Air fryers have become a kitchen sensation in recent years, praised for their economical and healthier approach to cooking – yet they’re notoriously tricky to clean.
These handy appliances are not only cost-effective when it comes to whipping up smaller meals but also offer a healthier frying alternative by using minimal oil. They’re quick to operate, but the most tedious aspect is the cleanup, often due to greasy residue that accumulates inside.
Their compact size and intricate design can make air fryers awkward to clean thoroughly. However, nobody fancies spending excessive time and effort on cleaning post-dining.
Fortunately, there’s a method to tackle the mess while you dine, and it’s just coming to light for many, reports the Mirror.
A culinary enthusiast stumbled upon a goldmine of advice when a Reddit user divulged a brilliant tip: let the air fryer clean itself as you enjoy your meal.
Posting on the popular platform, the individual sought assistance: “Hi, I was wondering if anybody knows any cleaning hacks, because I have been told that cleaning air fryers can be notoriously difficult.”
The top response from another user offered a self-cleaning solution. Sharing their method on Reddit, they advised: “What type do you have? I have the bucket style. After I cook while it is warm, put warm water and soap in the bucket. Let sit while you eat. By the time you finish eating, use a sponge to clean. Problem solved.”
Another person echoed a comparable cleaning approach, advising: “Put a little dish soap in the basket, if you have a removable tray with the grate holes leave it in. Add hot water as far as you can see dirt or oil on the sides. Let it sit this way 10-20 minutes. Take a microfibre cloth or very soft sponge, gently clear sides and bottom with the water still in it. Remove tray, wipe with cloth or soft sponge. Rinse completely with cold water and you should be good to go.”
However, do check your air fryers manual before attempting this method, just in case its not suited for your model you wouldn’t want to damage it by putting water where it’s not supposed to be. Regular quick cleans after using your air fryer are superb for maintenance, but an exhaustive deep clean neednt be conducted too often, depending on the frequency of use.
Cleaning sensation Mrs Hinch has also hared her favourite method to avoid washing the gadget daily.
The Essex-based cleaning guru, Sophie Hinchliffe, shared with her vast following of 4.7 million how she simply lines her air fryer with baking parchment, making cleaning up a breeze post-cooking.
With most splatters ending up on the liners rather than the device, the 33-year-old exclaimed to her followers: “(Here’s my) air fryer I don’t know what I did before I got this guys, it’s so good. I bought one because my cousin has one and she said it’s amazing. So I got the same one as her.”
Sophie, indicating the parchment paper, said: “These are from Amazon baking liners and I use them to keep it quite clean inside. Brilliant little hack.”