# How to Get Rid of Air Fryer Smell (and Stop It Coming Back) > Why a new air fryer smells like plastic or burnt oil, the fastest way to clear a bad odor, and how to stop grease buildup from bringing it back. Canonical: https://mizaanhome.com/en-us/blog/how-to-get-rid-of-air-fryer-smell/ Last updated: 2026-07-16 --- A bad air fryer smell almost always comes from grease buildup on the basket or heating element, not a fault with the machine. Wash the basket and tray thoroughly, wipe the heating element once it's cool, and run an empty cycle with a little lemon or vinegar for anything stubborn. A faint plastic smell on a brand-new unit is also normal and usually fades within the first few uses. ## The quick answer **Most air fryer odors come from grease that's built up on the basket, tray, or heating element, and a thorough wash plus an empty run with lemon or diluted vinegar clears it in one session.** A new unit's faint plastic smell is separate and usually normal, and it fades after a few empty runs at moderate heat. Either way, the fix is cleaning and airflow, not air fresheners. ## Why an air fryer starts to smell An air fryer works by circulating hot air rapidly around the food, and small amounts of oil and fat spray off the food as it cooks and land on the basket walls and the heating coil above it. Left in place, those deposits reheat and carbonize the next time you cook, which produces the smoky, burnt, or greasy smell that people usually assume means something's wrong with the appliance. It's almost always just buildup, and the fix is the same one every time: clean the parts that are catching the grease. ## New air fryer smells like plastic: what's normal If your air fryer is brand-new and smells faintly of plastic or something chemical the first few times you run it, that's typically residue from manufacturing and packaging on the heating element and interior housing, not a defect. Run it empty at a moderate temperature, around 350°F, for 10 to 15 minutes with your kitchen ventilated (a window cracked or the range hood on), before you cook any actual food in it. Most units clear this smell within the first two or three empty runs. If a strong chemical smell is still noticeable well after that, or if it comes with visible smoke, that's worth a call to the manufacturer rather than continuing to air it out. ## Getting rid of a burnt or greasy smell If the smell shows up after you've been using the unit for a while, grease is the near-certain cause. Work through these steps in order: - **Deep wash the basket and tray** with hot water and dish soap, soaking for 15 minutes first if grease has set in. - **Wipe the heating element** once it's fully cool, using a sponge dampened with soapy water, then a clean cloth with plain water. Avoid getting the electrical components wet. - **Run an empty cycle with lemon or vinegar.** Place half a lemon, or two tablespoons of diluted white vinegar, in the basket and run the unit empty on low heat for 3 to 5 minutes. The steam loosens light grease and odor, and airing it out afterward finishes the job. - **Use baking soda on stubborn spots.** A paste of baking soda and a little water, left on a stain for 10 minutes and wiped off with a soft sponge, lifts residue without scratching the coating. Skip spraying air fresheners or strong cleaners inside the unit. The goal is removing the grease that's causing the smell, not covering it up, since a masked smell tends to come right back the next time you cook. A design with removable, easy-to-reach parts also makes this whole routine faster, which is one of the reasons the **Cosori 9-in-1 TurboBlaze 6Qt** tops our [best air-fryers in the USA](/en-us/best/best-air-fryer/) guide. See the Cosori TurboBlaze price on Amazon ↗ ## Preventing the smell from coming back The fastest way to stop odor from building up again is to wash the basket and tray after every single use, not just when the smell gets noticeable, since the whole problem starts with grease sitting long enough to carbonize. For foods that spatter a lot, marinated meats, breaded items, anything with a heavy sauce, perforated parchment liners in the basket catch a good share of the drips before they reach the basket walls or the heating element. They're a cheap, practical add-on for messier cooking, not a replacement for actually washing the basket, and they make the cleanup faster on the days you use them. ## Bottom line A bad air fryer smell is almost always grease buildup, and the fix is a thorough wash of the basket and tray, a wipe of the heating element once it's cool, and an empty run with lemon or vinegar for anything stubborn. A faint plastic smell on a brand-new unit is normal and clears with a couple of empty runs at moderate heat. For the full cleaning routine, see [how to clean an air fryer](/en-us/blog/how-to-clean-an-air-fryer/), and if you're still deciding whether the appliance is worth the counter space at all, read [is an air fryer worth it](/en-us/blog/is-an-air-fryer-worth-it/). For buying criteria, our [guide to choosing an air fryer](/en-us/guides/how-to-choose-an-air-fryer/) covers what to look for, and if you're weighing the running cost too, see [air fryer electricity cost](/en-us/blog/air-fryer-electricity-cost/). For everything in this category in one place, browse our [air fryers section](/en-us/air-fryers/). ## Sources - University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, "How air fryers work", definition of the air fryer and how it works (moving hot air that deposits oil and crumbs on the basket): https://food.unl.edu/free-resources/newsletters/food-safety-tips-electric-air-fryers/ ## Where to buy - [Air Fryer Paper Liners, 125Pcs Parchment Paper, Air Fryer Liners Disposable](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6PLG6G2/ref=nosim) - [Cosori 9-in-1 TurboBlaze 6Qt Air Fryer](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C33CHG99/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.