A cleaning expert has shared how to get your air fryer spotlessly clean using just two items you already have in the kitchen
Air fryers continue to be among the UK’s most popular kitchen gadgets, making mealtimes quicker and easier. But it’s crucial to maintain the appliance properly to ensure it doesn’t compromise the machine’s cooking performance and efficiency.
Experts recommend cleaning air fryers after every use to keep them functioning smoothly, though they should also receive a thorough deep clean from time to time. This helps guarantee there are no stubborn food remnants or dirt hiding in awkward spots and hard-to-reach areas.
Cleaning guru Chantel Mila, who operates under the name Mama Mila on TikTok, recently shared some of her best tips that she thinks every home should know about. When it comes to cleaning air fryers, you won’t need to put in much elbow grease at all, as it requires just two everyday kitchen essentials to complete the task.
To start, take out the basket from the air fryer and set it in the sink. Scatter a generous helping of bicarbonate of soda into the basket, ensuring any stubborn grime is completely covered.
Next, add a drizzle of washing-up liquid over the top. Then pour boiling water over the combination, rinsing away the bicarbonate of soda fizz, reports the Mirror.
This will work to lift any food that’s become burnt onto the air fryer basket.
Allow the mixture to do its work and soak in the air fryer basket for a period.
Once you’re happy that all the persistent grease and grime has been loosened, pour away the dirty water.
There really is no need to scrub at all. While you can simply leave the ingredients to do their thing, you could also whip up a bicarbonate of soda paste for any particularly stubborn areas.
The combination of bicarbonate of soda and washing-up liquid can cut through greasy residue, making it ideal for tackling grimy kitchen surfaces and dirty pans.
Adding washing-up liquid to the mixture will increase the number of surfactants — molecules that reduce the surface tension between two substances — helping water and oil to blend together more effectively.
Washing-up liquid will also target any bacteria that bicarbonate of soda cannot reach on its own, keeping your air fryer clean and safe to use.
Dr Oetker explained that bicarbonate of soda works brilliantly as a natural cleaning alternative owing to its gentle abrasive properties. It can help shift stubborn grime without causing “wear and tear”, loosening stuck-on food without the need for vigorous scrubbing.
Vanguard Cleaning also pointed out that thanks to bicarbonate of soda’s alkaline chemical properties, it can help to deodorise and absorb lingering unpleasant odours left behind by food in the air fryer.
Dr Oetker explained why bicarbonate of soda is so effective at banishing unwanted smells: “Most nasty smells in the air contain some sort of acid. As an alkali, baking soda reacts with those acids and neutralises them.”
Both of these everyday household staples work by surrounding and lifting grease and dirt particles from the affected area, making light work of stubborn stains and grime.
Baking soda also doubles as a natural deodoriser, helping to banish any lingering odours after a thorough deep clean.
