I will be honest I love my air fryer, but the one thing that drove me crazy? The door. No matter how careful I was, crumbs and grease would build up in that tiny gap, and there was no easy way to clean it. I tried squeezing a sponge in there, using a toothpick, even blasting it with a steam cleaner. Nothing worked.
So, after a bit of research (and trial and error), I finally figured out how to remove the door without breaking anything. And trust me, once you do this, cleaning your air fryer will be so much easier!
Here’s exactly how I did it:
What You’ll Need:
✔ A screwdriver (Phillips head)
✔ A butter knife or flathead screwdriver (optional)
✔ A clean towel or soft cloth
✔ A little patience (but not too much, I promise!)
Step 1: Unplug and Prep Your Air Fryer
First things first—unplug the air fryer. (Yes, I know this is obvious, but let’s not take chances!) I set mine on a towel to avoid scratching the counter.
Step 2: Turn It Upside Down
Here’s where things get interesting. Flip the air fryer upside down so you can access the bottom panel. When I first did this, I was convinced I was about to break something—but don’t worry, it’s built to handle a little movement!
Step 3: Remove the Bottom Screws
Look for two screws on the bottom panel. Use your Phillips screwdriver to carefully unscrew them. When I first tried, I dropped one of the screws under the fridge (classic me), so keep a small dish nearby to hold them.
Step 4: Detach the Small Rectangular Locking Piece
Once the screws are out, you’ll see a small rectangular piece with teeth—this is what holds the door in place. When I tried to pull it off, it was stuck. A butter knife helped loosen it without damaging anything.
Pro Tip: If it feels stuck, don’t force it—just wiggle it gently until it comes loose.
Step 5: Wiggle and Remove the Door
This was my favorite part. With the locking piece gone, I held the door, gave it a little tilt, and boom—it slid right off! I was honestly surprised by how easy it was once I figured it out.
Step 6: Clean Everything Thoroughly
I cannot tell you how gross the hidden gunk was. (I mean, where does all that even come from?!) I grabbed a damp cloth and wiped down every little crevice. If you’ve ever had that ugh moment when you realize how dirty something actually is, you’ll know exactly how satisfying this step was.
Step 7: Reattach the Door (If Needed)
Once everything was sparkling clean, I just reversed the process:
✔ Slid the door back into place.
✔ Reattached the small rectangular piece.
✔ Screwed the bottom panel back on.
✔ Flipped the air fryer back upright.
And just like that problem solved.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve been struggling to clean your air fryer door like I was, this method will change your life (or at least make cleaning way less annoying). I wish I had known this sooner, but hey now you don’t have to go through the same frustration I did!
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