Air fryers have quickly become one of the most 'in-demand' items over the past few months, with many shoppers hailing them for being more cost-effective than the oven.
With energy bills continuing to soar for many households, it is understandable why so many of them have been using the air fryer for nearly every meal as they try to combat rising prices. However, over time and use, like many products, your air fryer can become a little bit greasy and you might be wondering how to effectively clean it.
One such method that has been recommended by cleaning experts has been to use baking soda, but does it actually work? Well, that is exactly what Express Journalist Angela Patrone decided to try out for herself with a cheap bottle she purchased from Home Bargains.
Angela said: "After seeing fans of cleaning sensation Mrs Hinch share their baking soda air fryer cleaning hack across social media, I couldn't resist putting this nifty trick to the test."
The reporter went on to admit that her air fryer was in need of a good clean as it gets used "almost everyday" in her household, while it is also quite "far down" on her list of cleaning duties.
While you can use any baking soda to try out the cleaning hack, Angela picked up a Dri-Pak Bicarbonate of soda that can retail at £ from Home Bargains. Alternatively, it can be purchased for £2.50 from Ocado and Robert Dyas.
To begin, she first boiled the kettle to help soften the grease so that the baking soda could lift away the stains. While it was boiling, Angela liberally covered the bottom of her air fryer basket with the baking soda and spreading it around.
She then poured over the boiling water and let the mixture sit for five minutes, after which she noticed that the water had turned brown and that bits of food were rising to the top of the water.
After tipping away the dirty water from the air fryer into the sink, she said: "I noticed the amount of grime, crumbs and grease in the water."
Once the water was emptied, she then used a microfibre cleaning pad to wipe away the rest of the stains. She explained: "I was surprised that it came off so easily and that I didn’t need to scrub."
Angela then used the leftover baking soda from the drawer to wipe over the sides of the basket thoroughly to ensure there was no grease and grime left.
After giving the air fryer basket and drawer a quick rinse before drying it with a tea towel, she noticed that "the air fryer basket looked brand new and was free of any food debris."
She further added: "As the exterior of the air fryer wasn’t bad, I just used a damp cleaning cloth to wipe it down.
"However, households that find that the outside of their air fryer is looking dirty, they can use a little soapy water. Using baking soda not only made cleaning my air fryer so much easier but it also helped to get rid of the food odours left in the basket."
Before you try out this cleaning method for yourself, it is always worth checking your air fryer manufacturer's guidelines for cleaning.
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