Air fryers have become a staple appliance in many households, prized for their ability to cook food quickly and efficiently while helping to reduce energy bills. To keep them performing at their best, regular cleaning is essential. While it is recommended to clean the air fryer after every use, this is not always feasible. When a deep clean becomes necessary, you only need a few common kitchen items to get the job done without any scrubbing.
The Three-Ingredient Method
Cleaning expert Chantel Mila, known as Mama Mila on TikTok, has shared her favourite hack for cleaning air fryers. She claims that with just three ingredients, you can remove even the toughest grime without any elbow grease. The process begins by removing the basket from the air fryer and placing it in the sink. Next, generously coat the basket with baking soda, ensuring that all stuck-on food residue is covered. Then, drizzle washing up liquid over the baking soda, followed by pouring boiling water over the mixture. The baking soda will fizz, helping to loosen burnt-on food. Allow the solution to sit for a while, then simply pour away the dirty water. No scrubbing is required.
Why This Works
The combination of baking soda and washing up liquid is highly effective at breaking down grease and grime. Baking soda acts as a gentle abrasive, lifting stuck-on food without causing wear and tear. Its alkaline nature also helps neutralise odours, making it ideal for eliminating lingering smells from the air fryer. Washing up liquid adds surfactants, which reduce surface tension and allow water and oil to mix, targeting bacteria that baking soda alone cannot reach. For particularly stubborn spots, you can create a paste by mixing baking soda with a small amount of water.
Additional Benefits
Dr Oetker, a manufacturer of baking products, explains that baking soda's gentle abrasive properties make it a natural cleaning alternative that removes grime without damaging surfaces. Vanguard Cleaning notes that baking soda's alkaline chemistry helps deodorise and absorb bad smells, as most odour-causing compounds are acidic. By reacting with these acids, baking soda neutralises them, leaving your air fryer fresh and clean.
This simple, cost-effective method ensures your air fryer remains in top condition, saving you time and effort while maintaining its efficiency.
