How to Get Grease Out of Air Fryer: Easy Proven Steps

Immediate Action (first 5 minutes)

Grab a paper towel. You need to act fast before that bacon fat polymerizes into a hard, sticky shellac that feels like cement. I learned this the hard way after hosting a Super Bowl party where I cooked three pounds of wings in my Ninja Foodi DualZone. When you cook high-fat foods at 400 degrees, the rendered fat splatters against the upper heating coil and instantly bakes onto the metal. It's frustrating.

First, unplug the machine. Don't rush to clean it while it's screaming hot, but don't wait until it's completely cold either. I wait exactly 12 minutes. This gives the metal enough time to cool down so you won't burn your fingers, but the grease remains soft and pliable. Take a damp paper towel and quickly wipe the inside walls of the main chamber. If you have kids who track mud everywhere and you're rushing to clean the kitchen before they track dirt onto your freshly mopped floors, this 60-second wipe-down saves you 20 minutes of aggressive scrubbing later. Just wipe the accessible flat surfaces and pull the basket out to let it cool on a heat-safe trivet.

What You'll Need (tools/products)

I've tested dozens of degreasers on my own appliances over the last five years. Harsh chemicals like bleach or heavy-duty oven cleaners will strip the PTFE non-stick coating right off the basket. You need enzymes and gentle abrasives. This isn't the cheapest option, but replacing a $120 air fryer basket is way more expensive.

Product	Purpose	Est. Price
Dawn Powerwash Dish Spray	Breaks down lipid bonds on contact	$6 - $8
Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser	Removes baked-on carbon stains	$4 - $6
OXO Good Grips Deep Clean Brush	Scrubs mesh without scratching Teflon	$12 - $15
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (Original)	Lifts exterior grease splatters	$8 - $10

I recommend the Dawn Powerwash specifically because the spray nozzle aerates the soap, allowing it to cling to the vertical walls of the air fryer chamber without immediately dripping to the bottom. For the brush, the OXO Good Grips set has stiff nylon bristles. Steel wool will destroy your non-stick coating in one swipe. Never use it.

Step-by-Step Removal

I'll be honest, this takes elbow grease. Cleaning the heating coil makes my arm cramp every single time. But if you want your Cosori Pro LE 5-Quart to stop smoking every time you roast vegetables, you have to do it right. Follow these five steps exactly.

Step 1: Soak the Basket and Crisper Plate

Pull out the basket and remove the crisper plate. Spray both pieces generously with Dawn Powerwash. Let the foam sit for exactly 10 minutes. The enzymes need time to eat through the animal fats. After 10 minutes, fill your sink with hot water—around 110 degrees Fahrenheit—and submerge the parts. Use your OXO brush to scrub the wire mesh. The gunk should slide right off. If you see stubborn brown carbon rings, apply a dime-sized drop of Bar Keepers Friend Soft Cleanser directly to the stain and scrub in circles for 30 seconds.

Step 2: Tackle the Heating Element

This is the part everyone ignores. Unplug the unit and turn it completely upside down on a sturdy countertop. I put a thick towel underneath to protect my quartz counters. Shine a flashlight up into the cavity. You'll see the metal heating coil and the fan above it. Dip a soft-bristled brush (or an old, clean toothbrush) into warm soapy water. Shake off the excess so it's damp, not dripping. Gently scrub the coil to dislodge baked-on grease. Wipe the coil clean with a damp microfiber cloth. Repeat this until the cloth comes away clean.

Step 3: Wipe the Inner Chamber Walls

Turn the machine right-side up. Spray a microfiber cloth with Dawn Powerwash. Don't spray directly into the machine, as you risk getting liquid into the electrical fan motor housing. Wipe down the interior walls, paying special attention to the grease track near the top rim. If you cook bacon every Sunday morning, this upper rim collects a thick layer of aerosolized pork fat. Scrub it firmly. Rinse your cloth with plain water and wipe the chamber again to remove any soapy residue.

Step 4: Degrease the Exterior Shell

Air fryers sit on your counter, and they collect a fine mist of cooking oil on their plastic exteriors. It feels sticky and gross. Wet a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and squeeze out the water. Wipe down the outside plastic shell, the handle, and the digital touch screen. The melamine foam lifts the sticky oil film instantly. Dry the exterior with a clean paper towel to prevent water spots on the glossy black plastic.

Step 5: The Final Rinse and Dry

Take your soaked basket and crisper plate out of the sink. Rinse them under hot running water for 60 seconds. This is crucial. If you leave soap residue in the mesh, your next batch of french fries will taste like a bubble bath. Shake off the excess water and dry the parts thoroughly with a lint-free towel. Let them air dry on a rack for 15 minutes before reassembling. Trapped moisture causes the metal mesh to rust.

Alternative Methods

Sometimes you don't have Dawn Powerwash on hand, or the grease is just impossibly stubborn. After hosting a dinner party where I made 40 pigs in a blanket, my air fryer looked like a disaster zone. Here are two backup methods I rely on when the standard soap routine fails.

The Baking Soda Paste Method

This works best for thick, crusty carbon buildup on the bottom of the basket. Mix three tablespoons of baking soda with one tablespoon of warm water in a small bowl. Stir it until it forms a thick, gritty paste. Spread this paste directly over the burnt grease spots. Let it sit for 20 minutes. The mild alkalinity of the baking soda breaks down the acidic carbon bonds. Take a damp sponge and scrub the area. The grit acts as a gentle exfoliant for your appliance. Rinse thoroughly.

The Lemon Steam Trick

This is my favorite trick for light maintenance and removing lingering odors, like when you cook salmon and then want to make dessert. Cut a whole lemon in half and squeeze the juice into the air fryer basket. Drop the lemon halves in as well. Add two tablespoons of water. Set the air fryer to 350 degrees and run it for 10 minutes. The boiling lemon water creates an acidic steam that coats the interior walls and loosens light grease splatters. Once the cycle finishes and the machine cools for 5 minutes, simply wipe the inside with a paper towel. The grease wipes away effortlessly, and your kitchen smells amazing.

Prevention Tips

Stopping the grease before it bakes on is a much better strategy than scrubbing it off later. I've refined my cooking habits to keep my Ninja looking brand new.

• Ditch the Aerosol Sprays: Never use PAM or generic aerosol cooking sprays in an air fryer. These sprays contain soy lecithin as a propellant. Lecithin builds up on non-stick coatings and creates a gummy, impossible-to-remove layer. Buy a $15 Evo Oil Mister and fill it with pure avocado or olive oil instead.
• Use Parchment Liners (Carefully): Silicone or parchment paper liners catch 90% of the dripping fat. However, never preheat the air fryer with the liner inside. The fan will blow the lightweight paper up into the heating element, causing a fire hazard. Always weigh the liner down with food before turning the machine on.
• The 60-Second Post-Cook Wipe: Keep a stack of paper towels next to your appliance. The moment you finish cooking and remove your food, take 60 seconds to wipe the inner walls while they are still warm. It takes almost zero effort when the fat is liquid, compared to 20 minutes of scrubbing when it hardens.

FAQ

Can I put my air fryer basket in the dishwasher?

Technically, most manufacturers claim their baskets are dishwasher safe, but I never do it. The harsh detergents and high heat in a dishwasher will degrade the non-stick Teflon coating within six months. Hand washing with Dawn takes three minutes and doubles the lifespan of your basket.

Why is my air fryer smoking every time I turn it on?

White or blue smoke usually means old grease is burning off the heating element or the inner ceiling of the chamber. It can also happen if you are cooking high-fat meats like ribeye or bacon at temperatures above 375 degrees. Put a small piece of bread or a tablespoon of water in the bottom of the outer basket to catch dripping fat and prevent it from smoking.

Is it safe to use Easy-Off oven cleaner on the inside?

Absolutely not, as oven cleaners contain lye and other caustic chemicals that will eat right through the aluminum and strip the non-stick coating. It will also leave behind toxic fumes that are impossible to rinse out of the porous metal components. Stick to food-safe degreasers like Dawn or baking soda.

How do I clean the fan area above the heating element?

You shouldn't attempt to disassemble the top housing to clean the fan blades yourself, as this voids the warranty and exposes you to electrical hazards. Instead, use the lemon steam method mentioned above to loosen surface grease, and use a can of compressed air to blow dust out of the exterior rear vents.