Air fryers have revolutionized cooking food at ease, and speed. With their vast array of settings and their ability to make all sorts of meals, it’s no wonder that air fryers have swept up counter space in kitchens across the country.
However, there are lesser-known risks that come with owning an air fryer that may surprise you. We talked to electricians and appliance specialists to learn about the potential dangers that come with leaving your air fryer plugged in. After reading what they have to say, you won’t be making this mistake again.
Is it dangerous to leave an air fryer plugged in?
There are many reasons why leaving an air fryer plugged in may bring dangers into your home. However, as noted by Paul Karandos, Luxury Appliance Specialist at Universal Appliance and Kitchen Center, there are fewer electrical dangers around today when it comes to appliances. ‘Most modern-day appliances have a sensor and will automatically shut down if they don’t detect use,’ says Paul. ‘But, that being said, it would be in keeping with best practices of safety and cost-effectiveness to unplug your air fryer after every use.’
To operate effectively, air fryers have to draw large currents of electrical energy. Combine this with the fact they are an appliance that heats up and may also contain oil, and you’ve got yourself the perfect recipe for a potential electrical fire.
‘I would say that any heat-producing small appliance – toasters, electric woks, hot plates, hot pots, etc – can be unplugged in your home for additional safety,’ says Bill Gilbert, Technical Writer and Resident Appliance Expert at iFixit.
Kaitlyn Hebert Beauchemin, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing at Ninja, agrees with this: ‘Ninja recommends unplugging air fryer units from the wall outlet when they are not in use, as well as before cleaning.’
Unplugging your air fryer is additionally a definite way to ensure that you haven’t left it on by accident. Some models of air fryers can be relatively quiet, easily drowned out by the noise of other appliances in a kitchen or by household chatter. Pulling the plug on this appliance, therefore, removes the worry of it continuing to run hot unnecessarily for an extended period, saving you money, wear and tear on the product, and any possible safety risks.
Should I unplug my air fryer when not in use?
Overall our experts recommend unplugging air fryers when they aren’t in use, even if the risk to your safety may be minimal depending on the appliance. If your air fryer is newer and has a sensor that automatically shuts the appliance down when it’s on standby, for instance, you will have fewer safety risks than if you’re using a worn-out air fryer in a rather old socket. To play it safe, taking the extra few seconds to switch the appliance off entirely and pull out the plug is worth it.
It’s also recommended to keep an eye on your air fryer while it’s in use, too, to prevent food from burning and potentially causing a fire hazard. ‘Ninja recommends monitoring your cooking while an air fryer is plugged in and in use, as well,’ says Kaitlyn.
A way to help monitor your food safely when your air fryer is in use is by setting multiple short timers during the food’s cooking time instead of one long one. This way, even if you accidentally forget about your food in the air fryer, it won’t burn. Your food will also turn out better if on each of these timer breaks you go and give it a toss around in the basket – now every side will be crispy perfection!
So, matters of safety extend beyond purely whether the air fryer is on or off, or plugged in or out. You need to consider whether your appliance is in good enough shape to be cooking food to begin with and, if not, it can be incredibly dangerous to leave plugged in or to use in general.
