Air fryers have cemented their place as a modern kitchen staple, praised for creating crispy meals with less oil. However, a widespread cleaning oversight could be turning this convenient appliance into a potential fire risk in homes across the UK.
The Hidden Danger Inside Your Appliance
While most users diligently scrub the removable basket, there is a critical, often-missed area where grease and grime accumulate. This is the heating element, the metal coil usually located on the roof of the air fryer cavity. It generates the intense heat needed for cooking, but splattered fat and food debris can build up on and around it.
Cleaning and cooking content creator Ciara, known online as @thetummyfairy, highlighted the issue. "Have you looked inside your air fryer? Up where the element is there's loads of grease. This could be a fire hazard if not cleaned properly," she warned.
A Simple Two-Ingredient Cleaning Solution
Ciara demonstrated a straightforward and cheap method to tackle this grimy build-up using items already in most kitchens: water and lemon. Her hack is designed to loosen stubborn grease without risking damage to the sensitive element.
The process involves placing heat-resistant bowls filled with water and lemon slices into the air fryer basket. She then ran the appliance at 200°C for ten minutes. The steam produced works to soften the baked-on grease, making it far easier to wipe away.
Safety First: How to Wipe Down the Element
After the steam cycle, it is crucial to let the air fryer cool completely. Ciara emphasised a key safety rule: "Make sure there's no water, as you don't want water getting in there. You can't touch the element, so you are just cleaning around it as best you can."
Using a damp cloth, she carefully wiped the areas surrounding the coil. For tricky nooks, she employed an old toothbrush to dislodge residue without making direct contact with the element itself. She admitted the task requires some "elbow grease," and some stains may persist, but the result is significantly safer.
This simple maintenance step, often omitted from routine cleans, is vital for both the appliance's longevity and household safety. Regularly addressing this hidden compartment ensures your air fryer remains a helpful kitchen ally, not a hidden danger.
