How to Clean the Air Fryer Basket [Inc. into a ninja] - Kitchen Seer (2023)

Air fryers are amazing devices for preparing some of your favorite foods without as much extra oil. However, they can get dirty and it is important to know the correct way to clean your fryer basket. But do not worry! We have researched to bring you the method you need to know.

Follow these simple steps to clean your fryer basket:

1. Allow the basket to cool until it is comfortable to the touch but still warm.
2. Soak the basket in warm soapy water for ten minutes to an hour.
3. Wash the basket with a soft sponge, warm water and detergent.
4. Use a wooden skewer to clean holes or corners with trapped food when necessary.
5. Rinse the basket with cold water.
6. Allow the basket to dry on a drying rack or dish towel.

If you have a Ninja Air Fryer, you can follow these same steps to clean the basket. You can also clean most Ninja Fryer Baskets in the dishwasher.

In this article, we'll take a closer look at each step in cleaning your fryer basket. We'll also look at some methods to deep clean your basket with baking soda when a routine cleaning won't cut it. And if your heating element gets dirty and smelly, we'll explain how to clean it too! Keep on reading to know everything!

Step by Step

Let's take a look at each step to keep your fryer basket as clean as the day you bought it:

1. Allow basket to partially cool

You don't want to try to clean the fryer basket right away because it will be too hot to touch. However, you shouldn't let it cool completely either, as oil and food debris can become hard and difficult to clean.

For this reason, it is best to allow the fryer to cool down for a few minutes before cleaning it. That should get you to the sweet spot between scorching heat and trapped cold.

2. Submerge the basket in warm soapy water

Now is a good time to soak the basket in warm water with a mild detergent. This will help loosen any cooked-on fat or stuck-on food.

If your basket is very dirty, you can let it soak for up to an hour. This should give the degreasing agents in the detergent plenty of time to do their job.

If your basket is still reasonably clean, a little soaking should do the trick. In some cases, you can even skip the dive entirely and move on to step 3.

3. Hand wash the basket

Using a soft sponge, warm water, and the same mild detergent, scrub the basket clean.

Most fryer baskets have a non-stick coating that is easily damaged. Therefore, do not use anything highly abrasive, such as metal utensils or steel wool, to scrub the basket.

If there are bits that you cannot sponge off, let the basket sit longer or use the method in step 4.

4. Use a wooden skewer to clean corners and holes

Fryer baskets often have many small holes or nooks that are difficult to clean with a sponge. If there is food or other dirt stuck to these places, clean them with a wooden or toothpick.

Remember not to use any metal to clean the fryer basket as this is likely to damage the non-stick coating.

5. Rinse the basket

Once the basket is clean enough, rinse it under cold water. Be sure to remove any soap residue from the basket.

6. Then from the basket

Do not put the basket back in the fryer until it is dry. You can let the basket air dry on a drying rack or dish towel, or you can hand dry it.

You can see the process of cleaning a fryer basket, as well as the rest of the fryer, in this Consumer Reports video:

Can you clean a Ninja Fryer Basket in the dishwasher?

You can use the same hand washing method described above for all brands of air fryers, including Ninja. However, many Ninja Fryer Baskets are also dishwasher safe.

In accordance withninjas, all fryers include dishwasher-safe parts. For himNinja AF100 Air Fryer, the basket, the vegetable plate and other accessories are dishwasher-safe.

Likewise, theNinja Series AD-DZ 2 Basket Air Fryerhas dishwasher-safe vegetable baskets and plates, but specifies that no other parts are dishwasher-safe.

In all cases, please remember that the main unit should never be placed in the dishwasher.

How often should you clean your air fryer basket?

You should clean the fryer basket after each use. Do everything possible to keep your fryer basket looking new.

Any grease you let sit will be ten times harder to clean up afterwards. That's why you'll do yourself a favor by getting in the habit of cleaning your fryer basket as soon as possible after each use.

Of course, we don't live in an ideal world and sometimes a cleaning can be lacking. In most cases, you can still clean it with just a longer soak in hot, soapy water. If that doesn't work, you may want to clean your basket with baking soda.

How to clean the air fryer basket with baking soda

If there is still grease trapped in the fryer basket after following the cleaning method outlined above, it may be time to use a stronger cleaner.

Baking soda is a popular product for this type of deep cleaning. There are several different ways to make a baking soda cleanser.

The simplest is just a paste of baking soda and water. Just mix a tablespoon or two of baking soda with enough water to form a paste. Then rub this paste into the problem areas of the fryer basket with a toothbrush and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before scrubbing it off with a toothbrush and water.

A stronger cleaner is to combine one part baking soda, one part dish soap, and two parts hydrogen peroxide or vinegar. Follow the same method as before. Apply the cleaner with a toothbrush, let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then scrub with a toothbrush and water.

Are the airfryer baskets nonstick?

Virtually all fryer baskets have a nonstick coating. This is great because the coating helps you cook food with less oil without having to worry about it sticking to the basket.

However, there is no such thing as a perfect nonstick coating. This means that some bits of fat and food will still get stuck in your basket. If these are not cleaned promptly, they will continue to stick more and more, becoming very difficult to clean over time. That's why it's important to clean your air fryer regularly.

The non-stick coating is also the reason why you should not use abrasive materials in your basket. Damaging the coating will not only reduce the nonstick properties of your basket; it can also cause the coating to flake off and contaminate food.

The non-stick coating is not safe to eat, so you should replace your basket if the coating is damaged.

How to clean a smelly air fryer

If your deep fryer starts to smell bad when running, it's definitely time to clean it. This can happen even if you keep your fryer basket spotless. The most common reason for a bad smell is not a dirty basket, but a dirty heating element.

As the fryer cooks, grease will occasionally splatter into the basket. Some of this grease can get on the heating element and the area around it. Over time, this fat will accumulate and age. This creates an unpleasant smell, especially when the fryer is running.

To clean the heating element, you will need to put a little grease on your elbows. Follow these steps:

1. Unplug your deep fryer and allow it to cool completely.
2. Remove the basket and locate the heating element on top of it.
3. Prepare a cleaning solution by mixing
   1. A tablespoon of dish soap (like Dawn)
   2. Two tablespoons of vinegar or hydrogen peroxide
   3. A tablespoon of baking soda
4. Rub the cleaner into the metal around the heating element with a toothbrush.
5. Let the cleaner work for 5-10 minutes.
6. Wipe up cleaner and dirt with a damp paper towel.
7. Repeat steps 4 through 6 as many times as necessary.
8. For any stubborn, burned-on grease that cleaner can't remove, you can use a wire brush, but only on metal.

final thoughts

Now you know more about how to keep your fryer clean with regular use. We have also seen how to deep clean the basket with baking soda when the usual method does not work. We also discuss how to clean the heating element if your deep fryer takes on a less-than-delicious aroma.

With that knowledge in hand, you'll be ready to fry up flavorful meal after meal in your air fryer.

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