Cleaning Guides

Is Your Air Fryer Ready for the Holidays? Find Out How to Do a Christmas Pre-cleaning!

Fantastic Team
Published: Nov 07/2025
Last update: Nov 07/2025Array
9min read
Views: 9

Image source: rafa jodar / Shutterstock.com

Air fryers have transformed cooking for the busy, modern family in more ways than one. They are versatile, need much less cooking oil and save a fair whack of time. And nowhere is that more true than at Christmas time.

And since the holiday is just around the corner, you need to take a good look at your appliance. It goes without saying that your air fryer will do double, even triple, duty cooking this year, as it has every year before. The question is whether the appliance is clean enough. Because if it’s not, you will have a bad time.

So, fret not, dear reader, because here we will explore in much detail how to properly do a pre-Christmas air fryer cleaning. You will learn ways to remove grease, crumbs, and stuck bits, so your air fryer is truly ready for the upcoming Christmas cooking.

But first, let’s answer one very important question…

Why pre-Christmas air fryer cleaning matters?

Let’s be real. Leftover food bits can hide bacteria. This is far from great, especially at Christmas when you cook more and for more people.

A clean air fryer also cooks better. Heat can spread evenly and food crisps properly. No more cold spots, soggy roast potatoes accompanied by witty comments from your in-laws.

Old grease and crumbs can spoil the taste, too. You don’t want last week’s chicken flavour mixing with your pigs in blankets, do you?

And now you know why you should perform an air fryer pre-Christmas cleaning. It stops any unwanted flavours from ruining your Christmas feast and makes the appliance hygienic and safe.

Signs your air fryer could use a good cleaning

It might look good on the surface, but if your appliance shows any of these signs, it’s time to give that air fryer a cleaning.

Sticky residue or burnt smell – If your air fryer stinks up the house while cooking, it probably needs a clean. Leftover crumbs and oil probably burn, and fill the kitchen with a bad smell.
Food takes longer to cook or tastes off – Old grease can affect how heat spreads. Your roast potatoes might stay soft, or snacks could taste weird. It’s kind of pointless to wait longer for something that doesn’t taste better, isn’t it?
Visible grease or crumbs – Check under the basket and around the tray. Grease often hides in corners or under the rack where it’s easy to miss.
Smoke or oil splatter during use – If your air fryer suddenly smokes up the kitchen, it’s likely old grease or crumbs burning under the basket or near the heating element. Excess oil can also splatter and create that smell.

In this line of thought, let’s answer a very common question. Do you have to clean the air fryer after every use? Not always, but regular cleaning stops big build-ups and keeps flavours fresh.

How to effectively clean your air fryer

Before you give your air fryer a pre christmas clean, arm yourself with the following supplies.

Warm soapy water
Baking soda or white vinegar
Soft sponge or microfibre cloth
Old toothbrush or soft cleaning brush
Paper towels
Optional: non-toxic degreaser (eco-friendly kitchen cleaner)

Step 1: Unplug the air fryer

Always let your air fryer cool completely before cleaning. The heating element and metal parts can stay hot for quite a while, so it’s best to give it at least 30 minutes.

If you clean straight after cooking, you also risk melting your sponge or cloth on the still-warm basket. Not the best way to start your pre-Christmas air fryer cleaning.

Step 2: Get the removable parts out

Take out the basket, tray, and pan. These are the parts that collect most of the crumbs, grease, and leftover food. A lot of people wonder if they can just put their air fryer’s basket in the dishwasher and be done with it. That’s a logical question. Most baskets are dishwasher-safe, but check your manual to be sure.

Step 3: Soak, wash and scrub

Fill your sink or a large bowl with warm, soapy water. Submerge the basket, tray, and pam. Let them soak for about 10 to 15 minutes. This loosens grease, crumbs, and bits of food stuck to the surface.

Once soaked, wash each piece with a soft sponge or cloth. For stubborn stains, make a paste of baking soda and a little water. It should be thick, not runny. Spread it on the greasy spots and leave it for five to ten minutes. Then scrub gently with an old toothbrush or a soft brush.

Recently, dishwasher tablets became a popular choice for cleaning different appliances, including ovens and even air fryers. You can try it, but only with the removable basket. Never try it on the inside of the air fryer itself!

Fill the sink with warm water, drop in one tablet, and place the basket inside. The tablet will fizz and help dissolve built-up grease. After soaking, scrub lightly and rinse very well with clean water.

If you use regular tablets, rinse extra thoroughly afterwards. After all, most contain strong chemicals. Eco-friendly ones are safer and easier to wash off.

Important: Never heat a dishwasher tablet in the air fryer to melt grease. That can damage the appliance and release toxic fumes.

Step 4: Clean the inside of the appliance

Never submerge the main unit in water. It has electrical parts that can short out. Instead, use a soft, damp cloth and wipe the inside walls and base. Just make sure the cloth isn’t dripping.

The heating element is tricky for cleaning, though. It’s usually at the top of the fryer, above the basket area. When grease splatters up, it can stick to the coils and burn the next time you cook.

So, to clean that heating element, turn off the fryer and lay it on its side. Use a soft brush to sweep away crumbs and grease. If it’s still greasy after that, gently scrub with soapy water and dry with a cloth. Never even think to use anything sharp as that will damage the element.

Many UK users forget to clean under the heating element or behind the basket area. These hidden spots collect grease and crumbs that can smoke or smell later. Wipe there too while you’re at it.

There’s also the lemon in a bowl trick. Fill a heatproof bowl with water and add lemon slices. Place it in the air fryer basket. Run the air fryer for 10-15 minutes on medium. The steam softens grease and leaves a fresh smell. Then, wipe the inside with a damp cloth to remove residue.

Step 5: Wipe the exterior

Once the inside looks clean, give the outside a quick wipe too. Use a soft, damp cloth to remove any grease, dust, or fingerprints. Warm, soapy water works fine here as well.

Avoid harsh cleaners or anything with bleach or alcohol. They can damage the finish and fade the buttons. Don’t spray water or cleaning products directly on the fryer either. Just dampen your cloth slightly and wipe it down.

Pay a bit of attention to the control panel and vents. Wipe gently around these areas so moisture doesn’t get inside.

Step 6: Dry completely before reassembling

Before you put everything back together, check that each part is fully dry. Use paper towels or a clean tea towel to dry the basket, tray, and pan. You can also leave them on the counter for a few minutes to air dry, just in case.

Wipe the inside of the main unit again with a dry cloth. Once everything feels dry, reassemble the fryer and slide the basket back in.

Before your next use, spray a light coat of oil on the basket. It helps protect the non-stick coating and keeps food from sticking during cooking.

No time for pre-Christmas cleaning?

Well, we can do it!

Learn more

No time for pre-Christmas cleaning?

Well, we can do it!

Learn more

Tips to keep your air fryer clean during and after the holidays

Once your air fryer is spotless, you’ll want to keep it that way. Here are a few easy tricks on how to keep the appliance clean through all that Christmas cooking.

Empty crumbs after each use. This stops burnt smells and keeps your air fryer fresh.
Wipe the basket lightly after cooking fatty foods. A quick swipe is all it takes.
Use silicone liners or parchment sheets. They reduce grease build-up and make cleaning simpler. Some people wonder about putting foil in the bottom of their air fryers to keep them clean. You can try it, but only if that foil doesn’t block airflow or touch the heating element.
Avoid spraying aerosol oils directly inside the basket. They can damage the non-stick layer.
Deep clean every 2–3 weeks. That’s how often to clean an air fryer when you cook a lot.

What are common mistakes when cleaning air fryers?

Even the most careful cooks slip up sometimes. Here are some warnings on what to avoid.

Using metal utensils to scrape stuck-on food. They scratch the coating. Always use a soft brush or wooden tool instead.
Immersing the electrical base in water. As with the dishwasher question, the answer is a big no. If you’ve wondered about putting water in air fryer to clean, don’t do it either. Just wipe with a damp cloth.
Forgetting to clean behind the heating coil. That’s where grease hides. It’s easy to miss but matters most.
Using oven cleaner or bleach-based products. Applying oven cleaner in an air fryer is not a good idea. Most common products found in stores contain harsh chemicals which can damage parts and leave residue. Look for specialised air fryer cleaners and even then, check the label to be sure that they are safe and preferably eco-friendly.

Having too much to clean before Christmas and not enought time?

Schedule your one-off deep cleaning today!

Takeaways

Do an air fryer pre-Christmas cleaning so it can perform better when the holiday comes.
Never put the whole appliance in your dishwasher or submerge it in water. That only works for its removable parts.
Clean the heating element either with an old toothbrush or with the lemon in a bowl trick.
You don’t need to clean your air fryer after every use, just often enough so it doesn’t build up impurities.
Never use metal utensils or bleach products on any part of your air fryer.