He best air fryers They have gained popularity and are now a staple in many kitchens; is easy to see why. This handy countertop convection oven can quickly cook up fried delights in no time, with the same crispy, delicious results you’ll often find with traditional frying.
Considered as a healthier Alternatively, deep fryers cook foods crispy using little or no oil, and are even slightly cheaper to operate than a standard ovensaving you money on energy bills.
After own my fryer For several years, I have certainly been impressed by their crispy, flavorful results; I often use it to reheat cold leftovers to recover that freshness. But in addition to knowing how to prepare the the best air fryer recipes to impress the guests, knowing how to use a deep fryer correctly is equally important to your overall performance.
This includes its maintenance and cleaning. And while it may be a tedious task, it turns out that I had been cleaning my air fryer poorly. In fact, this common cleaning mistake will not only damage your air fryer, but could also cause serious health problems. So what is this exactly?
If your basket is dishwasher safe according to the manual, you can do that instead, but I have always found that hand-washing my basket quickly after use is more convenient.
However, one of my biggest complaints is getting rid of the greasy residue that builds up around the sides of the basket. Despite my best efforts to soak it in hot soapy water and scrub it well with a sponge, it still hadn’t removed the stubborn grease.
So the only thing that would seem effective to remove it is washing with a scouring pad. This quickly removed all traces of stuck-on grease and kept it spotless.
However, experts have warned against cleaning with this product, as it is too abrasive and can scratch or damage the fryer. In the worst case scenario, the rough material could chip away at the basket’s non-stick surface coating over time, potentially getting into your food. Non-stick coatings contain PFAS/PFOS which is highly carcinogenic and, if ingested, could cause serious damage to health.
Once this happens, it is no longer safe to cook with your fryer and you will need to consider purchasing a replacement basket, if available for your model, or a new fryer.
While my air fryer basket showed no signs of damage (yet), I found a smart solution to protect the basket from stubborn, greasy residue. You can purchase disposable, food-grade parchment liners for fryers for easy cleanup. Simply line the basket before placing food on top and it will absorb excess grease, leaving the basket clean.
These disposable liners like these disposable paper air fryer liners ($9, Amazon), come in circular or square shapes to fit your air fryer basket. I found these to be a lifesaver and seriously cut down on my cleaning time between uses.
the best way to clean a fryer Use a sponge or soft-bristle brush to remove any residue. If there is any burnt residue, you can let the basket or racks soak in soapy water before cleaning for 20 minutes, or longer if necessary. Then rinse well and let the basket/racks dry completely.
So, if you don’t want to risk your health or the expense of purchasing a replacement fryer, be sure to use non-abrasive cleaners and always follow the cleaning guidelines that come with your fryer. This will end up being more profitable in the long run!
- Check out these 11 air fryer mistakes you’re probably making and how to avoid them
- I Test Appliances for a Living – Here Are My Top 5 Air Fryer Tips
- You could benefit from these 5 pros and 5 cons of cooking with an air fryer
