Cleaning air fryer with water TikTok

Air fryers have become increasingly popular over the past few years, notably for making healthy alternatives to favourite meals in a fraction of the time

But if there’s one thing that often frustrates users, it’s cleaning the kitchen gadget.

One of the worst things you can do is let the grease and grime accumulate as it makes cleaning it even harder.

However, one woman has been praised online after she revealed the “genius” way she removed grime without the hassle of scrubbing.

In a TikTok that’s been viewed 3.5 million times, the UK woman who goes by the handle @TanyaHomeInspo, revealed that all you need is a little bit of washing liquid and water.

“This hack is literally genius,” she says in the clip.

She begins by taking out the drawer and squirting dishwashing liquid onto it.

She then adds a bit of water before locking the drawer back into the air fryer and setting the timer at three minutes to heat.

“Wow! It actually works,” she captioned her post.

She rinsed the dirty water out of the drawer and tipped into the sink before showing it to look “like new” again.

Thousands have since commented on her video, agreeing that the hack does work after trying it for themselves.

“Just done this. Worked so well couldn’t believe it,” one TikTok user wrote.

“Thanks for the tip; this might come in handy one day. I typically line the bottom with foil for easy clean-up,” another added.

“Ooohh yesss cleaning the air fryer is my WORST job,” a third wrote.

Another woman said she uses the combo for pans.

“Boil water for a few minutes and it separates easier then endlessness scrubbing or using metal scrunchie.”

However, others said it’s easier to just line the drawer with foil as it helps prevent any build up of grime.

Others pointed out not all air fryers are the same, with Tanya encouraging “everyone to read their manual” before trying her hack.

Colin Jones, category expert at Appliances Online said while you can use hot water in an airfryer when cleaning it out with a sponge, there isn’t an indication from manufacturers that you can place water and detergent inside an air fryer and then turn it on for cleaning.

“Each air fryer is sealed differently, so if you place water and detergent into the air fryer and turn it on, the fan inside could push the water into other parts of the appliance, depending on how it’s sealed and could potentially impact its performance going forward.”

He said it is generally advised by manufacturers that the easiest way to clean the inside of the air fryer is with hot water and a non-abrasive sponge.

“Alternatively, some air fryers can have their accessories placed into the dishwasher, however refer to your manual for the best cleaning practices and results.”

He said the idea of an air fryer is to reduce the amount of oils and fats and collect a small amount of oil down the bottom, “so it should be easy to clean out”.

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An air fryer sitting out in the open on a table

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Tiktok is home to all kinds of cleaning hacks, from deodorizing drains to removing limescale with lemons — the list really is exhaustive. And while a lot of these hacks are useful and good to know, there are some you should definitely steer clear of. One in particular which is trending right now with over 200k likes revolves around cleaning an air fryer. 

The problem with this hack is that it’s very likely to cause more harm than good — in fact, you could end up breaking your air fryer altogether. Here, we will explain why you shouldn’t follow this TikTok hack and what you should do instead.

What happens in this TikTok hack? 

In this 14 second video, which was shared by tanyahomeinspo, we see someone squirt dish soap into a dirty air fryer basket, followed by enough water to cover the base. They then insert the basket into the air fryer and run it for three minutes at 200°F. After which, they rinse out the basket, and it appears as clean as new. 

@tanyahomeinspo (opens in new tab) ♬ Isii Nafta (Love You More Than My Life) - Nimco Happy (opens in new tab)

The problem with this method is that even the best air fryers are not designed to hold this amount of water. It’s difficult to tell exactly how much water is used in the video, but the base of the basket is submerged and it looks just under half-full. At this height, water from the surface could easily be splashed by the air flow from the fan into the internal electrical components, which would effectively short circuit your air fryer. Your air fryer might also overheat in its attempt to ‘cook’ this much water, resulting in a fire hazard.  

That’s not to say water can’t be added to the basket — 1-2 tablespoons can be added prior to cooking to maintain moisture. This small amount of water would essentially evaporate and turn to steam. Adding a small amount of water can also help contain any fatty drippings, which reduces smoke because it doesn’t burn to the base. Consequently, your kitchen won’t fill with that horrible smell and this makes clean-up easier too.

But, you cannot boil or steam in a traditional air fryer. These appliances are designed as convection ovens and the inside cannot reach a high enough temperature to boil the water — that’s why raw rice grains are one of the things you should never put in an air fryer. The vents on your air fryer will also release any steam produced, so this too is counterproductive. Essentially, adding more than a couple of tablespoons of water to your air fryer is a big no-no. 

Bacon

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

How should you clean your air fryer? 

You should follow your manufacturer’s guidelines for everyday cleaning. Most air fryers come with dishwasher-safe parts, in which case clean-up is pretty straightforward. Otherwise, regular cleaning will usually involve washing the accessories by hand with warm, soapy water. The main unit should never be submerged in water or placed in the dishwasher.  

An air fryer basket being rinsed with water

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

For a deep clean, if no advice is given in the manual, you can scrub the internals of your air fryer using a damp soft-bristled brush, a microfiber cloth and some dish soap. For full instructions, follow our guide on how to clean an air fryer and get rid of baked-on grease.  


For more air fryer tips, tricks, and how-tos, check out our guides on the best air fryer recipes, best air fryer sales and deals, how to use an air fryer and 11 air fryer mistakes you're probably making. 


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Katie looks after everything homes-related, from kitchen appliances to gardening tools. She also covers smart home products too, so is the best point of contact for any household advice! She has tested and reviewed kitchen appliances for over 6 years, so she knows what to look for when finding the best. Her favorite thing to test has to be stand mixers as she loves to bake in her spare time. 

Can I clean my air fryer with water?

Chan and Kudler agree that soaking is the best method for cleaning more stubborn air fryer messes, and share what they call “an enhanced version of the 'let it soak' method”: Mix dish soap and about an inch of water in the basket. Put it back into the slot and turn to 200 degrees Fahrenheit for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Can you clean air fryer basket with water?

Once your basket or tray has cooled, use warm, soapy water and a gentle cleaning sponge or cloth to clean the basket and tray. A simple dish sponge and non-toxic cleaning soap usually works 99 percent of the time! Give it a rinse under warm, running water and let air dry, or towel dry with a clean cloth.

Can you air Fry soapy water to clean your air fryer?

Fill you air fryer with soapy water. Air fry at 370 degrees for 3 minutes. Dump out the water, rinse, and see a much cleaner air fryer.