How do I clean an air fryer and other small appliances?

Cleaning the parts that matter — including the heating element people never look at — without damaging non-stick coatings.

Difficulty: beginner
Time: 25 min
Read: 2 min
Safety: caution

Short answer

Wash the basket in warm soapy water while it is still warm, and clean the heating element above it, which is where the smoke and smell come from. Never use metal scourers on the non-stick basket.

Small appliances get cleaned superficially and then start smoking or smelling. The cause is almost always residue on a part people never look at — the heating element, the lid interior, or the seal.

Safety

Unplug any appliance before cleaning and never immerse the base or any part containing the heating element or motor in water. Let everything dry completely before reassembling and plugging in.

What you'll need

Warm soapy water
Soft brush or sponge
Bicarbonate of soda (optional)
Cotton buds (optional)

Step by step

Unplug and let it cool, but clean while still warm.Warm residue lifts easily; cold baked-on residue does not. Ten minutes after use is the ideal moment.
Wash the basket and drawer in warm soapy water.Soft sponge only. Metal scourers destroy the non-stick coating, after which food sticks permanently.
Clean the heating element above the basket.This is the step almost everyone misses. Turn the unit upside down or look up inside — splattered grease bakes onto the element and causes smoke and smell.
Use a bicarbonate paste on stubborn baked-on residue.Apply, leave ten minutes, then work gently with a soft brush. It lifts residue without abrasion.
Wipe the interior housing.A damp cloth, never anything dripping. Water inside the housing reaches the electronics.
Never immerse the base.Anything containing an element, motor or electronics goes nowhere near a sink. Wipe only.
Clean the seals and gaps with a cotton bud.Around the drawer edge, under the lid, in the vents. Grease and crumbs accumulate there and cause smells.
Dry everything completely before reassembling.Especially anything that goes back near electrical parts. Trapped moisture is both a fault risk and a smell risk.

Tips

If the appliance smokes, it is nearly always grease on the element rather than the food. Clean it and the smoke stops.
The same principles apply to toasters, blenders and kettles: wipe the housing, wash the removable parts, and clean the part you never look at.
Toaster crumb trays should be emptied regularly. Accumulated crumbs are a genuine fire risk, not just a mess.

Common mistakes

Never cleaning the heating element — Baked-on grease there causes smoke and a burnt smell that cleaning the basket does not touch.
Using metal scourers on non-stick — One pass damages the coating permanently, after which food sticks and the coating can flake.
Immersing the base unit — Water reaches the element and the electronics, which can destroy the appliance and create a shock risk.

Questions people ask

Why does my air fryer smoke?

Almost always grease baked onto the heating element above the basket, rather than the food. Unplug it, turn it over, and clean the element — the smoking stops.

Can air fryer baskets go in the dishwasher?

Many are dishwasher safe, but repeated dishwasher cycles degrade non-stick coatings faster than hand washing. Check the manual and hand wash if you want it to last.