Cuisinart Air Fryer Not Working – Common Issues And How To Solve Them

Air frying is healthier than traditional frying while still offering that delicious crunch people love in fried foods. However, air fryers come with their own set of issues that can be frustrating if you aren't educated. Luckily for you, we have taken the time to write a thorough article explaining the most common problems and how you can solve them.

When your air fryer isn't working, several things could be wrong. Some of the most common air fryer issues are as follows:

1. The oven won't turn on. 
2. It turns on but won't heat up.
3. There is a faulty light bulb.
4. The fryer is sparking.
5. You notice a lot of smoke coming from the fryer.
6. After frying, your food doesn't have the crispy finish desired when frying food.

Now that you know what the common problems are, we will discuss how to fix each issue. We will also discuss how to reset an air fryer, what not to put in your air fryer, and how often you should clean your appliance.

Problem 1: The Oven Won't Turn On

If your oven isn't turning on, first make sure that it is plugged in and the power cord isn't damaged. If it doesn't turn on, you may want to try another power outlet to ensure it isn't the outlet causing the issue.

When essential parts of your air fryer become damaged, the rest of the air fryer will quit working. If that doesn't fix it, you will need to consider replacing certain parts. These parts are the main switch, thermal fuse, heating element, and solenoid.

The main switch breaks the most often as it is used the most often. To replace it, first, remove the power cord and the side panel. Check that the contact points are intact and in working order. If the contacts are broken, replace the entire main switch.

If your main switch seems okay, check your thermal fuse, which protects the main fuse from damage and prevents the appliance from being overloaded. You should have a professional do this repair if you aren't used to repairing appliances yourself.

Another reason it may not work is if the heating element or the solenoid, which powers the heating element, have gone bad. If this is the problem, you will probably want to have a repairman look at your air fryer.

Problem 2: It Turns On, But Isn't Heating Up

First, check to ensure your basket isn't overfilled with food and that your settings are high enough. Sometimes low settings can make it seem like it isn't heating.

When the oven doesn't heat up, there are a lot of different parts that could be malfunctioning. For example, your heating elements or wires in the oven could be loose or broken. You could also have a malfunctioning solenoid, faulty fuse, thermostat problem, or a control board issue.

Unfortunately, if any of these things happen, you will need to either get a new air fryer, send it back to the manufacturer to have it repaired, or call in an appliance maintenance specialist. If your product is still under warranty, they may send you a new air fryer.

Problem 3: Faulty Light Bulb

This is one of the most common issues with Cuisinart air fryers. The bulb will get dim or go out. This happens either because the bulb itself is faulty, there is faulty wiring, or the motherboard has problems.

For wiring and motherboard problems, you will need a professional to make repairs. You can replace the light bulb by yourself. However, it is a time-consuming process and might be better left to a professional. If you are interested in doing this yourself, Handy Andy has a video that shows how to change the bulb.

Problem 4: Sparking

If you notice any sparking in your appliance, immediately unplug it and call a professional or your manufacturer. Sparking can be caused by faulty wires or the insulation breaking down from continuous use. If your appliance is sparking, it can start a fire or cause burns if you continue to use it.

Problem 5: Appliance Smoking Excessively

When you notice your appliance smoking, take note of what color the smoke is. The smoke color will tell you what the problem is. It could be white, blue, or black.

Why Does My Cuisinart Air Fryer Smoke?

White smoke is more than likely steam and usually has more to do with what you are cooking than any problems with your appliance. Moist or overly fatty food can cause this color of smoke. To prevent it, you can add some water when you cook particularly wet or greasy foods. However, if you aren't cooking foods, and it's making smoke, it may need repairs.

It is recommended that you don't cook super fatty foods in your air fryer. If you are cooking fatty foods in your fryer, they may create black smoke. However, adding water can mitigate this effect.

Unlike white and black smoke, blue smoke is an immediate cause for concern. It is rarer than the other two colors, but it means that there are electrical problems with your machine. If you see blue smoke, immediately unplug your appliance and replace it. You could try to have someone repair it, but it is more efficient to replace it.

Problem 6: Your Food Lacks A Crispy Finish

Sometimes when you use your air fryer, it will come out dry or soggy. If this happens, it is because of a user error and not a problem with your machine. It is a common misconception that you shouldn't use oil in your air fryer.

Because the air fryer uses air to fry instead of oil, it doesn't have the same texture. It is recommended that you coat your food with up to one teaspoon of oil before cooking to prevent this problem.

What Should You Not Put In An Air Fryer?

There is a surprising amount of things that you cannot cook in an air fryer. These things include fried foods with wet batter, large amounts of food, cheese, grains, and certain vegetables.

If you attempt to make corn dogs or beer-battered fish with a wet batter, the batter won't set correctly in the air fryer. As a result, your food will be ruined, and you will have a mess to clean. Cheese will have the same effect unless you freeze it before using it.

Air fryers need room to circulate air. As a result, you cannot cook large amounts of food or entire roasts because of space limitations.

Another food to avoid is rice and other grains. The heating coils will never get hot enough to boil water. Therefore, your rice will not turn out and may even burn.

Using fresh raw vegetables in the air fryer often results in soggy vegetables. Frozen veggies will usually turn out better. It is also recommended to avoid cooking delicate greens that don't have weight, as they can result in an unpleasant taste and burnt greens. According to Mashed, kale is the only exception to this rule.

How Do You Reset An Air Fryer?

Some air fryers may have a reset button. This reset button is triggered by overheating in a few of them, and your appliance will automatically stop if it overheats. If yours does, unplug it from the base, let it cool completely, and click the reset button. However, a lot of them don't have a reset button.

To reset it without a reset button, unplug the machine for ten minutes and then try again.

How Often Should You Clean An Air Fryer?

To prevent food buildup, the basket, tray, and pan should be cleaned after every use. The exterior should be wiped every couple of uses, and the heating coil should be cleaned every couple of months.

Cuisinart has online manuals that explain how to properly clean your fryer and tips on using it correctly for best results.

Final Thoughts

Air fryers have a lot of uses, but they also have plenty of things that can go wrong. Most of the time, when an air fryer breaks, it is necessary to get a new one, contact the manufacturer, or call a maintenance specialist.

If you found this article helpful, please check out the links below to explore this blog:

How To Clean A Cuisinart Air Fryer

Can You Use Aluminum Foil Or Parchment Paper In Cuisinart Air Fryer?