Keep your air fryer clean if you want to get the most out of it. An air fryer is a kitchen appliance that lets you cook, bake, and fry your favorite food without using too much oil. The purpose is to cut calories and reduce the amount of fat content.
Fried food, such as fried chicken, French fries, and hot wings, are crispy foods that people enjoy a lot. However, these foods are unhealthy and increase the risk of various diseases, such as high blood cholesterol, heart diseases, diabetes, and even cancer.
On the other hand, when you air fry these French fries, potato chips, chicken, meat, or any other food item, you can eat them safely without worrying about gaining extra pounds. An air fryer is an effective product that allows you to prepare food quickly.
However, if you fail to keep your air fryer clean, you may not achieve the same taste, reduce the equipment’s lifespan, and increase the risk of damage. In today’s article, we will discuss the significance of cleaning and maintaining your air fryer.
The Importance of Air Fryer Cleaning and Maintenance
It is essential to keep your air fryer clean and maintain it according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. Otherwise, you will damage the appliance, leading to a waste of money. Every electronic equipment, including air fryers, requires thorough cleaning and maintenance.
Not only does cleaning your appliance allow you to prepare healthy food without the risk of microorganisms, but it also increases the overall lifespan of your air fryer. Here is why you should keep your air fryer clean.
Avoid Foul Odors
Most people complain that their air fryers produce foul odors. The most common cause of bad smells coming from the device is dirt, dust, and grime accumulated in its different parts. Experts recommend cleaning your air fryer before and after use to avoid bad smells.
It is crucial to clean your air fryer, mainly if you use it regularly or cook something that can create a mess. Although most air fryers are not dishwasher safe, some parts are, meaning you can wash them thoroughly.
Prevent Smoke and Fire
Cleaning your air fryers allows you to prevent the risk of smoke and fire. When you neglect cleaning the appliance, it will accumulate grease and food splatters. The built-up splatters are leading the cause of smoke emissions.
At the same time, not cleaning your air fryer will impart unwanted flavors and deteriorate the taste of your food. For instance, when you cook chicken in an air fryer and forget to clean the device, the food particles accumulated inside will mix with French fries and compromise the taste.
Reduce Electricity Consumption
It is essential to keep your air fryer clean to reduce electricity consumption. The leftover food particles accumulate in the internal components when you fail to clean the appliance. Not only does this increase the risk of damaging your device, but it will also heat up slowly and consume more energy to cook the food.
Prevent Foodborne Diseases
The primary benefit of using an air fryer is to cook healthy food. However, there is no point in using your air fryer if you can’t keep it clean. A dirty air fryer can contribute to foodborne diseases, such as E. coli, salmonella, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, and Norovirus.
Bacteria and other microbes dwelling inside the dirty basket can contaminate your next food item and increase the risk of food-borne illnesses. As a result, you may end up in a hospital’s emergency room.
Increased Lifespan
A high-end air fryer is an expensive piece of equipment, meaning you must follow precautionary measures to run the equipment smoothly without any complications. A dirty and unmaintained air fryer can increase the risk of smoke and fire, leading to reduced lifespan. That way, you can’t protect your investment. Sometimes, you will have to buy a new appliance because repairing is not enough to deal with the intensity of the damage.
How to Keep your Air Fryer Clean?
Keeping your air fryer clean is essential for many reasons, such as cooking crispier and healthy food, preventing microbes from causing foodborne diseases, reduced energy consumption, and increased lifespan. The question is: how do you keep your air fryer clean?
Clean the appliance before and after every use. Before cleaning, cool off your air fryer, and avoid using metal utensils or abrasive cleaning material to clean the basket and pan. Otherwise, you will damage the non-stick coating.
Remove the main plug from the outlet on the wall and let the air fryer cool down. Remember to remove the pan to let the appliance cool down quickly. Wipe the appliance exterior using a moist cloth.
Clean the basket and pain with hot water. You can use a non-abrasive sponge and dishwashing liquid to get the job done adequately. If there is dirt and dust in the basket or the bottom of the pan, fill it with hot water and some dishwashing soap.
Moreover, put the air fryer’s basket in the pan and let it soak for about 10-15 minutes. Clean the inside of the appliance with hot water. Use a brush to remove the leftover food particles and residues.
Keep Your Air Fryer Clean – Final Words
An air fryer is an advanced cooking appliance that has become an integral part of the kitchen. The device allows you to cook healthy food and enjoy the same crispiness and tenderness as you would achieve through deep-frying. However, not cleaning your air fryer can cause significant damages over time.
Experts recommend reading the user manual before using or cleaning your air fryer. Always follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer to ensure adequate cleaning and maintenance of the equipment. That way, you can prevent the risk of damages to your equipment and use it properly to achieve the goal of cooking healthy food items.
