I Found the Best Way to Clean a Greasy Air Fryer—and It’s Practically Effortless

It’s pretty much a hands-free cleaning method.

The air fryer has to be one of the most genius kitchen inventions of the last 20 years. It can transform non-glamorous foods (like potatoes and Brussels sprouts) into dinnertime heroes, and the way it heats up leftover pizza and sandwiches is honestly pure magic.

There’s one little caveat: They can be a nightmare to clean up, especially when they’re greasy from olive oil or savory dressings or a particularly juicy piece of meat. I personally use our air fryer on a near-daily basis and, over the years, have figured out how to deal with greasy air fryer buildup. Read on to learn why it happens, how I clean it up, and tips for keeping the mess to a minimum.

Why Air Fryers Get So Messy

Ovens and microwaves get messy, but air fryers present their own unique cleaning challenges. “While air fryers only require a teaspoon or two in the bottom to air fry foods, the air pushes and circulates the heat and grease in a small space to cook the food quickly,” explains Rochelle Wilkinson, cleaning expert and owner of Dirt Detective Cleaning Services. “In the process, it coats the entire inside of the fryer with the oil.”

Extra oil, high heat, and long cook times can exacerbate the issue, pushing oil into every crevice and, in some cases, turning it into a sticky-greasy substance that’s hard to wipe away. If it isn’t cleaned properly, this residue builds up over time, creating layers of grime that become increasingly difficult to remove.

My Fail-Proof Method for Cleaning Greasy Air Fryers

If you’ve got some light cleanup to do, then all you need is some hot soap water and a sponge. However, if I’m dealing with caked-on grease or a particularly messy meal cleanup, I’ve found I need to call in the big dogs. And by big dogs, I just mean extra hot (boiled) water, degreasing dish soap, some baking soda, and time.

Boil a pot of water.
Pour the boiled water into the base of the air fryer, along with a squirt of degreasing dish soap and a sprinkle of baking soda. Mix everything up.
Let it soak until the water cools (about 30 minutes).
Scrub gently with a rough sponge or dish brush.
Rinse the air fryer thoroughly and wipe down.
Repeat if necessary.

If you’ve still got some grease that’s not budging, cleaning expert Claudia Meneses, CEO of Avanti Green Eco Cleaning, says to bring in some vinegar. “I spray a bit of white vinegar onto a microfiber cloth—not directly into the machine—to cut through residue.”

Tips for Keeping Your Air Fryer Clean

The easiest mess to clean up is the one that doesn’t exist, am I right? Over the years, I’ve learned a few hot tips for keeping our air fryer extra clean.

Wash after every use: I know this sounds obvious, but it’s so easy to let it sit after a meal and then either forget about it until the next day. This makes it harder to clean up, and if you use it again without cleaning up, all the grease gets extra stubborn.
Try air fryer inserts: You can use paper or silicone inserts to cut back on grease cleanup. The paper is my preference; it absorbs excess grease while you cool, and you simply remove it when you’re done and use soapy water to clean up any residue.
Take it easy with the oil: The more oil you use, the trickier it is to clean up. I like to use a spray-on oil for a light misting on veggies, or I’ll toss the food in a bowl with oil and transfer to the air fryer. This prevents oil pooling.
Try oil with higher burn-point: The go-to is olive oil, but I try to use this sparingly in the air fryer. A spray-on avocado oil is one of my favorites because it has one of the highest burn points. This makes for a tastier dish and easier cleanup due to reduced burning and sticky buildup.
Avoid harsh scrubbers: It may be tempting in the moment to go ham, but using a harsh scrubber (like steel wool or Magic Eraser) will damage the coating and make future cleanups even harder.