The Secret To Keeping Your Air Fryer Clean Is A Single Slice Of Bread

Air fryers are a compact, easy, and healthier way to cook, but they come with downsides. Besides having limited cooking capacity or being noisy, they have a habit of getting filthy. To use your air fryer to the absolute fullest, you're going to end up cooking greasy things, which tend to make a terrible mess. You can help prevent this grease issue with a simple kitchen hack that won't cost more than a slice of bread, because it literally is a slice of bread.

This trick is absurdly simple: Whenever you cook something that has extra oil, grease, or juice, put a slice or two of bread flat in the bottom of the air fryer, under the basket. The greasier the food, the more bread you can use. It will soak up excess moisture and is easily removable once your cooking is done. Built-up grease can start to smoke and smell terrible as it gets hot, so this hack can prevent not only messes but also smelly kitchens. The bread even catches food particles falling into the drip pan, while still allowing airflow through to the basket.

When you're done, just throw the bread away, as it's less harmful to the environment than aluminum. Or, if you used it while cooking bacon, you can fry it up in the air fryer and slice it into tasty croutons for less waste. While there are some things you should never put into an air fryer, a slice of bread definitely isn't one of them.

There are many common mistakes people make when reheating or cooking food in an air fryer. A big one is not cleaning well enough, as this can end up being a fire hazard or may break your air fryer. Bread is such an effective tool because it can stand up to time in the air fryer without burning or falling apart. It's porous enough that it doesn't block the hot air from moving, which lets food cook fully. Best of all, it is easy to place and remove, without a high price tag or lots of elbow grease. (If there was any elbow grease, the bread would probably soak it up anyway.)

To get this trick right, there are a few things you should pay attention to. Make sure the bread is thin enough that it easily fits under the basket while still letting air flow. If it covers any holes, you won't get even cooking. You should also pick bread that isn't crumbly or seedy, as it can leave behind a crumby mess of its own.

The most important thing to remember is that you should clean your air fryer after every use, and that includes removing the bread. While there are pre-made products that can assist you in keeping your fryer free of grease and smoke, they are often costly and only work for specific sizes or brands. A slice of bread is one way to prevent air fryer disasters without spending extra bucks.