How to Clean Your Air Fryer (Step by Step)

A dirty air fryer is not just an aesthetic problem — it is a performance problem. Accumulated grease on the heating element reduces cooking efficiency, baked-on residue on the basket creates smoke and off-flavors, and moisture trapped in improperly dried components shortens the appliance’s lifespan. The good news: an air fryer is one of the easiest kitchen appliances to clean. The basket and tray take 5 minutes after each use; a full deep clean takes under 20 minutes once a week. This guide covers the exact steps, the best cleaning agents for each part, and the methods that get stubborn grease out without damaging nonstick coatings.

What Do You Need to Clean an Air Fryer?

You do not need specialized products. The following is everything required for both routine cleaning and deep cleaning:

• Mild dish soap (Dawn or equivalent) — the workhorse for basket and tray cleaning
• Soft-bristle brush or non-abrasive sponge — removes food without damaging nonstick coating
• Baking soda — mild abrasive for stuck-on grease that soap alone cannot shift
• White distilled vinegar — cuts grease, eliminates odors; dilute with equal parts water
• Microfiber cloths — two of them: one damp for wiping, one dry for drying
• Soft toothbrush or small detail brush — essential for the heating element coil and vent holes
• Paper towels — for the first pass on heavy grease
• Toothpick or bamboo skewer — to clear blocked vent holes

What to avoid: Steel wool, abrasive scrub pads, scouring powder, and metal utensils. These strip the nonstick coating from the basket, which is both a functional problem (food sticks permanently) and a potential safety concern if the coating flakes. Hard-bristle brushes used with heavy pressure have the same effect.

How Often Should You Clean Your Air Fryer?

Cleaning frequency depends on use. As a baseline:

• After every use: Wipe the basket and tray with a damp cloth or a quick soap wash to prevent grease from hardening. This 3-minute habit prevents the need for intensive scrubbing later.
• Weekly (or every 3–5 uses for heavy users): Full clean including the interior walls, heating element exterior, and the inside of the drawer housing.
• Monthly: Thorough inspection of the heating element coil for carbon buildup; check vent holes for blockage; wipe down the exterior and control panel.

Cosori’s maintenance guidelines recommend cleaning after each use to prevent grease from carbonizing onto the basket surface, which becomes exponentially harder to remove the longer it sits.

How Do You Clean an Air Fryer Step by Step?

Step 1 — Unplug and Let It Cool Completely

Never clean a hot air fryer. The heating element retains heat longer than the basket, and contact with water while hot can cause steam burns or, in edge cases, damage to the element. Wait at least 30 minutes after the last use, or until the unit is cool to the touch at every surface including the exterior where the heating element is housed.

Step 2 — Disassemble Removable Parts

Remove the basket, the inner drawer tray (the perforated plate that sits inside the basket in most models), and any other removable inserts. On Ninja Foodi models, this typically means the crisper plate and the pot or basket that holds it. On Cosori basket models, it is the basket and the removable divider plate. Setting parts in a line in the order you removed them makes reassembly faster.

Step 3 — Handle the Basket and Tray First

For light grease after cooking proteins or vegetables: add a small amount of dish soap, add warm water to the basket so the bottom is covered, and let it soak for 10–15 minutes. A soft brush clears any remaining residue. Rinse thoroughly.

For heavy baked-on grease: make a paste of baking soda and a small amount of water (ratio roughly 3:1). Apply to stuck areas, let it sit for 10–15 minutes, then scrub with a soft brush. The mild abrasive action of baking soda removes carbonized grease without scratching the nonstick surface. For particularly stubborn residue, spray diluted white vinegar (50/50 with water) after the baking soda paste — the mild fizzing reaction helps lift the residue.

Step 4 — Clean the Interior Chamber

Turn the air fryer upside down (the top of the unit facing down) so you can see the heating element coil clearly. Use a slightly damp microfiber cloth to wipe the interior walls. For grease on the walls, apply a small amount of dish soap to the cloth rather than spraying water directly into the unit. Pay attention to the area directly below where the basket sits — this surface collects splatter from cooking.

Step 5 — Clean the Heating Element

This is the step most guides skip, and it is responsible for most smoke and off-flavor complaints. Inspect the coil at the top interior. Carbon deposits and grease accumulate here, especially after cooking fatty proteins. With the unit still inverted, use a soft-bristle toothbrush (dry or barely damp) to gently scrub the element coils. Do not apply water directly onto the element — wipe with a barely damp cloth, then immediately dry with a separate dry cloth. Never submerge the main unit.

Step 6 — Dry Everything Thoroughly Before Reassembly

This step is non-negotiable. Moisture trapped between the basket and tray creates steam during the next cooking session, which softens food that should crisp. More critically, moisture near the heating element can cause electrical issues or unpleasant smells. Air dry components on a clean towel for 20–30 minutes, then dry any remaining moisture with a dry microfiber cloth before reassembling. The interior walls and element should be completely dry before the unit is reassembled and plugged back in.

Hand-Washing vs. Dishwasher: Which Is Better?

Factor	Hand-Washing	Dishwasher
Nonstick Preservation	Best — gentle control	Risk — harsh detergents and high heat degrade coating over time
Effort	Low (daily wipe) to moderate (weekly scrub)	Minimal — load and run
Effectiveness on Stuck Food	High — baking soda paste and targeted scrubbing	Moderate — jets may not reach all angles
Safety for All Parts	Always safe	Only if labeled dishwasher-safe — check manual
Time Required	5–10 minutes (routine), 15–20 min (deep clean)	Run time plus drying (1–2 hours total)
Best For	Daily maintenance, preserving coating longevity	Occasional use when specifically labeled safe

Many manufacturers label the basket and tray as dishwasher-safe, but repeated dishwasher cycles degrade nonstick coatings faster than hand-washing due to the harsh detergent, prolonged hot water exposure, and high drying temperatures. If longevity of the nonstick coating matters, hand-wash exclusively. If convenience is the priority and your model explicitly states dishwasher-safe in the manual, the bottom rack is safer than the top rack (lower heat, gentler jets).

Vinegar vs. Baking Soda: Which Cleaning Agent Should You Use?

Both have specific roles. Use baking soda for physical scrubbing of stuck food — its mild abrasive action removes carbonized grease without scratching. Use diluted white vinegar for cutting through oily films, deodorizing, and sanitizing surfaces. Together, they are effective for a deep clean: apply baking soda paste first, then spray vinegar to activate the fizzing lift, then rinse clean. Avoid using undiluted vinegar on prolonged contact with nonstick coatings — at high concentrations, acid can affect the coating’s integrity over time. A 50/50 dilution is safe for periodic use.

Pro Tips for a Cleaner Air Fryer With Less Effort

1. Line the basket with parchment paper for messy foods. Perforated parchment liners (available for a few dollars) sit under food like wings or marinated proteins, catching drips before they bake onto the basket surface. Use air-fryer-specific perforated liners — solid parchment blocks airflow and defeats the purpose. Never preheat with parchment in the empty basket (it will fly up and hit the element).
2. Clean immediately after use while the residue is still soft. A 3-minute wipe-down while the basket is warm (not hot) removes grease that would require 15 minutes of soaking if left to harden.
3. Run the air fryer empty for 3–5 minutes at 400°F to burn off odors. If your air fryer smells like the last five things you cooked, run it empty at high temperature for a few minutes. The heat burns off surface residue and odor compounds. Ensure your kitchen is ventilated when doing this.
4. Use a dedicated basket for strongly scented foods. If you cook fish or heavily spiced foods regularly, the scent transfers to the basket’s porous surfaces and affects subsequent dishes. A thorough cleaning with vinegar solution after fish cooking prevents this cross-contamination.
5. Check the vent holes monthly with a toothpick. Blocked vents reduce airflow, which directly reduces cooking performance. A toothpick clears the small holes in under a minute and maintains the airflow the appliance depends on for even cooking.

How to Deep Clean a Neglected Air Fryer

If your air fryer has months of accumulated baked-on grease, the standard routine clean will not be enough. Here is the intensive protocol:

1. Disassemble all removable parts.
2. Submerge the basket and tray in a sink with hot water and a generous squirt of dish soap. Let soak for 30 minutes.
3. While soaking, apply a thick baking soda paste to any carbonized spots. Let sit.
4. After soaking, scrub with a soft-bristle brush. The softened grease should release with moderate pressure.
5. For any remaining spots, apply the baking soda paste and spray with 50/50 vinegar. Let fizz for 5 minutes, then scrub.
6. Rinse thoroughly, ensuring all baking soda residue is removed (it leaves a white film if not fully rinsed).
7. Clean the interior chamber and heating element as described in Steps 4–5 above.
8. Dry completely — at least 1 hour of air drying plus a final wipe with a dry cloth — before reassembling.

Common Air Fryer Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid

Myth: You Can’t Use Soap on the Basket

You absolutely can, and should. Mild dish soap is safe on nonstick coatings when used with a soft cloth or brush. The damage comes from abrasive scrubbers, not from soap itself. Use soap every time you wash the basket.

Myth: Soaking the Basket Is Always Safe

Soaking the removable basket and tray in water is safe. Soaking or submerging the main unit — the housing that contains the motor, fan, and heating element wiring — is never safe. Only the removable components listed in your manual as dishwasher-safe or hand-washable should go in water.

Myth: The Heating Element Doesn’t Need Cleaning

This is the most common misconception and the most consequential. The heating element accumulates grease and carbon deposits from every cooking session. Neglecting it is the primary cause of air fryer smoking and the acrid smell that sometimes accompanies high-heat cooking. Clean it gently with a soft brush at least once a month, or more frequently if you cook fatty foods regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put my air fryer basket in the dishwasher?

Only if your specific model’s manual explicitly states the basket is dishwasher-safe. Even then, hand-washing is gentler and extends the nonstick coating’s lifespan significantly. Repeated dishwasher cycles expose the coating to harsh detergents and prolonged high heat — conditions that degrade nonstick surfaces faster than careful hand-washing. When in doubt, check the manual for your Ninja, Cosori, Instant Vortex, or Philips model, as policies vary by product line.

How often should I clean my air fryer?

Wipe the basket and tray after every use — this 3-minute step prevents grease from carbonizing and makes weekly deep cleaning much faster. Do a full interior clean including the chamber walls and heating element once a week for everyday users, or every 3–5 uses if you cook less frequently. Monthly, inspect the vent holes and clean the exterior housing and control panel.

Is it safe to use vinegar to clean my air fryer?

Yes, diluted white vinegar is safe and effective for cutting grease, removing odors, and sanitizing the basket and interior surfaces. Use a 50/50 mixture of white distilled vinegar and water. Avoid applying undiluted vinegar directly to nonstick coatings for extended periods — at full concentration, the acidity can affect the coating over repeated use. The diluted solution is safe for regular cleaning.

Why does my air fryer smell bad even after cleaning?

Persistent odors usually indicate grease buildup on the heating element that a basket cleaning does not address. Turn the unit upside down, inspect the heating coil, and clean it gently with a soft-bristle brush. Then run the empty air fryer at 400°F for 5 minutes with the kitchen ventilated — this burns off any remaining surface residue. If the smell persists, the vent holes may be blocked or there may be grease pooled in the bottom of the drawer housing below the removable basket.

What is the best way to remove really stuck-on grease?

A baking soda paste applied directly to the stuck area and left for 15–20 minutes before scrubbing is the most effective method that is safe for nonstick coatings. Apply the paste (3 parts baking soda to 1 part water), let it sit, then spray with diluted white vinegar to activate a mild fizzing reaction that helps lift the residue. Finish with a soft brush and warm soapy water. Dawn Powerwash spray — which The Kitchn found highly effective in a 2026 air fryer cleaning comparison — is another strong option for heavy grease without harsh scrubbing.

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