How to Clean an Air Fryer Basket: Coated, Metal or Glass

How do I clean the basket?

You need warm water, dish soap, a soft sponge and a towel. Your own manual has the final say.

1. Unplug and cool

   Turn the unit off, unplug it and let it cool completely. Cosori says to pull the basket out so it cools faster. Glass needs its own care, so see below.

2. Find out what your basket is

   Look in your manual’s care section. A stainless outside doesn’t tell you what’s inside. How to check an air fryer’s coating shows where to look.

3. Soak, if your manual allows it

   Put the basket and plate in warm soapy water. Skip this if your manual says not to, as Instant’s does.

4. Wash with something soft

   Use a soft sponge and dish soap. No steel wool, metal pads or metal tools.

5. Use the brand’s method for stubborn grease

   Cosori’s TurboBlaze manual spreads on a paste of 2 tablespoons baking soda and 1 tablespoon water, waits 15 minutes, then rinses.

6. Dry and put it back

   Air-dry or towel-dry every part before you put the basket back.

Can it go in the dishwasher?

This is where brands differ most.

• Cosori TurboBlaze: yes for the basket and plate.
• Ninja AF141C: yes, but Ninja recommends hand-washing to make the basket last.
• Ninja Crispi: yes for the glass containers and crisper plates.
• GreenPan Bistro: yes for the basket, pan and racks. No for the crumb tray.
• Instant Vortex: no for the basket. Yes for the cooking tray.
• Breville BOV900: not recommended for racks and pans.

Look up your own model before you load the dishwasher. A new unit also has its own first steps in air fryer first use.

What if my basket is coated?

Many are, even on stainless-looking models. Cosori says its TurboBlaze basket and plate have a nonstick coating, so no metal tools. GreenPan says its basket is coated and suggests plastic, silicone or wooden tools.

For a coated basket, use a soft sponge, no metal, and soak instead of scraping. If the surface is cracking or flaking, read what to do about a peeling coating first.

What if my basket is plain metal or glass?

We found no brand document that describes a plain stainless basket. The closest advice is in cleaning a stainless steel air fryer. A chromed or plated basket follows its own brand’s manual, because plated isn’t stainless.

For glass, Ninja’s Crispi guide says sudden temperature changes can break it. Let it cool slowly to room temperature before it meets water or the dishwasher, and skip abrasive tools. That guide covers Ninja’s own containers, so check yours if it’s another brand. More is on glass air fryers, model by model.

What should I avoid?

• Putting in water what shouldn’t go in water. Instant says not to immerse its basket.
• Metal scouring pads. Cosori and Ninja both warn that pieces can break off and touch electrical parts.
• Harsh cleaners. Instant rules out harsh detergents, scouring pads and powders.
• Oven cleaner. Breville says not to use it inside.

Cosori asks you to clean the basket and plate after every use, once they’ve cooled.

What if the basket isn’t the problem?

If food keeps sticking, see why food sticks in an air fryer. Thinking of skipping the cleanup with paper or silicone? Read what manuals say about liners. The part above the basket has its own page, cleaning the heating element.