Have you ever considered how frequently you should be cleaning your air fryer?
Many of us use our air fryers daily—they cook most foods perfectly and are more efficient than using the oven.
If you own an air fryer, it’s likely you use it quite often.
Air fryers cook food by rapidly circulating heat, so while our roast potatoes might come out crispy, they haven’t actually been fried.
Because of this, many of us use them regularly—although there are some foods that shouldn’t be cooked in them.
However, despite frequent use, it turns out we aren’t cleaning them as often as we should.
In fact, a study of British air fryer users found that 32 percent are not cleaning theirs properly.
A new survey from Expert Reviews indicates that although air fryers should be cleaned after every use, many people don’t follow this recommendation.
Those over the age of 55 are more diligent about cleaning, and women are 10 percent more likely to clean their air fryers after each use.
If you find cleaning your air fryer tedious, there are a few tips to make it easier.
Using a liner can protect your basket, and it’s also helpful to avoid overfilling the fryer to prevent crumbs and grease buildup. Add salt only after removing the food from the fryer.
Expert Reviews’ air fryer expert, Danielle Amato, stated: “We recommend giving your air fryer and any associated peripherals a clean after every use.
“Small crumbs, grease, and general grime build up in your basket after every use and can be hard to spot on the dark-colored interiors of your air fryer.
“Though your basket or plate may appear clean after a simple cook, multiple uses without cleaning can cause dirt to bake on or burn, making future cleans more difficult, negatively impacting the flavor of your food, and potentially damaging your fryer’s non-stick coating.”
Recently, a doctor discussed the dangers of damaging the non-stick coating on your air fryer.
Dr. Karan Rajan explained to TikTok followers that these appliances are coated with substances called polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
PFAS are a group of chemicals used in food packaging, toiletries, non-stick cookware, and carpets.
According to the American Cancer Society, PFAS could be a health concern.
This is ‘because they don’t break down easily and can remain in the environment and in the human body for a long time.’
“There are many PFAS, but the ones that have been made and used the most in the United States are PFOA and PFOS,” they explain.
“While these two chemicals are no longer made in the US, people can still be exposed to them.”
Dr. Karan clarified that there’s only a potential issue if the air fryer is damaged.
“As long as you don’t plan on eating the lining of your air fryer, you will be fine,” he said.
“And if you’re really worried about the non-stick coating, you can use a ceramic or stainless steel air fryer.”