If you have been using your air fryer regularly, you already know how quickly grease and grime can build up in those hard-to-reach areas. In this article, I am going to take you through a deep dive on air fryer deep cleaning, where I tested three popular dedicated air fryer cleaners and one cheap homemade option to find out which one actually produces the best results. I was genuinely shocked by what I found, and I think you will be too.
Table of Contents
The Air Fryer I Used and Why It Needed a Deep Clean
The air fryer I used for this test is the Cosori Dual Drawer Air Fryer, which has been my family air fryer for the past year. Although I wash the basket and crisper plates in the sink every time I use it, there were two areas that I felt really needed a proper deep clean. The first was the area around the heating element, which always gets incredibly grubby over time. The second, which is unique to this particular model, was the windows inside the drawers.
I will start by walking you through the results of the different air fryer cleaners on the area around the heating element, and then I will show you what happened when I applied those same four products to the drawer surfaces. I will also cover what you can do to get the windows of your Cosori Dual Drawer spotless again.
An Important Safety Note Before We Begin
Before getting into the results, I want to be clear about something important. Most of these cleaning products only recommend using them on the drawers and the crisper plate, not on the area around the heating element.
On top of that, most air fryer manufacturers actively discourage cleaning around the heating element because of the risk of water getting into the electrical components and damaging the appliance. So if you decide to clean that area, you are doing so at your own risk.
I also want to clarify that I do not clean the element itself, because that is essentially self-cleaning since anything on it will burn off. I only clean the area around and beneath it.
Setting Up for the Deep Clean
The first thing I did was turn the air fryer upside down. Part way through the process I realised I needed to place a tea towel underneath it to stop it from sliding around and to protect the control panel. I strongly recommend doing this from the very beginning rather than figuring it out halfway through like I did.
Testing the 4 Air Fryer Cleaners
Elbow Grease Air Fryer Cleaner
The first product I tested was Elbow Grease Cleaner for Air Fryers. This is one that comes up frequently in air fryer groups online and tends to be highly recommended. Since I had two heating elements and four cleaners, I applied Elbow Grease to one half of the area around the first element, using a damp microfibre cloth and two angled cleaning brushes. It is worth noting that you should squeeze out any excess water from the cloth to reduce the risk of moisture getting into the electrical areas of the appliance.
After 10 minutes of applying the cleaner and scrubbing, the area was pretty clean, but something concerning stood out. The chemicals appeared to have eaten away at the metal surface, stripping the finish.
Oven Mate Air Fryer Cleaner
Next, I moved on to Oven Mate, which is also made specifically for air fryers and is designed for removing grease and grime buildup. The instructions tell you to apply it and leave it for a short while to let the cleaner do its work. I applied it to the other half of the first heating element using the same combination of a damp microfibre cloth and angled brushes.
After 10 minutes, the results were very similar to the Elbow Grease. The area was noticeably cleaner, but once again the chemicals appeared to have stripped the finish from the surface.
Also Read: Top 10 Tips for Air Fryer Owners
Homemade Vinegar and Bicarbonate of Soda Mixture
While I was waiting for the third product to do its work, I decided to test a homemade mixture of vinegar and bicarbonate of soda on the other half of the second heating element. Air fryer manufacturers often recommend using bicarbonate of soda mixed with water to clean, but I wanted to see what happened when paired with vinegar. If you prefer to be cautious or dislike the smell, you can water the vinegar down before using it.
I applied it with a cloth and brushes and started seeing results almost instantly. After just 5 minutes the difference was already visible and honestly impressive. The only downside to the bicarbonate of soda is that it is undeniably messy. I actually ended up using a handheld vacuum to clean up some of the residue afterwards. That said, at least if any bits make their way into your food, you know it is completely edible.
HG Air Fryer Cleaner
The third dedicated product I tested was HG Air Fryer Cleaner, which comes with a silicone brush and instructs you to apply the liquid and leave it for a full hour. After waiting the full hour and wiping it down, the results were not particularly impressive. I was not entirely surprised given that no scrubbing was involved in the process. I actually went back and finished that side later using the bicarbonate of soda paste.
Personally, even though I included it in this test, I could not justify sitting around waiting an hour when scrubbing with bicarb gets the job done in a matter of seconds.
Cleaning the Windows in the Cosori Dual Drawer
If you own the Cosori Dual Drawer model, you have probably noticed that the drawer windows have two layers with a vented space between them, which means grime can build up on the inside of the glass over time in an area you cannot normally reach. The good news is that cleaning it is far easier than you might expect.
All you need is a screwdriver to remove four screws and take the drawer apart. The screws are not fixed in tightly, so it is quick and straightforward. Once the front has detached from the main drawer, you can remove the seal and use something like a pair of scissors to pop out the small glass panel.
The glass is very sturdy so there is no need to worry about it being fragile. The seal can be rinsed in hot water, and I used a Brillo pad to scrub the glass clean without any marking. The front part of the drawer and the external plastic window can also be cleaned in the sink with hot water and left to drain dry.
Testing the Cleaners on the Drawer Surfaces
While the drawer fronts were drying, I decided to test all four air fryer cleaners on the inside of the drawers. After what I had seen around the heating element, I was genuinely a little concerned about using them on the non-stick surface. But I figured if anyone was going to risk ruining their air fryer drawers, it should probably be me since I do have a spare or two on hand.
Cleaning black drawers does not make for the most dramatic before and after footage, and honestly I could not always see a visible difference. The only way I could really tell if an area was clean was by running my hand over the surface and feeling it. Oven Mate and Elbow Grease both delivered decent results, but my clear favourite remained the bicarbonate of soda, which is the cheapest option and also happens to be what the manufacturers themselves recommend.
Reassembling and Final Steps
Once everything was washed, cleaned, and fully dry, I reassembled the drawers by laying the glass back into the slot, placing the seal on top, and reattaching the drawer front by replacing the four screws. After putting everything back together, I ran the air fryer for 10 minutes on a high temperature to burn off any remaining residue before cooking in it again.
The Verdict on Air Fryer Cleaners
After testing all four air fryer cleaners, the results were genuinely surprising. The bicarbonate of soda and vinegar mixture was the standout winner. It was the fastest, the cheapest, completely safe if any residue ends up in your food, and it is actually recommended by air fryer manufacturers themselves. The dedicated store-bought air fryer cleaners all produced results, but none of them impressed me enough to recommend over the simple homemade alternative.
Read More: Ninja Flexdrawer vs Cosori Twin Fry vs Duronic AF34 Air Fryers Comparion
