Wings, bacon, sausages, crumbed chicken: the food an air fryer does best is often the food that leaves the most behind.
Grease that is left to sit hardens, smells, and eventually affects how well your air fryer cooks.
The good news is that cleaning it properly takes minutes, as long as you do it at the right time and in the right way.
Here is how to get your fryer spotless without damaging it.
What You Will Find in This Guide
- Why greasy food needs cleaning up straight away
- How to clean the drawer and fry tray
- Dealing with stubborn, baked-on grease
- Cleaning the inside of the unit safely
- How to keep a dual air fryer easy to maintain
Clean It While It Is Still Warm
Timing matters more than technique.
Grease wipes away easily while it is still soft, but once it cools and hardens it takes real effort to shift, and that effort is what damages non-stick coatings.
Always switch off and unplug your air fryer first, then let it cool until it is warm rather than hot.
That is the window you want.
Cleaning the Drawer and Fry Tray
Remove the drawer and the fry tray and wash them in warm water with a little dish soap, using a soft cloth or sponge.
Never use steel wool, scouring pads or abrasive powders, as these will scratch the non-stick surface and shorten the life of the appliance.
Most Bennett Read air fryer parts are dishwasher-safe, which makes greasy food far less of a chore.
Use the gentlest dishwasher setting at a low temperature of no more than 60°C to protect the coating.
Shifting Stubborn, Baked-On Grease
For grease that has hardened, soak the drawer in warm soapy water for 15 to 20 minutes before washing.
Do not scrub it dry.
A bicarbonate of soda paste also works well. Mix bicarb with a little water, spread it over the greasy patches, leave it for 10 minutes, then wipe away gently with a soft cloth.
There is also a simple trick for loosening grime inside the fryer.
Place a bowl of water with a splash of vinegar and lemon juice inside, run the air fryer at 200°C for 10 minutes, then wipe the interior once it has cooled.
The steam does the work for you.
Cleaning Inside the Unit
The interior needs attention too, especially the heating element above the drawer, where grease and smoke residue collect.
Wipe it with a damp, soapy cloth once the appliance is cool, then go over it with a clean damp cloth.
Never pour water into the unit or submerge the main body, as it houses the electrical components.
Make sure everything is completely dry before you reassemble and use it again.
Looking After a Dual Air Fryer
A double air fryer needs the same care, just twice over.
The Bennett Read 9L Dual Air Fryer has two removable drawers and detachable fry trays, both dishwasher-safe, so cooking greasy food in one drawer while keeping the other for something lighter makes cleaning up considerably easier.
Whichever model you own , a quick wipe after every use beats a deep clean once a month.
Greasy food is exactly what an air fryer is built for, so there is no reason to avoid it.
Clean while the appliance is still warm, stay away from anything abrasive, use bicarbonate of soda for the stubborn spots, and keep the interior wiped down.
Do that and your fryer will cook as well in five years as it does today.
FAQ
How do you clean a greasy air fryer?
Unplug it and let it cool until warm.
Remove the drawer and fry tray and wash them in warm soapy water with a soft cloth, or in the dishwasher on a gentle setting no hotter than 60°C.
Wipe the interior and heating element with a damp soapy cloth, then dry everything fully before reassembling.
What are greasy foods?
Greasy foods are those that release a lot of fat or oil while cooking.
In an air fryer, the usual culprits are bacon, sausages, chicken wings, crumbed and battered foods, burgers, cheese-topped dishes and anything marinated in oil.
They cook beautifully, but they leave residue behind that is best cleaned up straight away.
What is the easiest way to clean the inside of an air fryer?
Place a heatproof bowl of water with a splash of vinegar and lemon juice inside, then run the air fryer at 200°C for 10 minutes.
The steam loosens grease and grime.
Once it has cooled, simply wipe the interior with a damp cloth.
It takes almost no effort and works on built-up residue.
Can you clean an air fryer with bicarbonate of soda?
Yes.
Bicarbonate of soda is ideal because it lifts grease without scratching non-stick surfaces.
Mix it with a little water to form a paste, spread it over the greasy areas, leave for around 10 minutes, then wipe away with a soft cloth.
Avoid scrubbing hard and rinse thoroughly before using the air fryer again.
