Why Do Air Fryers Smell Like Plastic? How To Get Rid Of The Smell?

If you’ve never had an air fryer before, you’ll be startled to learn that it emits a “plastic-like” odor every time you use it. So, here’s how to get rid of the plastic smell from your air fryer:

When using a new air fryer, run it at 400° F for 20 minutes empty before cooking food. This permits the basket’s protective layer to burn away without coming into touch with the food. However, air fryers with additional plastic parts may require that procedure to repeat again.

Fortunately, while the odor is unpleasant, it isn’t causing concern and will dissipate after a few usages.

So, in this post, we’ll delve into the world of air fryers. We’ll look into why they smell like plastic the first time you use them. But we’ll also look at how to get rid of that scent before you use it, as well as whether there’s any reason to be concerned if it persists.

Let’s start!

Why does my air fryer have a plastic odor?

A protective coating is included with air fryers. This coating is heated to high degrees when the air fryer is first used, and the coating will burn and emit a plastic odor. After a few applications, this covering usually burns away completely and leaves no odor.

Many air fryer manufacturers recommend preheating the fryer to 400° F for 20 minutes before using it for cooking food. That way, the plastic will burn off instead of melting into what you’re cooking. However, the more plastic pieces in a fryer, the more it will smell and the longer it will smell.

The coating is still present on metal-air fryers, but the odor isn’t as strong because fewer plastic elements will dissipate after the initial 20 minutes of heating. As a result, not all air fryers are created equal, and it’s a good idea to opt for one with more metal parts than plastic.

However, the burning of the coating isn’t the only thing that might cause an air fryer to smell bad. Here are a few more possibilities. But don’t worry; you won’t have to cook anything the first couple of times to get rid of the odor.

The heating source

The heating element on most air fryers is positioned on the top of the appliance. Food particles can begin to accumulate in this location over time, leading to the discharge of an unpleasant burning odor.

It is not kept clean

In a similar vein, failing to clean your air fryer after each use might lead it to emit a foul stench.

Fortunately, the removable elements of most air fryers are usually dishwashing safe. So, after each usage, I like to throw my basket in the dishwasher, first giving it a quick rinse and scrub to remove any baked-on food particles.

Wipe out the entire inside (once cold) and outside using a moist sponge and possibly a small amount of dish soap each time.

How can I remove the plastic odor from my air fryer?

Remove all plastic wrap from a new air fryer and wash and dry all removable parts in a sink using warm water and dish soap. However, you may alternatively heat a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and lemon juice in a glass bowl for 2 minutes at 400° F in the air fryer.

But, to clear up any misunderstandings, let’s take a look at those things one by one

The first method is as follows:

1. Remove any plastic wrap that may have arrived with your new air fryer. This is not meant to be kept in the fryer, and if it is, it will emit a foul odor.
2. The pan, rack grill, and removable basket are all washable pieces of the air fryer.
3. Allow 15 minutes for these pieces to soak in a sink full of warm soapy water.
4. Scrub these areas gently with a soft sponge before wiping off the inside of your air fryer.
5. Clean the parts with clean water and wipe the inside of the fryer clean with a wet sponge.
6. Using a kitchen towel, wipe everything dry.
7. The air fryer is now ready to use.

Remember, even if the fryer is brand new, you should still run it for 20 minutes at 400° F before using it for cooking food, as we discussed earlier. This will ensure that any remaining protective covering burns out.

While those techniques are effective on new air fryers, they also affect older fryers that may have baked-on filth, causing odors.

The second method is as follows:

1. If the techniques above fail to remove the scents, this method will almost certainly do it.
2. Use a small air fryer-safe glass or ceramic bowl.
3. Place 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 1/4 cup of lemon juice in the bowl.
4. Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Cook for 2 minutes in the air fryer.
6. Repeat as needed or a few times a year to keep it fresh.

What if you don’t have any lemons or vinegar?

If you don’t have both, you can use one or the other. Other kinds of vinegar, such as balsamic or apple cider, may leave a sticky residue, so I wouldn’t recommend them.

Also, stay away from harsh cleaners like bleach.

Additional odor-control techniques for your air fryer:

1. Coat the grease separator tray and the basket in oil.
2. Seasoning a cast-iron pan is very similar to this.
3. Take a paper towel and some ordinary cooking oil (vegetable oil, canola oil, or any other oil with a mild flavor and a high smoke point).
4. On the towel, apply a small amount of oil. Then wipe the basket’s interior with a paper towel and lightly oil the basket and divider tray.
5. Start the air fryer and set the temperature to 400° F for 10 minutes.
6. After that, wait 15 minutes for the air fryer to cool down.
7. Remove the tray once it has cooled and re-oil it. Then put it back inside and go through the process again.
8. After that, wipe it down with a moist sponge. Also, please don’t use a spray oil for this technique because some of its additives can harm the non-stick coating.

Use foil inserts made of aluminum

This is a bonus tip for keeping your air fryer clean and mess-free.

It will, however, improve the condition of your basket’s non-stick coating and make it last longer. Cover the bottom of the basket with aluminum foil.

This will collect all of the excess greases or melted cheese in the aluminum foil rather than leaking into the fryer and being baked on.

Twist the foil’s four corners to make it easier to pick up when it’s time to discard it.

Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.

This advice is beneficial not only for newer air fryers that may still emit unpleasant odors, but it will also help the food cook more evenly and taste better.

It’s particularly fantastic for chicken breasts and steaks. Preheat the air fryer to the temperature specified in the recipe, and then run it for 5 minutes on its own. Everything is now hot and ready for dinner, and any lingering foul odors have most certainly vanished.

Conclusion

Air fryers are essential for folks with small kitchens or who require convenience due to their busy schedules. So, in this post, we looked at why air fryers stink, particularly when they’re spanking new. But, more importantly, we investigated how to eliminate the odor. Then we looked at some beautiful ways for keeping the air fryer odor-free regularly.

If you take good care of your air fryer from the start and clean it after each use, it will serve you well for a long time. You don’t want the scent of burning plastic emanating from your kitchen. However, the good news is that the odor is very transient and will pass fast.