Food expert reveals one thing you should do with air fryer to avoid food poisoning

It seems like everyone and their dog has an air fryer these days, but while many of us have been enjoying this handy little piece of kitchen kit - it's clear not everyone knows how to properly take care of one.

So, to help shine some light on the matter, one food expert has revealed the one thing you should be sure to do with an air fryer to avoid food poisoning.

Now, air fryers are great for cooking up some frozen chips in a matter of minutes, crisping up some chicken and even sorting an entire roast dinner if you're feeling creative.

There's a pretty major mistake you don't want to be making with your air fryer. (Witthaya Prasongsin / Getty Images)

Not only that, but they actually end up being a friendlier cost-alternative to cooking your tea in a traditional - perfect in the cost of living crisis.

However, there's a pretty common mistake many people are still doing and it could land them a night in A&E.

Almost treating their air fryer like a microwave, air fryer owners aren't cleaning them between uses - something that can have some pretty serious consequences for your health.

So, for example, let's say you throw away an undercooked piece of chicken which is infected with salmonella, the bacteria still remains in the drawer and can still infect another food item as salmonella can pose a risk for up to 32 hours on a dry surface.

You could be putting yourself at risk of food contamination. (Ali Majdfar / Getty Images)

Candess Zona-Mendola, editor of a food safety blog and a paralegal for a food safety law firm, explained that if you don't clean 'between uses' when using your air fryer, you 'put yourself at much higher risk of food contamination'.

Janilyn Hutchings, a certified professional in food safety and food scientist for StateFoodSafety, added that if you fail to clean your air fryer regularly, 'old food particles and germs will build up in the basket and contaminate the food you put in it'.

"Aim to clean your air fryer after every meal that's cooked in it. It might seem like a big mess, but it's quite easy," she added.

So, how should you clean your air fryer?

Well, Candess says all you need to use is 'hot water with a bit of dishwashing liquid', adding: "Let the basket soak as long as it needs so you don't have to scrub off baked-on food. Three minutes of your time will keep your air fryer fresh [and] your tummy safe, and your kitchen won't stink."

The more you know, eh?

Topics: Advice, Food and Drink, Hacks, Health, Life Hacks, NHS, Air Fryer

Rhiannon Ingle

Rhiannon Ingle is a Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from the University of Manchester in 2021 in English Literature. Alongside her studies, she was the Lifestyle Editor of The Mancunian, the largest student newspaper in the United Kingdom. Her favourite topics to write about include sex and relationships, bizarre lifestyle trends and all things travel.