Unplug it, let it cool, wash the basket and crisper plate in warm soapy water or the dishwasher, wipe the inside and the heating element with a damp cloth or brush, and dry everything before use. Never put the main unit in water or the dishwasher.
Here is how to clean an air fryer step by step, what Ninja, COSORI, Chefman, Instant Pot and Philips each say, and what to avoid.
What Air Fryer Makers Say About Cleaning
The makers agree on the outline and differ on the detail. Each row comes from the maker’s own manual or support page.
| Maker and source | What it says | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Ninja, AF100 owner’s guide | Clean after every use. The basket, crisper plate and accessories can go in the dishwasher, or soak in warm soapy water if food is stuck on. Wipe the main unit and control panel with a damp cloth, and clean the heating element with a cleaning brush. | Never put the main unit in the dishwasher or water. No abrasive cleaners, steel wool or scouring pads. |
| COSORI, Pro LE 5.0 Quart manual | Clean the basket and crisper plate after every use. Both are dishwasher safe, or wash them in hot soapy water with a non-abrasive sponge. Wipe the inside with a slightly moist, non-abrasive sponge or cloth, and clean the heating coil if there is food debris. | Nonstick coating: no metal utensils or abrasive cleaners. Make sure the coil is completely dry before turning it on. |
| Chefman, TurboFry Touch manual | Unplug and let it cool. Lift the rack out of the cool basket, then wash both in warm soapy water or on the top rack of the dishwasher. Wipe the inside and outside with a damp cloth and dry everything before storing. | Do not put the unit in the dishwasher or submerge it. No abrasive cleansers. |
| Instant Pot, Vortex Dual 8L manual | The cooking trays are dishwasher safe. Clean the basket with a damp cloth and mild dish soap, or in the dishwasher. Wipe the cooking chamber the same way, check the heating coil for oil spatter and food debris, and make sure the coil is dry before turning on. | Some discolouration after the dishwasher does not affect safety. No metal scouring pads or steel wool. |
| Instant Pot, Vortex Plus 10 Quart manual | Oven-style. Clean the drip pan and cooking trays after each use. The cooking chamber gets a damp cloth only, and the heating coil gets checked and cleaned as needed. The door lifts out and must air dry before it goes back. | No harsh chemical detergents, scouring pads or powders. No metal utensils on the nonstick trays. |
| Philips, US Airfryers FAQ | Philips baskets are generally dishwasher safe, or you can use warm soapy water and rinse before use. The page sends you to the usage guide for your model. | Check the guide for your model. |
The pattern holds across all six. The removable parts can usually be washed, the main unit never goes in water or the dishwasher, and nobody wants steel wool or scouring pads near the nonstick coating or the element. Your own manual comes first.
How to Clean an Air Fryer Step by Step
- Unplug it and let it cool completely. COSORI suggests pulling the basket out to speed up cooling.
- Take out the basket and crisper plate. Chefman says to lift the rack out only when it is cool, and COSORI warns that a hot crisper plate can fall out when the basket is turned over.
- Wash the removable parts. Use the dishwasher if your manual allows it, or hot soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge. Soak anything with stuck-on food first, as Ninja suggests.
- Wipe the inside. Use a damp, non-abrasive cloth or sponge and do not pour water into the unit.
- Clean the heating element. Do this while the unit is cold, with a cleaning brush (Ninja) or a damp cloth.
- Wipe the outside and control panel with a damp cloth.
- Dry everything before use. COSORI and Instant both say the heating coil must be completely dry before you turn the unit on.
How to Clean the Heating Element
The element is the part people skip, and the makers do not skip it. Ninja says to clean it with a brush to remove food residue. COSORI says to clean the heating coil if there is food debris, and Instant tells you to check it for oil spatter after cooking.
Keep it cold, keep it dry and keep it unplugged. Grease that builds up on the element burns off as smoke on the next cook, which is the first cause covered in why an air fryer smokes. If the smoke continues after the element and basket are clean, that guide explains what else to check.
How to Remove Baked-On Grease
Start with a soak. Ninja says to put the basket and crisper plate in warm soapy water and leave them. If that is not enough, COSORI gives a recipe: mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of water into a spreadable paste, spread it over the basket and crisper plate with a sponge, scrub, and leave it for 15 minutes before rinsing. Then wash with soap and water before the next cook.
Both Instant Pot manuals recommend a baking soda and vinegar mixture, sprayed on and wiped off with a damp cloth. The same Vortex Plus manual also says not to put liquid of any kind into the cooking chamber. I would apply it with a damp cloth rather than spray near the element, and keep it to the accessories where I can. The Kitchn compared five greasy-basket methods, if you want to see test results rather than maker advice.
Can You Put an Air Fryer in the Dishwasher?
The removable parts, usually yes. Ninja, COSORI and Instant say the basket and plate or trays are dishwasher safe, Chefman says top rack, and Philips says baskets are generally safe. Instant notes that some discolouration may appear and does not affect safety. The main unit never goes in, per Ninja and Chefman.
Whether repeated dishwasher cycles shorten the life of the coating is a separate question, and why an air fryer basket coating flakes covers it.
How Often to Clean an Air Fryer
Ninja says the unit should be cleaned thoroughly after every use, COSORI says to clean the basket and crisper plate after every use, and the Instant manuals say the same for the trays and drip pan. The interior and element can be done as needed, which Instant spells out, but a quick wipe whenever you see spatter is the safe habit.
Getting Rid of Smells
A new air fryer may smell of plastic. COSORI says any air fryer can have a plastic smell from the manufacturing process, that this is normal, and that its first-use test run, a preheat with the basket empty, clears it. If the smell remains, COSORI says to contact customer support. A smell of old grease points to a dirty basket or element, so the steps above apply.
Common Cleaning Mistakes
- Using steel wool or scouring pads. Ninja, Instant, COSORI and Chefman all say to avoid abrasives, and Instant adds that pieces can break off and touch the electrical parts.
- Putting the main unit in water or the dishwasher. Ninja and Chefman both prohibit it.
- Turning it on with a wet element. COSORI and Instant say the coil must be dry first.
- Using metal utensils on the nonstick parts. COSORI and Instant both warn against it.
- Letting grease build up. It is the usual reason an air fryer smokes.
How to Make Cleaning Easier
COSORI says lining the basket with foil, but not the crisper plate, may make cleanup easier, and the Instant Vortex Plus manual allows foil or parchment on its drip pan. Check the rules first, because paper and foil can lift into the element: parchment paper in an air fryer and aluminium foil in an air fryer explain them. Preheating with an empty basket is covered in do you need to preheat an air fryer.
How This Page Was Put Together
This page is based on maker manuals and support pages, not on testing; I do not own or test air fryers. The sources are the Ninja AF100 owner’s guide, the COSORI Pro LE manual, the Chefman TurboFry Touch manual, the Instant Pot Vortex Dual 8L and Vortex Plus 10 Quart manuals, and the Philips US FAQ.
What I could not establish: how much repeated dishwasher cycles wear the coating, whether vinegar harms any maker’s coating, since no maker I read warns against it, and Philips’s model-specific cleaning steps, which its FAQ leaves to the usage guide. Nobody publishes wear figures for either.
The Verdict
Clean the basket and crisper plate after every use, wipe the interior and element when they are cold, keep the main unit away from water, and dry everything before it is plugged back in. Check your manual for the dishwasher rule. The complete air fryer guide covers everyday use, and the best air fryers guide notes which models have dishwasher-safe baskets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put an air fryer in the dishwasher?
Only the removable parts. Ninja, COSORI and Instant say the basket, crisper plate or trays are dishwasher safe, Chefman says the top rack, and Philips says baskets are generally safe. The main unit with the heating element must never go in the dishwasher or water.
How do you clean the heating element of an air fryer?
Unplug the unit and let it cool. Ninja says to clean the element with a cleaning brush, and COSORI and Instant say to remove food debris with a damp cloth when needed. Never immerse the unit, and make sure the element is dry before turning it on.
How often should you clean an air fryer?
After every use for the basket and crisper plate, according to Ninja and COSORI. The interior and heating element can be cleaned as needed, but wipe off visible spatter promptly, because grease left on the element is a common cause of smoke on the next cook.
What is the best way to clean a greasy air fryer basket?
Soak it in warm soapy water first, as Ninja advises. For stubborn grease COSORI suggests a paste of 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of water, scrubbed on and left for 15 minutes, then rinsed and washed with soap and water.
Can you use vinegar to clean an air fryer?
Two Instant Pot manuals recommend spraying a mixture of baking soda and vinegar on accessories and the cooking chamber, then wiping with a damp cloth. They also say not to put liquid in the chamber, so apply it with a cloth and dry the element before use.
Why does my new air fryer smell like plastic?
COSORI says any air fryer may have a plastic smell from the manufacturing process and that this is normal. Its first-use test run, preheating with the basket empty, clears it. If the smell is still there afterwards, contact the maker’s customer support.
Can you use steel wool on an air fryer?
No. Ninja, Instant, COSORI and Chefman all say to avoid abrasive cleaners, scouring pads or steel wool, and COSORI ties it to the nonstick coating. Instant adds that steel wool pieces can break off and touch electrical parts. Use a non-abrasive sponge or cloth.
I'm Glenn, and I started Kitchenware Compare to cut through conflicting product reviews and help readers pick kitchen gear with confidence. I don't own or test the products I write about — these guides are built from verified-purchase reviews, manufacturer specifications, and independent testing where it exists, with the reasoning shown, not just a rating.
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