Mrs Hinch fans have shared a simple and cheap hack for cleaning air fryers – and all you need is two items that you probably already have in your kitchen cupboard
Air fryers have become the latest kitchen must-have, flying off the shelves as soon as they’re restocked, with many opting to ditch their conventional ovens to cut costs.
They’re especially economical when cooking in small batches and offer a healthier option by using less oil. Despite their compact and energy-efficient design, cleaning them can be a bit of a nightmare due to their size and shape.
The food is placed into a perforated basket which becomes a challenge to clean once caked in stubborn grease and oil. However, devotees of cleaning guru Mrs Hinch, whose real name is Sophie Hinchliffe, have divulged an effortless and inexpensive hack for sprucing up an air fryer.
In a Facebook group dedicated to sharing cleaning tips inspired by Mrs Hinch, one user pleaded for advice: “I picked up an air fryer from Facebook but I need to clean it. I’ve tried Pink Stuff and washing up liquid. Any other tips? It’s pretty hard on there.”
The query was met with numerous suggestions, but the standout solution involved two common household items – bicarbonate of soda and lemon juice.
One member recommended: “Leave it to soak in bicarbonate of soda, lemon juice and hot water, you might need to do it a couple of times but I swear by this method!” Another concurred: “Lemon and bicarbonate of soda made into a paste and put on for an hour before washing off.”
A third chimed in: “Lemon and bicarbonate of soda made into a paste and put on for an hour before washing off.” Another added their two cents, saying: “I use baking soda and a lemon plus hot water. It works every time.”
This means you can skip the trip to the store for pricey cleaning products. If you’re not already stocked up, lemons are going for about 30p a pop at Tesco, while Wilko will sort you out with a 500g box of bicarbonate of soda for £1.70.
If those tricks don’t do the job, the clever cleaners had more advice up their sleeves, including reaching for Fairy Liquid, Elbow Grease Spray, or even a dishwasher tablet. One savvy Facebook user recommended adding a splash of Fairy Liquid and water to the air fryer and switching it on, explaining: “That’s how I clean my George Foreman. Once it’s heated up normally, it just wipes off.”
Even Mrs Hinch has dished on her method for keeping her air fryer gleaming. In an Instagram video, she shared that the gadget had “changed her life” and let slip that she uses baking liner each time she cooks, snagging them at just 16p each. The cleaning sensation also mentioned she bagged 40 baking liners for a cool £6.40 from Amazon.
