If you've been cleaning just the basket and calling it a day, your air fryer is dirtier than you think. Here's how to actually clean an air fryer — including the parts nobody talks about.
Quick Answer To clean an air fryer, remove and wash the basket and drawer, then tackle the heating element and fan with a foam spray — the two spots that collect the most grease. A full deep clean takes about 20 minutes and should happen every 3–5 uses depending on what you're cooking.
Why Your Air Fryer Smells Burnt (Even After You Cleaned It)
That lingering burnt smell usually isn't coming from the basket — it's coming from the heating element above it. Every time you cook something greasy, fat and residue get pushed upward by the fan and collect on the heating coil and the fan itself. Most people never touch those parts.
The fix isn't complicated, but it does require flipping the appliance upside down and actually looking at what's up there. Once you see it, you can't unsee it. The good news: cleaning it isn't hard once you have the right approach.
How to Clean an Air Fryer Basket and Drawer (The Soak Method)
The basket and drawer are the easiest parts to clean, but a quick rinse usually isn't enough if you've been cooking regularly. A short soak does most of the work for you.
What you'll need: Roobi Air Fryer Cleaning Powder (one sachet per clean), warm water, a soft brush or sponge.
Rinse the drawer to remove loose bits.
Dissolve one sachet of Roobi Air Fryer Cleaning Powder in 1L of warm water directly inside the drawer.
Place the grill/basket inside so it's fully submerged in the solution.
Let it sit for 5 minutes.
Insert the drawer back into the air fryer and run it at max temperature for 8 minutes. This activates the cleaning solution and loosens stubborn grease from the inside.
Discard the water, scrub anything that's still stuck, and rinse thoroughly.
This method works especially well for air fryers used frequently or for things like chicken wings, bacon, or anything with a lot of fat runoff.
How to Clean an Air Fryer Heating Element (The Part Everyone Skips)
This is the step that actually eliminates burnt smells and keeps your food tasting right. The heating element and fan sit above the cooking chamber and are almost impossible to reach with a regular sponge.
What you'll need: Roobi Air Fryer Cleaning Spray, a small brush, a dry cloth.
Make sure the air fryer is completely cool and unplugged.
Flip the unit upside down so the heating element is accessible.
Spray the foam directly onto the fan and heating area and let it sit for a few minutes. The foam clings to vertical surfaces, so it doesn't just drip off.
Use a small brush to scrub any stubborn grease in the hard-to-reach spots around the coil.
Wipe clean with a dry cloth.
Plug it back in and run a short cycle (about 3 minutes at a low-to-mid temperature) to burn off any remaining residue.
Wash the drawer and wipe the exterior with a damp cloth.
Do this every 5–7 uses, or any time you notice smoke or a burnt smell coming from the unit mid-cook.
Can You Put an Air Fryer in the Dishwasher?
The basket and drawer of most air fryers are technically dishwasher-safe — but the heat and detergent will degrade the non-stick coating faster over time. If you care about making the appliance last, hand washing is the better call.
The heating element, the main unit, and any electrical components should never go anywhere near water or a dishwasher. Ever. Even if someone online says it's fine — it's not.
How Often Should You Deep Clean an Air Fryer?
For the basket and drawer: after every use, or at least every 2–3 uses if you're cooking low-fat foods.
For the heating element and fan: every 5–7 uses, or immediately if you notice smoke, a burning smell, or uneven cooking. Grease buildup on the coil is usually the culprit for all three.
A full deep clean — basket soak plus heating element spray — takes around 20 minutes and keeps the appliance running efficiently. Think of it less as cleaning and more as basic maintenance.
FAQ
Can I use dish soap to clean my air fryer? Yes, for the basket and drawer. Regular dish soap and warm water works fine for light cleaning after every use. For heavier grease buildup, a cleaning powder that you activate with heat will get into the crevices dish soap can't reach.
Why does my air fryer smoke when I use it? Smoke is almost always caused by grease or food residue on the heating element or in the drawer. Clean both thoroughly and run a short empty cycle after. If it keeps happening, the coil probably needs a proper scrub — not just a wipe.
Is it safe to use cleaning products inside an air fryer? Yes, as long as the products are designed for it and you rinse thoroughly afterward. Running an empty heating cycle after cleaning the basket (or a short empty run after the heating element) removes any residue. Products like Roobi's Air Fryer Cleaning Powder and Spray are formulated for this — plant-based, no harsh chemical residue.
How do I get rid of the smell in my air fryer? Smells come from grease trapped on the heating coil, fan, or in the drawer. Cleaning the basket alone won't fix it — you need to address the heating element. A foam spray on the coil, a short cleaning cycle, and a good rinse of the drawer will eliminate most odors.
Keep It Simple
A clean air fryer isn't just about hygiene — it cooks better, lasts longer, and doesn't fill your kitchen with smoke. The basket is easy. The heating element takes five extra minutes and makes the biggest difference.
If you want to skip the guesswork on what to use, Roobi's Air Fryer Cleaning Spray and Cleaning Powder are plant-based, made specifically for air fryers, and work on both the hard-to-reach parts and the parts you clean every day.
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