Air fryers make cooking much easier but a major downside to this helpful appliance is that it can be tricky to keep clean and can become stained with food easily.

If air fryers are not cleaned regularly then excess oil and grease from food can become burned onto the surface of the machine and will not budge no matter how much you scrub at it.

However, Joseph Berger, a cleaning expert from You’ve Got Maids has shared that the “quick and easy way” to clean an air fryer is to use three natural ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen cupboard.

Joseph said: “Remove the internal components and clean them thoroughly with warm, soapy water. To keep it eco-friendly, try a mixture of warm water, vinegar, and lemon juice. “

Washing up liquid is one of the best items to remove grease as it contains surfactants which can break the tension of water, which allows it to penetrate oil and fat stains to make them easier to wash away.

White vinegar and lemon juice are also very effective at cleaning an air fryer as they are antibacterial and help sanitise your cooking space as burned grease stains can be a hotspot for germs.

How to clean an air fryer properly 

To begin, simply fill up a sink with hot water and washing up liquid, remove the trays or basket from your air fryer and place them in the sink.

Leave the air fryer components to sit for a few minutes and then use a soft sponge to wash away any grease.

If any of the stains are particularly stubborn then use a toothbrush to gently scrub at them, then leave the basket or trays out to dry.

Next, pour white vinegar or lemon juice onto a cloth and wipe the inside of the air fryer, making sure to be care when cleaning the heating apparatus.

Rinse the air fryer with clean water and a cloth, then make sure it is completely dry before putting everything back together.

Your air fryer should be sparkling clean once again, but make sure to wipe it down after each use to prevent a build-up of greasy stains in the future.

Joseph said: “The most important thing air fryer cleaning is regularity- do it often and it’ll be easy! The worst thing would be to let it go for awhile, accumulating build-up.

“This is particularly true when you’re using a lot of sauces that are more likely to stick to surfaces within the air fryer.”