do the full interior clean — element, fan housing, chamber walls, vents — about once a month with normal household use, or immediately after cooking anything very fatty such as bacon, sausages or chicken thighs with the skin on. If food is starting to taste of previous meals, that is the machine telling you the monthly clean is overdue.
