Air Fryer Oven Smoking: Is It Possible?

Air fryers are a convenient way to cook food quickly, but they can sometimes emit smoke. While a small amount of smoke is normal, especially when cooking greasy foods, excessive smoke can indicate a problem. Common causes of air fryer smoke include excess grease, food particles, overcrowding the basket, and improper cooking times. To prevent and reduce smoke, it is recommended to use high-quality oils with higher smoke points, trim excess fat from meats, and routinely clean the air fryer to remove grease and food residue. Additionally, placing a slice of bread or adding water to the bottom of the air fryer can help absorb grease and reduce smoke. It is also important to ensure proper ventilation in the kitchen and maintain a safe distance between the air fryer and surrounding objects.

Troubleshooting an air fryer oven that is smoking

If your air fryer oven is smoking, don't panic! Smoking air fryers are quite common. Here is a troubleshooting guide to help you address the issue:

Smoke or Steam?

First, determine whether the white stuff coming out of your air fryer is smoke or steam. If it's steam, it's part of the normal cooking process. If it's smoke, proceed to the next steps.

Excess Oil or Grease

Oil or grease on the food cooked at high temperatures (360°F or higher) can splatter onto the hot cooking element, causing smoke. This is especially common when cooking fatty foods like bacon and chicken thighs. If this is the case, stop the air fryer and use a paper towel to remove excess oil from the bottom. Alternatively, put a slice of bread at the bottom to soak up the oil. You can also try adding a tablespoon of water to the drip tray to reduce the smoke.

Food Particles

Food particles, such as breadcrumbs, can also cause smoke if they are blown onto the hot heating element by the circulating air. Ensure your food is not overcrowded in the basket, as this can cause particles to splatter. If your food is battered or breaded, make sure it is sprayed down enough to prevent drying and burning.

Basket Size

Your air fryer basket might be too small for cooking at higher temperatures. Try cooking a smaller amount of food or get a larger basket. Even with a larger basket, avoid overcrowding the basket with food.

Temperature

Some air fryers run very hot, and certain recipes may call for too high of a temperature. Try cooking the food at a lower temperature for a longer duration.

Ventilation

If you're cooking in a small, closed kitchen, even a small amount of smoke can be overwhelming. Improve the situation by opening windows, turning on the vent hood, or otherwise ventilating the kitchen.

Manufacturer Issue

If you've tried the above steps and are still experiencing smoke, it may be a manufacturer issue. Contact the manufacturer for further assistance in troubleshooting the problem.

Recipe or Cooking Method

If the smoke persists, consider changing the recipe or how you are cooking the food. Some foods don't cook well in an air fryer, and you may have better results using a stovetop or oven.

Safety Precautions

When dealing with a smoking air fryer, always exercise caution to ensure your safety:

• Keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen.
• Unplug the air fryer if you suspect a manufacturer or electrical issue.
• Do not use wood chips in the air fryer unless specifically allowed by the manufacturer, as this could cause a fire.

Smoking Meat in an Air Fryer

While air fryers can be used for smoking meat, it is important to note that this will permanently alter the taste of any food cooked in the air fryer afterward. Additionally, the lack of moisture in an air fryer may result in dry meat. If you choose to smoke meat in your air fryer, be sure to follow safety precautions and always refer to your owner's manual for specific instructions.

Why an air fryer oven might start smoking

An air fryer oven can be used to smoke, but it is not recommended as it can cause smoke detectors to go off and fill the room with smoke. If your air fryer oven is smoking, there are several possible reasons:

Fatty foods splattering grease

The main reason for an air fryer oven to smoke is that foods with a lot of fat will release grease, which can then splatter onto the heating element and cause smoking. This is especially true when cooking meat at higher temperatures.

Dirty heating element or old food crumbs

If the heating element or coils are not kept clean, grease or food stuck on them can cause smoking. Make sure to gently wipe down the inside, heating elements, and coils when they are completely cool to prevent this.

Overcrowded basket

Even if your food does not have a lot of grease, overcrowding the basket can still cause oil and food particles to splatter onto the heating element and create smoke.

Burning food particles blowing around

If your food is battered or breaded and not sprayed down enough, the hot circulating air can blow food particles around, causing them to burn and smoke. Bread crumbs flying around can definitely contribute to this problem.

Temperature is too high

Some air fryers run very hot, and recipes may call for a higher temperature than is necessary. Try cooking the food at a lower temperature for a longer period.

Lack of ventilation

If you are cooking in a small, closed kitchen, even a small amount of steam or smoke can be overwhelming. Open windows, turn on the vent hood, or otherwise improve the ventilation in your kitchen to prevent this.

Type of oil used

Using oils with low smoke points, such as olive oil, can cause smoking. Try using oils with higher smoke points, such as light/refined olive oil, grape seed oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil, to minimise smoke.

How to prevent an air fryer oven from smoking

An air fryer oven can be used to smoke, but it's important to note that this is not its intended function. If your air fryer is smoking, it's likely due to excess grease, food buildup, or overcrowding in the basket. Here are some tips to prevent an air fryer oven from smoking:

Keep your air fryer clean

Ensure that you clean your air fryer regularly, especially the heating element and coils. Wipe down the inside gently and remove any old grease or food stuck to the surfaces. It's important to wait until the air fryer is completely cool before cleaning.

Use the right oils

Use oils with high smoke points, such as light/refined olive oil, grape seed oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil. These oils can help minimise smoke as they can cook at higher temperatures without giving off too much smoke.

Avoid overcrowding the basket

Don't crowd your basket or rack with too much food. Even if your food has little oil, cooking a large quantity at once can cause oil and food particles to splatter onto the heating element and produce smoke.

Control the temperature

Some air fryers run very hot, and recipes might suggest a higher temperature than necessary. Try cooking your food at a lower temperature for a longer duration. This will reduce the likelihood of smoke and help prevent your food from burning.

Ensure proper ventilation

Make sure your kitchen is well-ventilated by opening windows or turning on your vent hood. If you're in a small, closed kitchen, even a small amount of smoke can be overwhelming.

Use bread or water

If you need a quick fix to stop your air fryer from smoking, place a slice of bread or add a couple of tablespoons of water to the bottom of the air fryer. The bread will absorb excess grease, while the water will quickly convert to steam and prevent greasy food from causing more smoke.

What to do if your air fryer oven is smoking

If your air fryer oven is smoking, don't panic. It's likely that oil or food particles are splattering onto the heating element. Here is a step-by-step guide on what to do:

Step 1: Power Off and Ventilate

Turn off the air fryer and unplug it from the power source. Open a window or door and turn on your vent hood to ventilate the room. If your smoke alarm is going off, you may need to reset it. Do not place the air fryer on your stove.

Step 2: Remove Excess Grease

Use a paper towel to wipe away any excess oil from the bottom of the air fryer. Alternatively, you can place a slice of bread at the bottom of the drawer (under the basket) to soak up the grease. Bread can also be used to prevent smoke before cooking greasy foods.

Step 3: Check Food Placement

Ensure that none of the food is in direct contact with the heating element. Adjust the food so that it cannot burn or scorch.

Step 4: Clean the Air Fryer

Once the air fryer is completely cool, gently wipe down the inside, heating elements or coils, and the basket to remove any grease or food residue. Use a warm, soapy cloth to clean the inside of the unit and basket. Check your operating manual first, as some parts may be dishwasher-safe.

Step 5: Adjust Temperature and Portion Size

If you are cooking greasy foods, try lowering the temperature setting and cooking the food for a longer time. Also, avoid overcrowding the basket with food, as this can cause oil and food particles to splatter onto the heating element.

Step 6: Use Different Oil

Consider using oils with high smoke points, such as light/refined olive oil, grape seed oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil, which can help minimize smoke.

Step 7: Contact the Manufacturer

If you have tried all of the above steps and are still experiencing smoke, it may be a manufacturer issue. Contact the manufacturer for further troubleshooting advice or to inquire about a possible recall.

What causes an air fryer oven to smoke

An air fryer oven can be used to smoke, but it is not recommended as it can cause a lot of smoke and set off smoke alarms.

There are several reasons why an air fryer oven might start smoking:

Excess Grease

The main reason for an air fryer to start smoking is that foods with high fat content release grease that splatters onto the heating element. This causes the air fryer to smoke and release white smoke, often followed by burning smells and burnt food. Meats with a higher fat content, such as bacon, chicken thighs, sausages, hamburgers, and fatty pork chops, can put out a lot of grease when cooked at 360 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

Food Buildup

If the air fryer is not cleaned regularly, leftover oils, grease, or crumbs from previous cooking can accumulate and cause smoke. This buildup can also cause the heating element to smell like it is burning.

Burning Food Particles

Cooking breaded or battered foods can cause loose pieces of coating to circulate with the superheated air flowing through the air fryer. These crumbs can then land on the heating element and burn, leading to smoke. Sauces with high sugar content, such as barbecue sauce, can also create problems if they are added too early in the cooking process and drip onto the heating element.

Overcrowding

If the basket is overcrowded, the hot air cannot circulate properly, causing food to burn and smoke.

High Temperature

If the air fryer cooks at a very high temperature, it may be necessary to lower the temperature setting to avoid smoke.

Poor Ventilation

An air fryer should be used in a well-ventilated area to prevent smoke buildup.

Frequently asked questions