Air Fryer Fiasco: Messy, But Worth The Fuss?

Air fryers are a popular kitchen appliance, but they can be messy if not used or cleaned properly. Food with wet batter, cheese, and overseasoned items can create a mess in an air fryer. It is important to clean an air fryer regularly to prevent odours and smoke. While some parts of an air fryer are dishwasher-safe, it is recommended to hand wash the appliance with warm soapy water and dry it thoroughly to prevent a build-up of grease and food debris.

Wet foods, like wet batters, can make a mess in an air fryer

To avoid this issue, it is recommended to avoid putting wet batters or limp, wet vegetables in the air fryer. Instead, use the air fryer to quickly crisp up already breaded or crunchy foods, such as breaded chicken tenders or Brussels sprouts.

If you do choose to cook wet foods in your air fryer, be prepared to clean up a mess afterwards. It is important to clean your air fryer regularly to prevent food contamination and eliminate odours. Here are some general steps to clean your air fryer:

• Don't delay cleaning. Unplug the air fryer, let it cool, and then empty out any oil from the pull-out drawer.
• Clean the removable components with warm, soapy water and a soft sponge or cloth. Avoid using abrasives.
• Use a wooden skewer or toothpick to remove any food stuck in the basket or grate. Then, dry the components separately.
• Clean the inside of the air fryer, including the heating element, with a damp cloth dipped in warm soapy water. Dry and then reassemble.
• Wipe the exterior with a damp cloth or sponge and then dry the appliance.

By following these steps and being mindful of the types of food you cook in your air fryer, you can minimise the mess and maximise the benefits of this handy kitchen appliance.

Oily foods, like cheese, can create a mess

Cheese, for example, can create a huge mess in an air fryer. The high heat and aggressive airflow can cause the cheese to melt and ooze all over the appliance, resulting in a difficult cleanup. This is because an air fryer is not actually a deep fryer, and it cannot create an instant outer crust to contain the melting cheese.

Other oily or wet foods that should be avoided in an air fryer include wet batters, corndogs, tempura shrimp, and overseasoned foods. These foods can create a mess by dripping or splattering onto the heating element, where they will burn, smoke, and create a fire hazard.

To avoid a mess and potential safety issues, it is important to choose the right foods for your air fryer. Dry, breaded, or crunchy foods work best, such as frozen foods, cookies, bacon, and Brussels sprouts. By selecting the appropriate foods and following the proper cleaning procedures, you can minimize the mess and maximize the convenience of your air fryer.

Light foods, like spinach, can fly around and burn

Air fryers use a convection mechanism to cook food, which involves circulating hot air around the food at high speed. This means that lightweight foods like spinach can be picked up by the airflow and blown around the inside of the fryer. This can cause the food to come into contact with the heating coil, burning it and setting off the smoke alarm.

To avoid this, it is important to secure lightweight foods before cooking. One way to do this is to use a toothpick to secure leafy foods, such as spinach or herbs. Alternatively, you could cook these foods in a pan that fits inside the fryer basket to prevent them from being blown around.

It is also important to note that an air fryer should not be used as a replacement for a deep fryer. While air fryers can cook some battered foods, they are not suitable for wet batters. This is because the airflow in an air fryer will blow the batter off the food, causing it to stick to the bottom of the fryer and burn. Therefore, it is recommended to use dry coatings, such as breadcrumbs or seasoned flour, when cooking in an air fryer.

Food particles left in the air fryer can cause smoke and odours

To avoid this, it is important to clean your air fryer after each use. First, let the air fryer cool down, then empty out any oil from the pull-out drawer and dispose of it. If you've cooked something with a sticky sauce, clean the grate or basket and drawer while they're still warm. Use a soft sponge or cloth with warm, soapy water to clean the removable components. Use a wooden skewer or toothpick to poke out any food stuck in the basket or grate, then dry the components separately. Clean the inside of the air fryer, including the heating element, with a damp cloth dipped in warm soapy water, then dry and reassemble. Finally, wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth or sponge, then dry the appliance.

If your air fryer is still giving off a strong smell after cleaning, NewAir recommends soaking the food basket and drawer in soapy water for 30 to 60 minutes before cleaning again. If the smell persists, rub a halved lemon over the basket and drawer, let it sit for 30 minutes, then rewash.

Food that is too small can fall through the air fryer basket

Food that is too small can fall through the slots in the air fryer basket and onto the heating element. This can cause the food to burn quickly, filling your food and your kitchen with smoke and fumes. To avoid this, it's recommended that you keep food larger than 1/4 inch, or about the size of a regular French fry. If you're unsure, you can test the food by dropping it into the basket and giving it a shake over a sink or garbage can. If anything slips out, don't put it in your air fryer.

If you want to air fry smaller foods like peas or corn, you can add them to a pan that fits inside your fryer basket to keep them secure while cooking.

Frequently asked questions