How to Deep-Clean Your Air Fryer Without Scrubbing
Air fryers remain among the UK's most cherished kitchen appliances, transforming mealtimes into quicker, simpler affairs. However, maintaining the air fryer properly is crucial to prevent any decline in its cooking performance and efficiency. Experts recommend cleaning air fryers after each use to maintain optimal condition, and performing a comprehensive deep clean from time to time. This ensures no persistent food debris or dirt remains hidden in awkward spots and tight spaces.
Cleaning specialist Chantel Mila, known as Mama Mila on TikTok, has recently shared some of her finest recommendations that she reckons every home should be aware of. When tackling air fryer cleaning, there's no need for exhausting scrubbing sessions, as just two everyday kitchen essentials—bicarbonate of soda and washing-up liquid—will accomplish the task.
Step-by-Step Cleaning Method
Start by taking out the basket from the air fryer and positioning it in the sink. Scatter a liberal quantity of bicarbonate of soda into the basket, ensuring any tough grime is completely covered. Then, add a drizzle of washing-up liquid over the top. Follow by pouring boiling water across the combination, rinsing away the fizzing bicarbonate of soda. This process helps to shift any food that has become burnt onto the air fryer basket.
Allow the solution to do its work and soak within the air fryer basket for some time. When you're confident that all the stubborn grease and dirt has been released, empty out the grimy water. There should be absolutely no need for scrubbing. While you can simply allow the ingredients to work their magic together, you could also create a bicarbonate of soda paste for particularly stubborn areas.
Why This Combination Works
The pairing of bicarbonate of soda and washing-up liquid effectively breaks down greasy residue, making it ideal for tackling greasy kitchen surfaces and various pans. Incorporating washing-up liquid into the mixture increases the number of surfactants—molecules that reduce the surface tension between two substances—enabling water and oil to combine more efficiently. Washing-up liquid will also eliminate any bacteria that bicarbonate of soda cannot reach, ensuring your air fryer stays both clean and safe for use.
Dr Oetker highlighted that bicarbonate of soda works remarkably well as a natural cleaning alternative thanks to its gentle abrasive properties. It can help remove stubborn grime without causing "wear and tear", lifting away stuck-on food without requiring vigorous scrubbing. Vanguard Cleaning also pointed out that thanks to bicarbonate of soda's alkaline chemical properties, it can help to deodorise and absorb unpleasant odours left lingering from food in the air fryer.
Dr Oetker explained why bicarbonate of soda is so effective at eliminating 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 essentials function by encircling and removing grease and dirt particles from the targeted surface, successfully addressing persistent stains and grime. Baking soda additionally serves as a natural deodoriser, assisting in eradicating any remaining odours after a comprehensive deep clean.
