How To Clean A Cuisinart Air Fryer

The Cuisinart air fryers are excellent for providing busy people with a time-conscious method of preparing healthy meals at home. Perhaps you own one of these small appliances, and you are wondering how to clean it correctly? Or why it has an odd smell? We've researched these questions and have found helpful research results to share with you!

The best method for cleaning your Cuisinart air fryer is to use non-abrasive cleaners and mild dish detergents. To remove grease baked onto the basket and pan, soak these in the kitchen sink with dish soap. Clean the appliance by hand with a damp dishcloth, and dry it with a dry towel.

Do you have a Cuisinart air fryer and have wondered how to clean it correctly? Perhaps you wonder why it has an unpleasant smell and what you can do to remove that odor? Or is it possible or safe to use an oven cleaner inside an air fryer?  Please continue reading this post; we have a lot of helpful information for you!

How to clean a Cuisinart Air Fryer

According to Cuisinart, the best method for cleaning the air fryer is to unplug the appliance from the wall outlet and allow the machine to cool completely before cleaning. Next, remove the basket and the pan.

Set those in the kitchen sink and soak with dish soap and warm water to remove stubborn baked-on greasy food debris. ">Cuisinart recommends using a nylon dish brush to scrub the basket and pan to loosen and remove even the toughest baked-on greasy messes.

Click here to view a nylon brush on Amazon. 

Steps for cleaning the Cuisinart Air Fryer

To start cleaning the air fryer, gently wipe the exterior of the air fryer with a warm dishcloth and soap to remove any dirt or debris. Then, dry with a dish towel to prevent streaking on the glass or stainless steel exterior. Next, open the door and wipe the interior walls and the top of the fryer with a soapy sponge to remove all debris and grease.

Next, wipe the interior with a clean wet dishcloth to remove any soap residue and recheck for any missed food particles. Rewash and rinse any areas that need extra attention.

To remove the crumbs collected at the bottom of the air fryer, use a wet dishtowel to brush out the crumbs into a small trash can. If you notice, there is stubborn baked grease attached to the bottom of the air fryer. Set a wet soapy dishcloth on the oil and let it sit for a few minutes to soften. Then scrub the area with a sponge and more soap.

Remember to rinse the area with a wet dishtowel. You will need to rinse it twice or more with a damp dishcloth if the bottom of the air fryer is still soapy.

Then, dry the interior with a dry dish towel or paper towels to remove moisture. Place the washed and dried basket and pan back into the air fryer, close the door, and store the air fryer unplugged on the countertop or in a pantry.

Tips and suggestions for cleaning Cuisinart Air Fryers

• Never use abrasive cleaners; those will scratch the appliance
• Only apply cleaners to the cleaning cloth or sponge
• The basket and drip pan are hand-washed only
• Never use harsh detergents or corrosive cleaners
• Never attempt to clean the air fryer while it is still hot
• Wear gloves to protect your hands while cleaning the air fryer

Check out Cuisinart's helpful cleaning and maintenance demonstration below, for a visual of the steps we've discussed:

Why does my air fryer smell?

There are a couple of reasons why you notice an unpleasant smell wafting from your air fryer. Often the unpleasant odor is from grease trapped somewhere within the air fryer.

Grease will have a rancid smell when it is left exposed to air for a few days or more. To remedy this issue, clean the appliance thoroughly and recheck it for any remaining food or grease particles.

After cleaning and removing all food debris and particles, the rancid smell will disappear, and your next batch should not have an unpleasant odor. To prevent this from repeatedly happening, always clean your air fryer after each use.

Why does the air fryer smell like plastic?

Suppose your air fryer is brand new --it will off-gas a slight plastic smell. The reason is that air fryers' non-stick components have a protective chemical coating. The first time the appliance is used, the heat will cause the protective coating to burn, which will have a plastic aroma.

Wash the basket and pan with mild dish detergent and dry it thoroughly. Place the basket and pan inside the air fryer without food. Set the temperature between 350 degrees F and 400 degrees F for about 40 minutes. Next, turn the air fryer off for 15 minutes. Repeat this process two or three times to remove the plastic odors.

Repeating this process forces the plastics to off-gas quickly and the protective coating to cook off the non-stick materials. After completing this process, your first batch of food should not have any odd flavors or odors.

Can you use oven cleaner on an air fryer?

Oven cleaner is not advisable for cleaning air fryers because the product was formulated solely for cleaning ovens. Oven cleaners state on the label, "do not use on non-stick surfaces," which air fryers are manufactured with non-stick materials.

Also, oven cleaner has a powerful fragrance that will permeate the inside of your air fryer, causing the fumes to affect the taste and smell of your future batches of food. DO NOT USE oven cleaner inside your air fryer; it will damage the interior and significantly change the flavors of your foods!

Are you interested in learning more about cleaning air fryers? Click here to read "How To Clean A Deep Fryer With Vinegar?"

Do you have to clean an air fryer before the first use?

According to the Cuisinart air fryer owner's manual, cleaning the air fryer is not required before the first use. Moreover, as mentioned earlier in this article, Uber Appliance and other manufacturers suggest running the appliance empty before cooking your first batch of food because it is beneficial for removing the plastic aroma that releases with the first use. Also, it prevents your food from tasting or smelling like plastic or non-stick coatings.

And for safety sake:

• The Cuisinart owner's manual stresses the importance of consistently setting the appliance on a flat, solid table or kitchen counter for stability purposes.
• Make sure the air fryer is two to four inches from the wall or any objects sitting near the air fryer for fire safety purposes.
• Always double-check the inside of the appliance to ensure that nothing is inside before you turn it on to prepare a delicious batch of homemade French fries!

Do you clean your air fryer after every use?

Yes, cleaning your air fryer after every use is imperative for taking excellent care of your air fryer. In fact, bits of fried food and greasy gunk will collect on the air fryer drip pans and walls.

Cleaning after each use prevents the greasy food debris from building up. Suppose you didn't clean the air fryer after each use, the greasy build-up will affect the flavor of the foods by giving them a rancid flavor, or you will notice flavors of foods from past batches as well.

Also, the air fryer will run slower if there is considerable debris inside the baskets and pans that will inhibit airflow, causing the air fryer to cook unevenly and take more time per batch. Although cleaning after each use is an extra chore to add to your to-do list, rest assured, your time is well invested! Because keeping the appliance clean will ensure that your food tastes its best, and regular cleaning will help the air fryer maintain functionality.

Air fryers are versatile kitchen appliances, but could they replace your microwave? Click here to read "Can You Replace Your Microwave With An Air Fryer?"

In Closing

Cuisinart air fryers are a long-term investment for your home kitchen that will significantly save you valuable time.  Remember to clean your air fryer after each use to have a hygienic and functional air fryer in your home kitchen. Please visit Kitchenseer.com soon for more factual information that will help you attain your culinary goals!

Check out some of our other posts to help further your culinary knowledge base:

Can You Replace Your Microwave With An Air Fryer?

How To Air Fry Potatoes – With 10 Tasty Recipes!

How Much Oil Do You Put In A Deep Fryer?