How to Clean a Stainless Steel Air Fryer Without Scratching It

How do I clean it?

You need warm water, dish soap, a soft sponge and a dry towel. It takes a few minutes, plus 15 if something needs soaking. Your own manual has the final say. For a brand-new unit, see what to do before the first meal.

1. Unplug it and let it cool

   Turn it off, unplug it and let it cool completely. Cosori says to pull out the basket so it cools faster.

2. Check what you are cleaning

   Read the care section of your manual. A stainless outside says nothing about the basket. How to check an air fryer’s coating shows where to look.

3. Wash the basket and plate

   Use warm soapy water and a soft sponge. Use the dishwasher only if your manual allows it.

4. Soak what is stuck

   Soak in hot soapy water, or use your manual’s method. Cosori’s TurboBlaze manual spreads on a paste of 2 tablespoons baking soda and 1 tablespoon water, scrubs, and waits 15 minutes before rinsing.

5. Wipe the inside

   Use a damp cloth or sponge. Don’t put the unit in water. Our Place and Breville both rule out oven cleaner. Breville asks for extreme care around the heating element.

6. Wipe the outside

   Use a soft damp cloth, and put any cleaner on the cloth first. On a brushed finish, wipe along the lines, as Euro Inox advises. Our Place says not to press hard around the controls.

7. Dry everything

   Let every part dry fully before you plug it back in. Cosori says the heating coil must be completely dry.

Can it go in the dishwasher?

Brands disagree, so look it up.

• Cosori: yes for the TurboBlaze basket and plate.
• GreenPan Bistro: yes for the pan, rack and basket. No for the crumb tray.
• Instant Vortex: no for the basket. Yes for the cooking tray.
• Breville: doesn’t recommend it for racks and pans.
• Our Place: says its accessories “are not dishwasher safe”.

What if my basket is plain stainless?

We found no brand that gives cleaning instructions for this. The closest advice comes from Euro Inox, a trade group for stainless steel, about pots and pans. It says soft sponges and soapy water usually work. For burnt-on food, soak in hot water with a drop of dish soap for 15 minutes, then use a sponge or nylon pad. It warns that ordinary steel wool can leave rusty stains. If your manual rules out steel wool, follow the manual.

A separate stainless basket insert follows the seller’s instructions first.

What should I avoid?

• Steel wool or metal pads. Cosori says pieces can touch electrical parts.
• The dishwasher, when it’s ruled out. Our Place says it can cause “warping, changing color, and corrosion”.
• Metal tools on a coated basket. GreenPan suggests plastic, silicone or wooden tools to protect the coating.
• Oven cleaner. Our Place and Breville both rule it out.
• Soaking the whole unit. Breville says not to immerse the body, cord or plug.

What if cleaning doesn’t help?

If food keeps sticking, see why food sticks in an air fryer. If a coating is flaking, see what to do about a peeling coating. Shopping, and easy cleaning matters? Check the care section first, and see air fryers with a stainless steel basket.