Power XL Air Fryer Smoking? Here’s What I Did to Fix It!

The first time my Power XL Air Fryer started smoking, I nearly had a heart attack. One minute, I was looking forward to crispy chicken wings, and the next, my kitchen looked like a fog machine had gone rogue.

I frantically opened windows, waved a dish towel at the smoke alarm, and wondered if my air fryer was about to explode. Sound familiar? Don’t worry I’ve been there, and I figured out exactly what went wrong. Let’s go step by step so you can get back to guilt-free frying without the smoke show.

Step 1: Unplug It and Breathe

First things first turn it off and unplug it. Let it cool down completely before investigating. Trust me, I once touched the inside too soon and regretted it instantly. Lesson learned!

Step 2: Figure Out the Type of Smoke

I used to think all smoke was the same, but nope your air fryer is actually trying to tell you something:

White smoke? Probably grease, oil, or food drippings burning off.
Black smoke? Something is actually burning bad news! Stop everything.
Blue smoke? This is rare, but it could be an electrical issue. If you see this, contact support.

Mine was white smoke, so I knew it was a grease problem.

Step 3: Check for Grease or Leftover Food

When I opened the basket, I saw the issue immediately tiny food crumbs and grease splatters everywhere. Turns out, all those crispy bits from my last meal had gathered under the basket and were now burning.

Fix it: Take out the basket and tray, then check underneath. If there’s grease pooling at the bottom, wipe it out with a paper towel. A quick scrub with warm, soapy water did the trick for me.

Step 4: Clean the Heating Element (The Hidden Trouble Spot!)

This one caught me off guard. The heating coil at the top collects oil splatter over time, and that buildup can start smoking when it gets too hot. When I flipped my air fryer upside down, sure enough, there were grease spots all over the coil.

Fix it: Gently wipe the coil with a damp cloth or soft brush. If it’s really gunky, use warm water and mild soap.

Step 5: Adjust Your Cooking Method

I realized some of my cooking habits were making things worse:

Fatty foods (like bacon) drip grease. I started placing a small piece of bread at the bottom to absorb it no more smoke!
Overcrowding leads to smoke and uneven cooking. I gave my food some breathing room, and it made a huge difference.
Olive oil burns fast! Switching to avocado oil (higher smoke point) stopped my fryer from turning into a smoke machine.

Step 6: Try a Lower Temperature

I had been cranking my air fryer to the highest setting, thinking “hotter = crispier.” But nope high heat was burning the grease and food particles. Dropping the temp by 25°F made my food just as crispy, without the smoke.

Step 7: Give It a Test Run

After cleaning everything and tweaking my cooking method, I ran the air fryer empty at 350°F for a few minutes. No smoke just the sound of quiet, happy air frying. Success!

When to Call It Quits

If you’ve tried everything and your air fryer still smokes every time, it might be defective. Check your warranty or reach out to Power XL customer support.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, I felt kinda dumb when I realized most of my smoking issues were preventable. But hey, that’s how we learn, right? Now that I know how to avoid it, my air fryer is back to making crispy, delicious meals without setting off the fire alarm!

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