It's important to keep your air fryer squeaky clean to make sure it's working properly (and so it won't catch fire). Here's the most important part you're neglecting.
Air fryers are excellent at a cooking a range of foods, and they're typically safe. Air fryers run on electricity so there are no harmful air pollutants or gas leaks to worry about, and these powerful convection ovens don't pose a major fire hazard as long as you keep them clean and don't run them for too long without supervision. But there's one part of the air fryer that almost nobody cleans and it could cause a dangerous buildup of food residue over time. Read more: Making a Whole Chicken in the Air Fryer Is the Best Cooking Hack I've Found all Year The underside of the air fryer hull where the heating coils are housed is prone to food splatter and gunk buildup. Some forum users on Reddit's air fryer sub have admitted that they ignore the icky buildup, but that could be genuinely dangerous. Cleaning it every few weeks with a wet rag will reduce the risk of an air fryer malfunction and keep the food you're cooking from becoming tainted. Below you'll find a complete guide to air fryer safety including how to clean it and use it. For more, learn how to make crispy bacon or the perfect cheeseburger in the air fryer. Are air fryers dangerous? CNET The potential risk of an air fryer should not overshadow the mighty countertop oven's many benefits. In fact, air fryers are generally safer than other cooking methods, including natural gas stoves, which have flammable gas flow and an open flame. Two alarming studies also show that gas stoves can leak toxic gas when not in use and may contribute to childhood asthma. When used properly, air fryers cut down on fat and calories compared to deep-frying or pan-frying and are an excellent conduit for eating more healthily. They can also save money on your energy bill if you use one instead of the wall oven, which takes more energy to heat and longer to cook food once heated. But the key to air fryer safety is taking care of your cookware -- while these handy pieces of equipment are usually incredibly safe, it's…