To easily remove tough grease from an air fryer oven, create a thick paste using 2 tablespoons of baking soda, 2 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide, and a few sprays of grease-fighting dish soap. Apply this paste to the grease, let it sit for 20 minutes, and gently scrub with a non-abrasive sponge.
For caked-on, hardened air fryer grease, the most effective method is using a steaming trick or creating a powerful baking soda paste. Both methods loosen the polymerized (hardened) oil without ruining the non-stick coating of your basket.
To dissolve thick, old grease, use alkaline degreasers (like baking soda or trisodium phosphate) or solvent-based degreasers (like acetone or specialized commercial sprays). The active chemicals break down the fat’s molecular bonds, allowing you to easily wipe it away without scrubbing the underlying surface.
The best overall degreaser for an air fryer is Dawn Powerwash. It cuts through stubborn, baked-on grease and food debris on contact without ruining the appliance's non-stick coating. For a ready-to-buy foaming option, the Weiman Foaming Air Fryer Cleaner Kit is highly rated for its non-stick-safe, clinging foam.
Grease Eliminator: Professionally formulated to eliminate tough baked-on grease, grime, and food residue in ovens, air fryers, and microwaves. Versatile Use: Effective on various kitchen surfaces including fiberglass, stainless steel, and aluminum.
7 Air Fryer Cleaning Mistakes That Can Damage Your Appliance and Affect Your Health
You should never spray standard PAM or most other aerosol cooking sprays directly onto your air fryer basket. The propellants and emulsifiers (like soy lecithin) can break down and strip the non-stick coating, causing it to chip over time. Instead, spray the food before putting it in the basket, or use a pump-style oil mister.
The air fryer 20/20 rule is a, roughly, 20-25% reduction in both cooking temperature and time when converting standard oven recipes. Specifically, it means reducing the temperature by 20–25°F (or 15−20∘𝐶) and reducing the cooking time by 20% to avoid overcooking and burning food due to rapid air circulation.
Yes, Dawn is a powerful degreaser. Its highly concentrated surfactant formula is designed to break down and lift oily, greasy build-up.
The strongest over-the-counter degreasers rely on highly alkaline formulas or potent citrus solvents to break down thick, baked-on buildup. Top heavy-duty options include Super Clean, Zep Industrial Purple, and Ecolab Professional Strength, all of which require dilution for safe use.
Glass is not well-suited for baking soda, due to its abrasive nature. In fact, you might accidentally scratch your mirrors or windows if you attempt to clean them with baking soda. If you're looking for an all-natural cleaner for these surfaces, vinegar is a better bet.
To clean years of baked-on grease, ditch harsh scrubbing and use a chemical degreaser (like sodium hydroxide-based oven cleaner) or a heavy-duty degreaser like LA's Totally Awesome. Apply the cleaner, cover the area with plastic wrap to lock in moisture, let it sit overnight, and easily wipe the dissolved grease away.
Its fine, mildly abrasive grittiness is gentle enough for tackling tough cleaning jobs without scratching or damaging most surfaces – including air fryers. Paired with water or lemon juice, baking soda can remove built-up food gunk, grease, and grime from an air fryer basket in no time at all.
You should avoid using certain types of olive oil in an air fryer because of its low smoke point (typically around 375∘F375 raised to the composed with power F375∘F), which causes it to burn, smoke up your kitchen, and create an acrid flavor. Furthermore, commercial olive oil sprays often contain chemical additives that can damage your air fryer's non-stick coating over time.
5 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using an Air Fryer
Clean the interior of the air fryer.
Spray full-strength Simple Green onto a clean, damp cloth or sponge to clean the interior. If you come across any stuck-on food, scrub the spot with a soft sponge or soft bristle brush.
Battered Foods – A very wet batter, like the cornmeal batter on a corndog, will not cook successfully in an air fryer. Any coating that is particularly heavy and wet will drip through the perforated basket before it has time to crisp. The hot oil bath in a traditional deep fryer is key to setting up a battered food.
To remove baked-on grease from an air fryer oven, make a paste with equal parts baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Coat the grease, let it sit for 1 hour, and scrub gently. For removable accessories, soak them in hot, soapy water or use a steam-degreasing method.
People are getting rid of air fryers due to a mix of kitchen clutter, appliance redundancy, and safety concerns. Because air fryers are essentially mini convection ovens, many users realize they can achieve the exact same results using a standard oven, toaster oven, or emerging gadgets like halogen ovens.
Use a heavy-duty foaming degreaser designed specifically for air fryers—like Weiman Foaming Air Fryer Cleaner Kit or Astonish Specialist Air Fryer Cleaner Spray—to safely break down stubborn, baked-on grease without damaging non-stick coatings.
Use Warm Soapy Water Soak the removable parts in warm soapy water for 10–15 minutes. This helps loosen grease and food bits. Scrub with a Soft Sponge or Brush Gently scrub using a non-abrasive sponge or soft- bristled brush. Avoid steel wool or metal brushes that could damage the nonstick coating.
We highly recommend using Goo Gone Oven & Grill Cleaner to keep your air fryer atits best. It's easy to use, fume-free and works a lot better than warm, soapy water because it's formulated to breakdown tough burned-on carbon deposits.