How to Clean Your Air Fryer (Without Wrecking the Coating)

Let’s face it: a clean air fryer cooks better, lasts longer, and—most importantly—stops tonight’s french fries from tasting faintly like last week’s salmon.

The good news? Keeping it spotless only takes a few minutes. You just need to know the right way to do it, and exactly what to avoid so you don’t accidentally ruin that precious non-stick coating.

Here is exactly how to clean an air fryer the simple, stress-free way I use in my own kitchen.

How to Clean an Air Fryer in 60 Seconds (After Every Use)

This is the little habit that saves you from ever having to do a massive, frustrating scrub later:

1. Unplug and chill: Let the machine cool down for about 20 to 30 minutes.
2. Suds it up: Pull out the basket and drawer and wash them in warm, soapy water with a soft sponge. Yes, most of them say “dishwasher safe” on the box, but a quick hand-wash is so much gentler on the coating and helps it last years longer.
3. A quick wipe: Take a damp cloth to the inside of the main unit to catch any random grease splatters.
4. Dry it off: Dry everything completely before putting it back together.

That’s it. Do this, and grease never gets the chance to bake on.

The Deep Clean (Every Week or Two)

For the gradual build-up that a quick wipe might miss:

Stuck-on food

For those stubborn, baked-on bits, make a quick paste out of baking soda and a little water. Smear it on the tough spots, walk away for 5 to 10 minutes, and then scrub gently with a soft sponge. The paste lifts the grease right off without scratching the surface.

The heating element

Once the machine is unplugged and totally cool, flip the whole thing upside down. You will see the heating coil up top. Give it a gentle wipe with a damp cloth or a soft brush to knock off any splattered grease. (Fun fact: a dirty coil is the secret culprit behind most smoky air fryers!).

The exterior

Just wipe the outside down with a damp cloth and a tiny drop of dish soap. Just be careful never to let water seep into the vents, buttons, or dial.

How to Deal with Lingering Smells

If your air fryer is holding onto a ghost of dinners past (bacon and fish, I’m looking at you), try this:

• Wash the basket, rub the inside all over with half a lemon or some lemon juice, and let it sit for about 30 minutes before rinsing.
• Or, place a small, oven-safe ramekin of water with a splash of vinegar inside the empty, clean basket. Run the machine on a low heat for a few minutes to steam out the odors.

What NOT to Do (How to Ruin Your Coating)

• Drop the steel wool. No metal scourers, ever. Once that non-stick surface scratches, your food is going to stick to it forever.
• Skip the harsh chemicals. No abrasive powders or heavy-duty oven cleaners. They will eat right through the coating.
• Never dunk the main unit. Only the removable basket and drawer can go in the sink. The main body holds all the electronics!
• Ditch the aerosol cooking sprays. Canned aerosol sprays leave a weird, sticky residue that ruins non-stick coatings over time. Just toss your food in a little oil in a mixing bowl instead.
• Don’t put it away wet. Trapped moisture breeds weird smells and can even cause rust on any exposed metal parts.

How Often Should You Clean It?

Do your 60-second wipe-down after every single use. Give it a deeper clean every week or two depending on how greasy your meals have been, and peek at that heating element once a month. If your machine ever starts smoking while you cook, a good scrub is almost always the best first fix to try.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the air fryer basket dishwasher-safe?

Technically, most modern ones are. But the intense heat and harsh detergents in a dishwasher will wear down that non-stick coating way faster than doing it by hand. For a longer life, stick to hand-washing if you can.

How do I get sticky brown residue off the basket?

Fill the basket with warm, soapy water and let it soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, go in with your baking-soda paste and a soft brush. Resist the urge to use anything metal or abrasive!

Can I put water in the air fryer to clean it?

You can wash the removable drawer in the sink, and you can put a little heatproof dish of water inside the basket to steam away smells. But absolutely never pour water directly into the bottom of the electronic base unit.

A clean machine that still smokes? Read our guide on why air fryers smoke and how to fix it—and then get back to the fun part with our air-fryer recipes.