How do you clean an air fryer? A viral TikTok promises results – but some have concerns

To make their cleaning solution, Akinmade combined baking soda, dish soap, water and Magic Cleaner, an American product for stainless steel. She then applied the mixture to the inside of the unplugged device, scrubbed away the dirt with a scouring pad, and finally polished with a damp microfiber cloth.

“Do this final step at night so it can dry for at least 12 hours before you need to use it again,” she suggested.

However, not everyone was impressed by the viral hack – several expressed concerns about the use of water and cleaning products around the air fryer's heating element.

“I won’t take that risk,” said one, and a second added: “Electricity and water never mix… does it still work?”

“I did something similar and got a few drops on the heating element… now my air fryer is turning off the power,” a third shared, while a fourth commented: “Use an oven cleaner instead. This could destroy the element.”

“I tried this once and when I turned it back on it made fireworks – and I thought, 'Who am I going to blame for breaking the air fryer?'” said another.

An electronic device should only ever be cleaned when it is switched off and unplugged and the heating element should be completely dry before use.

Recommended cleaning methods for air fryers often depend on the model and manufacturer. For example, the Dutch company Philips recommends using a soft-bristled brush to remove food residue from the element. However, avoid hard bristles or steel wire as they could damage the coating. The area behind the element can be reached with a flexible brush, it goes on to say.

Although the device is praised for its convenience, there are some foods you shouldn't put in an air fryer – from breaded foods to burger patties.

And while an air fryer is often touted as a healthier alternative to traditional deep-frying methods, there's also a downside: cooking your food at high temperatures can increase the risk of potentially harmful chemicals like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or heterocyclic amines (HCA). form in foods such as meat or fish. Users are advised not to overcook things.

If you haven't decided on the air fryer yet, here's everything you need to know before you take the plunge Herald Featuring Nikki Birrell.