Garden & Home Reviews is reader-supported. We earn affiliate commissions from qualifying purchases — how this works.

How to Clean an Air Fryer

Home/Resources/Small Kitchen Appliances/Clean an Air Fryer
DH
Written & researched by Derek Holt Home & Appliances Editor
Updated August 2026
Wide environmental view of a person's hands lifting food from a countertop appliance in a bright kitchen, in warm evening lamplight

Affiliate Disclosure

Some links on this page are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you. We do not buy, test, or physically handle the products we cover; our rankings come from aggregated owner reviews, ratings and expert consensus. Commissions never change our verdicts. How we rank · full disclosure.

Cleaning an air fryer is a 15-to-20-minute beginner task with no tools and only dish soap and baking soda — free, essentially, and something to do after every use. The basket and drawer wash like any nonstick pan; the part people neglect is the heating coil up top, which is the number-one cause of a smoking air fryer. The whole job is: unplug and cool it, wash the removable parts by hand, wipe the coil, and clear the bottom drawer. The one rule that protects the machine — never use metal scourers or abrasive powders on the nonstick, which strip the coating and shorten the basket's life.

How to Deep Clean Your Air Fryer And NOT RUIN It!

Tools and materials

Close-up detail of the material being worked in a small kitchen appliances project, in soft overcast light

Step 1: Unplug and cool completely

Turn the air fryer off, unplug it, and let it cool fully before touching the basket or reaching near the coil. The heating element stays hot well after cooking. Never clean an air fryer that is still warm or plugged in — the coil can burn you and water near live components is dangerous.

Step 2: Wash the basket and drawer

Remove the basket, tray, and drawer and wash them by hand in warm soapy water with a soft sponge. Hand washing preserves the nonstick better than the dishwasher even on dishwasher-safe parts. For stuck-on bits, soak in warm soapy water for 10 to 15 minutes first, then wipe — no metal scrubbers.

Over-the-shoulder view of a person's hands lifting food from a countertop appliance in a bright kitchen, in warm evening lamplight

Step 3: Tackle baked-on grease

For baked-on spots, spread a paste of baking soda and a little water, let it sit a few minutes to soften the residue, then scrub gently with a soft brush and rinse. Patience and a soak clear buildup that aggressive scrubbing would only smear while damaging the coating.

Step 4: Wipe the heating coil

With the unit cool and unplugged, turn it over or reach inside the top to the exposed heating coil and wipe it with a damp cloth or soft brush to remove grease and splatter. Keep water away from the electrical parts. A clean coil is what stops the air fryer from smoking on the next cook.

Overhead view of a person's hands lifting food from a countertop appliance in a bright kitchen, in soft early-morning light

Step 5: Dry and reassemble

Dry every part completely before putting the air fryer back together — moisture in the basket or drawer can cause sputtering or odor on the next use. Wipe the exterior and control panel with a damp cloth. Reinsert the dry basket and drawer, and it is ready to cook clean.

Where to go next

Keep the countertop lineup clean with our guides to cleaning a toaster oven, deep cleaning a blender, and descaling a coffee maker. Everything sits under the small kitchen appliances hub.

We never buy or physically test the products we rank — our picks come from aggregated owner reviews and expert consensus, explained on how we rank.

Straight Answers

Frequently Asked

Can you put an air fryer basket in the dishwasher?

Many air fryer baskets and trays are dishwasher-safe, but the dishwasher's harsh detergent and heat wear down the nonstick coating faster than hand washing, so most owners and manufacturers recommend washing by hand to make the coating last. Check your specific model's manual — some explicitly say dishwasher-safe, others do not. When in doubt, hand wash with warm soapy water and a soft sponge. Never use metal scourers or abrasive powders on a nonstick basket, dishwasher-safe or not, because they strip the coating.

How do I clean the heating element of an air fryer?

Unplug the unit and let it cool completely, then turn it over or look inside the top to reach the exposed heating coil. Wipe the coil gently with a damp cloth or a soft brush to remove grease and food splatter — never use water pooling near the electrical components. For baked-on residue, a soft brush with a little baking soda paste on a damp cloth works. A dirty coil is the most common cause of an air fryer smoking, so this step matters.

Why does my air fryer smoke?

The usual cause is grease and food residue baked onto the heating element or pooled in the drawer beneath the basket, which burns and smokes when the unit heats up. High-fat foods drip fat that ignites into smoke if the drawer is not cleaned between uses. Clean the coil and the bottom drawer, and for very fatty foods add a tablespoon of water to the drawer to stop the fat from smoking. A clean air fryer rarely smokes; a greasy one always will.

How often should I clean my air fryer?

Wipe the basket and drawer after every use — a quick warm-soapy-water wash while the residue is fresh takes a minute and prevents buildup. Do a deeper clean of the interior and heating coil every week or two, or sooner if you cook fatty foods often or notice smoke or odor. Letting grease accumulate makes it bake on harder and eventually causes smoking and off-flavors. Frequent light cleaning is far easier than fighting baked-on buildup later.

How do I remove baked-on grease from an air fryer?

Make a paste of baking soda and a little water, spread it on the baked-on spots, and let it sit for a few minutes to soften the residue, then scrub gently with a soft brush or non-scratch sponge and rinse. For a greasy basket, soak it in warm soapy water for 10 to 15 minutes first to loosen the buildup. Avoid metal scrubbers and abrasive cleaners that damage the nonstick. Patience and a soak beat aggressive scrubbing that ruins the coating.