Tips for How To Prevent Air Fryer From Smoking: Air Fryers have changed the way we cook drastically. But one thing I do not love is the way the kitchen can get smokey after a few batches. Indoor cooking smoke is polluting, and hazardous and needs to be dealt with efficiently. It can cause residual smells and greasy deposits on your kitchen surfaces too.
For some delicious recipes with no added fats, check our Whole Chicken in Air Fryer here.
Why does an air fryer smoke?
Air Fryer Smoking : Air fryers have a heating element and a fan at the top. Thanks to this downward-facing fan, hot air is rapidly circulated down through the air fryer basket. If there is grease accumulated at the bottom of the air fryer bowl, it will heat up and start smoking at a certain temperature (smoke point). This smoke is then sent out through the air fryer exhaust vent, thus fogging up your kitchen. There are a few things you can do to prevent this.
Fan forced air also allows extra fat from food to drip down and drain to the bottom of the air fryer bowl, reducing the actual fat that touches the food. This separation and draining of fat is how air fryers are different to ovens and pan frying.
The grease at the bottom of your air fryer consists of fats from meats, fatty foods, marinades, and sprays. It also contains any juices that may drip from your food. Over time, it accumulates in the bottom of your air fryer basket.
There is also greasy deposits all over the insides of yoru air fryer, including the heating coil at the top.
When grease is heated to a high temperature, it starts smoking. This smoke is thrown out via the exhaust outlet at the back of your fryer.
How do I stop my air fryer from smoking?
There are a few tips on how to prevent your air fryer from smoking.
Before cleaning, always turn off the air fryer, unplug it, and allow it to cool.
Proper Clean And Wash Method
1. Remove the air fryer bowl, left out the air fryer basket, and the wire rack.
2. You will see grease in the bottom of the bowl. Please do not pour the grease down your kitchen drain. It may seem like the easiest way to just dump it down your sink, but it can cause you problems later.
The grease, when cool, will eventually clog your drainage and sewage systems by adding to blockages. This only means expensive plumbing treatments down the track.
3. Once all the grease is wiped off, soak the air fryer bowl, basket, and wire rack in hot water and dishwashing soap for 30 to 60 minutes. This will soften any dried food particles, and get rid of the grease. Then just wash with a dishwashing sponge or put in your dishwasher. Just follow the air fryer manufacturer’s instructions to make sure all components are dishwasher safe.
Quick Wipe Method
If you do not have the time for a soak and wash, wipe-off all the grease from the bottom, as mentioned in step 2 above. This will reduce the smoking significantly.
Soak Method
To reduce the amount of grease that will smoke, remove the air fryer inner basket, and cover the bottom grease with sliced bread. Place the air fryer basket back and use as usual. The bread soaks up the grease resulting in less grease available for smoking. While this method is not as effective as a proper clean and wash method, it will reduce the amount of smoke. Once air frying is done, dispose the bread in your bin, and wipe the air fryer basket clean.
Keeping the kitchen exhaust hood on can also help direct the smoke away from your kitchen into the exhaust system.
How to stop air fryer from smoking when cooking bacon?
The average cut of bacon is high in fat. When bacon is cooked in a pre-heated air fryer at a high temperature, the fat melts and drips down to the bottom. This fat then smokes at the high temperature. To prevent this, add a couple of teaspoons of water to the air fryer basket, and cook at a l50 C / 300 F for about 15- 20 minutes. This will keep your bacon retain all the delicious fat and not get too lean and chewy.
How do i stop my air fryer from smoking when cooking fatty food?
You might notice smoke when cooking fatty foods like hamburgers, bacon, pork chops, chicken wings etc. You might need a combination of above methods to help prevent smoking and stinking up yoru house. Start by using a clean air fryer. Add absorbent material like bread at the bottom to catch any drips, and then load the air fryer basket with food keep enough space so that food not too crowded. Follow manufacturers instructions for temperature and cooking times.
Grey or black smoke coming out of an air fryer?
This could possibly be due to a fault in your air fryer. Switch off the air fryer immediately, and contact the manufacturer for further advice.
Some useful tips to use your air fryer.
Air fryer needs to be cleaned before every use.
Regular cleaning air fryer accessories along with the baskets will help prevent previously stuck food getting burnt during cooking.
When cooking extra fatty food, add a layer of break to soak up excess oil that drips during cooking.
Follow manufacturer’s instructions for temperatures.
Stick to maximum cooking times as per manufacturer’s instructions.
If provided, use the fat collector which reduces air fryer smoke.
Do not over-crowd basket. Keep space between food for air to circulate efficiently.
Keep your kitchen well ventilated, and run the exhaust hood for extra ventilation.
Do not add parchment paper or foil that can fly during cooking process and cause burning. Always weigh them town by tucking them.
Summary
- Clean out the grease: Remove the air fryer bowl, and take out all the layers inside. Pour out the grease in your trash can (please do not pour grease down the kitchen sink). With a kitchen towel, wipe down the air fryer bowl, and clean other parts as well. If you have time, the basket and bowl can be washed with soap and warm water and wiped clean.
- Soak grease with bread slices: If you do not have time to clean the grease, just remove the air fryer basket, and place one layer of bread slices over the grease in the air fryer bowl. The bread will soak up all the grease and have less oil available to smoke up.
- Kitchen Exhaust: Keep the kitchen exhaust on high, and place the air fryer closer to the exhaust (away from the gas stove heating elements). This way some of the smoke will be sucked in by your kitchen exhaust. Although somewhat helpful, this method is not as efficient as the first one.
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Disclaimer:
Information given is for general purpose only. Always follow manufacturer’s instructions for use and care of your appliances. When in doubt, contact the manufacturers for help and repair.