The secret part of your Airfryer that you forget to clean

AIR fryers have become the ‘must-have’ kitchen gadget as foodies can cook up a storm in minutes.

But like most things in your kitchen, cleaning it can be a chore, especially if you forget to wipe down this important part.

People have even had trouble getting their air fryers squeaky clean and many have even turned to the internet for help.

Even on Reddit, it seems like home chefs are desperate to get their cooking equipment clean – completely wires dedicated to the topics (yes, you read that right).

One user, fed up with his dirty air fryer, asked: “Hello, I was wondering if anyone knew any cleaning tips as I’ve been told that cleaning air fryers can be notoriously difficult.”

While you can’t blame them for asking for help, it seems like the way you approach cleaning your air fryer often depends on the type you own.

This was reflected on the forum, where users came up with a host of cleaning tips and tricks for them to discover.

“I have the bucket style. While it’s hot, put warm water and soap in the bucket,” revealed a home cook, adding, “By the time you’re done eating, [you can just] use a sponge to clean. Problem solved.”

Another suggested removing each section to get the best clean possible, writing: “Remove the small rack section from the basket. Put it in soapy sink water. Rub the washcloth over it for about 5 seconds.

‘Rinse it and put it in the drainer. Dip the end of the basket into the sink water and wash the basket part for about 5 seconds.

Besides suggestions like rinsing the dish rack and unplugging the machine, there was one piece of advice that stood out from the rest.

However, according to a cleaning expert, there’s one part of the kitchen gadget that most people will also forget to clean: allowing oil and food particles can accumulate.

Even worse, this can affect the quality of your food, especially if you haven’t cleaned in a while.

Although they cleaned the tray and insert with warm, soapy water after each use, the savvy Reddit user revealed that they would deep clean their air fryer semi-regularly.

“…Every few months (depending on usage), allow the unit to cool 100%, unplug it, turn the unit over and wipe the heating element and whatever you can reach with a sponge,” they explained.

After cleaning the oft-forgotten part, the cleaner used a steamer for the remaining elements they couldn’t reach.

Impressively, their deep cleaning didn’t end there either, as they also used several household items to help with the job.

They added: “I fill the container with about 2 to 3 inches of water, add liquid soap and a lemon. Let it take 10 to 15 minutes to check in and do this process 3 or 4 times. When the water is brown when you check it in, replace with clean, more soap and continue.

It seems we have no excuse for a mediocre air fryer after learning this foolproof method.