Versatile, easy to use and suitable for a healthy lifestyle. The air fryer is the kitchen appliance of the moment, especially popular with Italian families for preparing many tasty recipes without the addition of oil, butter or other fats.

With its many functions and cooking by circulating hot air, the air fryer is ideal for baking , reheating , drying and thawing many different types of foods. However, to keep the air fryer in good condition and ensure optimal cooking performance, it is important to clean it regularly and with proper care.

Here's how to clean the air fryer the right way, what products to use and what steps to take to avoid ruining it.

First use of the air fryer

Before even finding out how to properly clean an air fryer and all of Ariete's tricks for a flawless and damage-free result, it is good to understand what to do when first using the appliance.

When we want to use the air fryer for the first time, we should always follow the instructions in the appliance's user manual. In general, it is advisable to run a vacuum cleaning cycle to remove any production residue.

To run this cycle, simply fill the basket with water and turn on the air fryer at 200° for 10 minutes. At the end of the cycle, the fryer will be ready to be used in many classic and more delicious recipes, both savory and sweet.

How to wash the air fryer

Among the many advantages of the air fryer is the fact that the basket of this appliance, in which food is placed to be cooked, can be easily taken out and put to wash in the dishwasher. But the basket is not the only element that needs to be cleaned of food residues and possible encrustations: in fact, we will also have to properly wash the grill, heating element and coil.

To clean the air fryer, it is first important to unplug it from the power outlet and let it cool down completely. This applies both as a matter of safety and to prevent the air fryer from being damaged. For the same reason, we avoid letting it cool under cold water, because the thermal shock could crack some plastic parts of the outer shell.

How to clean basket, grill and main unit

The basket and grill are the components that come into contact with the food and, therefore, are the ones that get dirtied the most.

As mentioned above, you can almost always wash the air fryer basket in the dishwasher, but it is important to use a gentle program and not use harsh detergents. Also, it is important to be careful not to put the basket in the dishwasher while it is still hot.

In all other cases, all that is needed to clean the basket and grill well is a hand wash with hot soapy water, again when they have cooled completely. In cases of stubborn dirt, the basket and grill can be left to soak for a few minutes in hot soapy water, then washed and dried.

If, on the other hand, we want to clean the main unit of the air fryer, we use a soft, damp cloth and dry it thoroughly once it has been cleaned.

How to clean heating element and coil

The heating element is the component that generates the heat needed to cook food. To clean it, you can use a soft cloth dampened with warm soapy water. Alternatively, you can use a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar.

Instead, how should we clean the coil of the air fryer? This is the component that distributes heat inside the appliance. To clean it, you can use a cotton ball soaked in white vinegar, or alternatively a specific product for cleaning hot plates.

The important thing is that the air fryer is turned off and completely cooled.

How to clean the oven air fryer

Stove-top air fryers have a larger cooking chamber than conventional air fryers.

To clean the cooking chamber, you can use a soft cloth moistened with warm water and soap. Alternatively, you can use a detergent specifically for cleaning microwave ovens.

How to clean your air fryer: tips from Ariete

To clean the air fryer properly, it is important to follow these tips:

• Unplug it from the power outlet and allow the fryer to cool completely before starting cleaning.
• Use non-aggressive and non-abrasive products.
• Avoid using detergents containing chlorine or bleach.
• Dry all fryer components thoroughly after cleaning.

By following these simple steps, we will be able to keep our air fryer in good condition and ensure its performance for many years.