Air fryer heating element
One cause of white smoke from an air fryer. Philips says to clean it after every use with hot water and a soft sponge, and never to immerse the appliance.
Precautions
- Disconnect from the power supply first
- Check the manufacturer's instructions
Start here
What this is, what tends to go wrong with it, and what to do about it.
What tends to go wrong
Fats and oils, which water alone cannot lift. Removed by surfactants, by heat, by solvents, or by alkalis that convert the fat into soap.
Why it is difficult: Why oil resists water, Emulsification
The science behind this: Polymerised oil
Part of Air fryer.
In detail
Unlike the pan and basket, the heating element cannot go in the dishwasher or be soaked. It is cleaned in place, together with the inside of the appliance. Its troubleshooting guidance on white smoke gives five causes, and none of them is a fault in the machine. One is greasy residue left from earlier use. Another is light food, such as a slice of toast or vegetable crisps, lifted by the airflow onto the element. Philips's answer to the residue is to clean the pan, the basket and the heating element thoroughly after every use. It also says the smoke does not harm the appliance or the cooking. The method is gentle. Wipe the element and the inside of the appliance with a soft sponge and hot water. For stubborn residue, use a brush with soft to medium bristles. Steel wire and hard-bristled brushes are excluded, and the appliance itself must never be immersed. Philips adds one step that few other appliance makers mention: after cleaning the inside, run the air fryer empty for a few minutes so that anything loosened drops into the pan. Philips does not say whether a spray degreaser may be used on the element, and none is established as safe there.
Why
- Air fryer heating element is explained by Polymerised oil
Related
- Air fryer heating element is commonly affected by Grease
Sources for this page
Sources
How to clean my Philips Airfryer
Philips · Manufacturer documentation
Relied on for: That the interior and the heating element are cleaned with a soft sponge and hot water or a soft- to medium-bristle brush, that steel wire and hard-bristle brushes are excluded, that the appliance is run empty afterwards, and that it must not be immersed. (states this directly)
White smoke comes out of my Philips Airfryer
Philips · Manufacturer documentation
Relied on for: That greasy residue from previous use and light food lifted onto the heating element are among five causes of white smoke, that the pan, basket and heating element should be cleaned after every use, and that the smoke does not harm the appliance. (states this directly)