# How to Clean an Air Fryer Without Ruining the Coating > A practical guide to cleaning an air fryer: washing the basket without scratching the non-stick coating, removing grease and odors, and which parts are dishwasher-safe. Canonical: https://mizaanhome.com/en-sa/blog/how-to-clean-an-air-fryer/ Last updated: 2026-07-16 --- The air fryer has become a kitchen staple in many Saudi households, but most people skip one step that directly affects how food tastes and how long the machine lasts: cleaning. Oil and crumbs that build up in the basket don't just cause smoke and smell, they also shorten the life of the non-stick coating and change the taste of the next batch. The good news is that cleaning it properly is simple, once you know the right steps and what to avoid. ## Quick answer **Wash the air fryer basket and drawer after every use with a soft sponge, warm water, and regular dish soap, and stay well away from steel wool and abrasive cleaners that scratch the non-stick coating.** Wipe the heating element once it has fully cooled, and get rid of odors by stopping grease buildup rather than masking it with a spray. Many removable parts are labeled dishwasher-safe, but hand washing keeps the coating in good shape for longer. ## Key points - **An air fryer is essentially a compact convection oven** that circulates hot air around the food, so the oil and crumbs it kicks up settle on the basket and the heating element ([air fryer definition from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension](https://food.unl.edu/free-resources/newsletters/food-safety-tips-electric-air-fryers/)). - **The basket and drawer have a non-stick coating** that scratches easily, so steel wool and abrasive powders are completely off-limits. - **Cleaning after every use prevents smoke and smell**, because leftover oil carbonizes when reheated and produces smoke and a burnt taste. - **A bad air fryer smell comes from grease buildup**, not a fault in the machine, and the fix is regular cleaning rather than air fresheners. - **Never submerge the body of the air fryer in water**, because it houses an electrical circuit and a heating element, so wipe it with a damp, well-wrung cloth only ([convection oven background from Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/science/convection)). ## Why cleaning after every use matters An air fryer works on the principle of convection: a fan rapidly circulates hot air around the food so it cooks and crisps. During this, tiny sprays of oil and fat plus food crumbs fly up and settle on the basket wall and the heating element above. If left alone, these deposits reheat on the next cook and carbonize, which is exactly what causes the smoke, smell, and burnt taste many people complain about. That's why the simplest rule holds: wash the basket and drawer every time, once the unit has cooled. Two minutes now saves a tiring deep clean later and keeps your food tasting clean. ## Daily cleaning steps after every use The daily clean is simple and takes only a few minutes: 1. **Unplug the unit and let it cool** for 15 to 20 minutes. Never clean it while it's hot or still plugged in. 2. **Remove the basket and drawer** and tip out any leftover food or excess oil into the bin. 3. **Soak if food is stuck on:** leave the basket in warm water and dish soap for 10 minutes, which loosens grime without hard scrubbing. 4. **Wash with a soft sponge** and regular dish soap, working the corners and the underside of the rack thoroughly. 5. **Wipe the heating element** with a damp, well-wrung cloth once it has cooled, to remove any oil that settled on it. 6. **Dry everything well** before reassembling, since leftover water can cause spots or rust. ## The basket and non-stick coating: do and don't The non-stick coating is the most delicate part of the air fryer, and any scratch in it makes it flake and start sticking to food afterward. This table sums up the right and wrong moves: | Situation | Do | Don't | |---|---|---| | Scrubbing the basket | Soft sponge or the sponge side | Steel wool or a rough scourer | | Cleaners | Regular dish soap | Abrasive powders or strong bleach | | Stuck-on food | Soak in warm water first | Chip it off with a knife or metal tool | | Oil sprays | Wipe them as you go | Let them build up and carbonize | | Drying | A soft cloth | Leaving it wet to dry on its own | The golden rule: every scratch in the coating shortens the air fryer's life. The non-stick coating is designed to make cleaning easy in the first place, so it needs gentleness, not force. ## Removing grease and stubborn smells If your air fryer has developed a smell, the cause is almost always grease built up on the heating element or in the corners of the drawer. Try these steps in order: - **Deep wash the basket and drawer** with hot water and soap, soaking for 15 minutes if the grease is set in. - **Heating element:** once it's fully cool, tilt the unit gently and wipe the element from above with a sponge dampened in soapy water, then with a clean cloth dampened in plain water. Be careful not to wet the electrical circuit. - **The lemon or vinegar trick:** place half a lemon or two tablespoons of diluted white vinegar with a little water in the basket, and run the air fryer empty on low heat for three to five minutes. The steam loosens odors and light grease, then leave it open to air out. - **Baking soda for stubborn stains:** make a paste of baking soda and a little water, apply it to the stain, wait 10 minutes, and wipe it off with a soft sponge. Baking soda lifts stains without scratching the way abrasives do. Avoid spraying air fresheners or harsh cleaners inside the air fryer. The goal is removing the source of the smell, the grease, not masking it. An optional tool that makes tight corners easier: a small cleaning brush set made for air fryers, with a soft brush for the basket and a finer one for the rack and corners, helps you reach tight spots without pressing hard enough to scratch the coating. It's a handy optional extra, not a replacement for the steps above. ## Dishwasher-safe parts versus hand-wash-only parts Many people ask whether the basket can go in the dishwasher. The answer depends on the model, but there's a general rule: - **The removable parts** (basket, drawer, rack, separator tray if included) are usually labeled dishwasher-safe in the manufacturer's manual. - **However**, repeated dishwasher cycles with high heat and strong detergent can weaken the non-stick coating over time, so hand washing stays safer and longer-lasting for the coating. - **The body of the unit itself** (which houses the motor and heating element) **must never** go in the dishwasher or be submerged in water at all, so wipe it from the outside with a damp, well-wrung cloth only. If your model is labeled dishwasher-safe and you want the convenience, use only the top rack away from the heating element, and know you may trade a little coating life for that convenience. ## An air fryer that's easier to clean from the start If you're still shopping for an air fryer, basket design makes a real difference to how easy cleaning is later. Units with removable parts and a good non-stick coating clean up in minutes. A practical example from our lineup: the **Cosori 6.4L Wi-Fi Air Fryer** has an easy-to-wash non-stick basket, and it's the top pick in our [guide to the best air fryer in Saudi Arabia](/en-sa/best/best-air-fryer/) at roughly ≈ 500 SAR at the time of writing. If your household is larger and needs more capacity specifically, see [what size air fryer for a large family](/en-sa/blog/what-size-air-fryer-for-a-large-family/) before you decide. ## Bottom line Cleaning an air fryer isn't a luxury, it's what keeps your food tasting right and your machine lasting. Wash the basket and drawer after every use with a soft sponge and soap, stay away from steel wool and abrasives so you don't scratch the coating, wipe the heating element once it cools, and fight smells by removing grease rather than reaching for fresheners. The parts are usually dishwasher-safe but hand washing is kinder to the coating, and the body must never be submerged in water. If you're still comparing options before buying, see our [guide on how to choose an air fryer](/en-sa/guides/how-to-choose-an-air-fryer/), and check [air fryer prices in Saudi Arabia](/en-sa/prices/air-fryer-prices/). For everything in this category in one place, browse our [air fryers section](/en-sa/air-fryers/). ## Sources - University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, "How air fryers work", definition of the air fryer and how it works: https://food.unl.edu/free-resources/newsletters/food-safety-tips-electric-air-fryers/ - Britannica, "Convection", background on the convection oven and forced hot-air cooking: https://www.britannica.com/science/convection ## Where to buy - [Cosori 6.4L Wi-Fi Air Fryer](https://www.amazon.sa/dp/B09W5G56D1/ref=nosim) --- > منهجية ميزان هوم: نعتمد على المواصفات الرسمية وإجماع تقييمات المشترين والأسعار المحلية، ولا نختبر المنتجات بأنفسنا (بلا ادعاء تجربة شخصية، وبلا تقييمات Review/AggregateRating من تأليفنا). الأسعار تقريبية ووقت النشر، وقد يحتوي الدليل على روابط تابعة. > > Mizaan Home method: we rely on official specifications, the consensus of buyer reviews, and local prices. We do not test products ourselves (no firsthand-testing claims, no self-authored Review/AggregateRating). Prices are approximate and correct at publication; this guide may contain affiliate links.