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AIR Fryers are the newest kitchen gadgets that are taking the UK by a storm.
According to home brand Lakeland, 45 per cent of UK households now own an air fryer, compared with 87 per cent who own an oven or a hob.
The cooking appliances speeds up meal time, and is a healthy alternative to cooking from a saucepan as it uses hot air rather than hot oil to cook foods.
Air fryers are able to cook nearly all types of food, but with that comes a lot of cleaning up to do.
But that doesn’t mean you have to fork out on posh cleaning products to get your cooking appliances clean.
The foodie experts at MuscleFood.com have revealed five items to use in the air fryer to help remove stubborn food and grease marks.
If an air fryer isn’t cleaned properly after use, it can lead to lingering odours and potential contamination.
The experts say using items such as white vinegar, baking soda and washing up liquid can help make the appliance clean and safe to use.
Ashleigh Tosh, from MuscleFood.com, says: “Air fryers are fantastic for cooking up delicious foods but they can be a nightmare to clean properly.
“Grease marks can be the worst for this, especially if they’re left after using the device.
“Not only will it lead to disgusting smells but the fryer itself will be a breeding ground for bacteria.”
Air fryers need to be handled with great care when it comes to cooking and especially when you’re cleaning up afterwards.
Ashleigh continues: “If residue from greasy items such as chicken or chips is left in the appliance, it may result in nasty cross-contamination when cooking foods in the future.
“One of the worst leftovers to leave untreated is bacon fat. The fatty residue will build up in the fryer and the rancid scent will remain for longer.
“It’ll also leave a foul, lingering odour which will be difficult to remove.
The last thing anyone wants is to open the air fryer drawer and a disgusting smell to jump out at them.”
The longer they’re left in the air fryer, the harder they’ll be to banish
Ashleigh Tosh
But it doesn’t have to be time consuming, as Ashleigh’s quick solution will get your air fryer sparkling in no time.
She says: “If you’re looking for a quick and easy solution to make an air fryer fresh and clean to use.
“Luckily, most of these items are budget-friendly to buy with white vinegar typically found on shelves for as little as 35p.”
Here, Ashleigh reveals five cheap and easy cleaning solutions to get your air fryer clean.
A mixture of 35p white vinegar and distilled water can help break down grime so it’s easier to remove from the air fryer.
Start by spraying white vinegar to get rid of fresh stains in the air fryer.
The solvent can also be used to quickly clean other cooking appliances in the kitchen, like the oven.
Lighter stains can be lifted up easily but if they’ve been left for a while, it may take a few minutes of scrubbing.
The 30p citrus fruit can help to scrub off stubborn stains whilst leaving a fresh-smelling scent.
Lemons will help to remove the unwanted smells and instead leave a refreshing, citrus aroma.
If you want the lemon scent to last longer, we recommend filling the air fryer drawer with hot water. Place a few lemon slices inside so the aroma will pick up a stronger scent.
Then the fruity aroma will stay for longer.
This can also be used to get rid of pungent smells from a slow cooker, simply use a mixture of boiling water, lemons and baking soda to solve the problem.
Then there are the nasty stains themselves - the longer they’re left in the air fryer, the harder they’ll be to banish.
It’s the same as it would be on a hob or in the oven, if stains are left to fester, the harder it’ll be to remove them.
The Sun tested tested some of the best air fryers on the market.
If you’re dealing with stubborn stains, that’s when we advise using salt to break down the grime.
Salt can work great as a cleaning abrasive to get rid of stubborn stains in the drawers of air fryers in a matter of seconds.
When it’s applied to a sponge, it’ll help it lift food stains which have stuck onto the appliances.
Pour salt either on a sponge or a lemon, dampen it in hot water and scrub away.
It’s also a great idea to douse lemons with salt and use the fruit as a super cleaner where it’s getting rid of grease stains whilst leaving a pleasant fragrance.
Sprinkling baking soda in the air fryer can help lift food marks so they’re easier to wipe down.
Fill it up afterwards with hot water and drain out all of the dirt or grime for a sparkling finish.
Washing up liquid works best if you’re cleaning an air fryer straight after using it.
Mix the liquid with hot water to prevent grease marks from sticking inside the fryer.
