How to clean the air fryer with baking soda: basket, heating element, and baked-on grease

Yes, baking soda is commonly used to clean the basket, the tray, and the interior of the air fryer, because it helps loosen stuck grease and neutralize odors. It is applied as a paste (three tablespoons of baking soda to one of water) or dissolved in hot water, left to work for a few minutes, and scrubbed with a soft sponge. Before starting, it is advisable to consult the manufacturer's manual, especially if the parts have a non-stick coating.

Leave the basket soaking in hot water and a little dish soap for 15 or 20 minutes, apply a baking soda paste over the areas with burnt grease, leave it to work for 15 to 30 minutes, and scrub with a non-abrasive sponge. Then rinse well and dry completely. If the grease is still stuck, repeat the process instead of scrubbing hard.

Baking soda is slightly abrasive, so if you scrub hard or with hard scouring pads, it can wear down the non-stick coating over time. The way to reduce the risk is to use it as a paste or dissolved, with a soft sponge, without pressing, and letting it work for a few minutes. If the manual of your model advises against abrasive products, it is better to follow that instruction.

With the appliance unplugged and completely cold, pass a slightly damp cloth or sponge with a little baking soda paste over the heating element and the upper area, without wetting it excessively, and remove it afterwards with a clean damp cloth and another dry one. Never submerge the body of the appliance in water. It is advisable to do it every few uses, because the grease accumulated on the heating element is what generates smoke and smell.

The ideal is to wash the basket and the tray after each use, when they are still warm, and thoroughly clean the interior and the heating element every one or two weeks if you use it frequently. If you cook very greasy foods, like wings or burgers, it is advisable to do it more often. Cleaning it often prevents grease from burning, smoke from coming out, and flavors from mixing.

White smoke is usually due to grease accumulated at the bottom, the tray, or the heating element, which burns when heated, or to cooking very greasy foods without any water in the lower drawer. The solution is to thoroughly clean the basket, the tray, and the heating element area, and dry them well before using it again. If the smoke persists, you should consult the manual or the manufacturer's technical service.

It is not the most advisable, because vinegar is acidic and baking soda is alkaline, and when you mix them, they neutralize each other and make foam, so that neither of them works at full performance. If you want to try both, apply them separately and with rinsing in between. Never mix vinegar with bleach, and it is advisable to check in the manual if the parts allow acids.

After washing the basket and the tray with soap and baking soda, rinse well and dry completely. Leaving the drawer open for a while to ventilate helps so that no closed-up smell remains. If the smell persists, you can also clean the interior and the heating element with a cloth with a little baking soda paste and rinse with a damp cloth.

It depends on the model: many baskets and trays are dishwasher safe, but others are not, especially those that have a delicate non-stick coating. The correct thing is to look at the manufacturer's manual. Although they are safe, washing them by hand often with mild soap usually extends the life of the non-stick coating.

It is advisable to avoid metal scouring pads, scraping blades, strong abrasive products, and submerging the body of the appliance in water, where the motor and heating element are located. Cleaning products should also not be mixed nor use sprays directly on the heating element. The softer the method, the longer the non-stick coating will last.

Yes, always. Before cleaning it, you must unplug it and wait for it to cool down completely, normally about 30 minutes, to avoid burns and shocks. Only the removable basket and tray get wet, never the body of the appliance nor the electrical parts.

The exterior is cleaned with a damp cloth with a drop of mild soap, and if there are grease stains, with a little baking soda paste applied with a soft sponge and removed afterwards with a damp cloth. Dry with a clean cloth so as not to leave marks. In models with a window, it is advisable to do it without scratching the glass.

To clean kitchen utensils, a pure baking soda is interesting, without perfumes or additives. The one from Puerto Verde is baking soda without aluminum and is sold in formats of 1.75, 3, 6, and 10 kg and in a pack of 2 × 10 kg. With 1.75 or 3 kg there is usually enough to clean the air fryer for the whole year, and the larger formats compensate if you also use it for the house.

It is stored in its original container well closed, in a dry and cool place, and out of reach of children and pets. It is advisable not to leave it open near the kitchen, because it absorbs moisture and smells and clumps. For everyday use, the most convenient thing is to transfer a small amount to a closed jar.