Frying food in the deep fryer and eating that delicious food is great, but after all that the deep fryer has to be cleaned.
Cleaning a deep fryer is not a difficult task but it takes a little bit of effort. Some electric deep fryers take less time and effort to clean and some more. It depends on which deep fryer you have.
As for the gas deep fryers, they require more time and effort to clean because they are larger and often heavier. The steps are almost the same with only a slight difference.
There are certain things you need to have before heading towards cleaning your deep fryer.
Required Supplies
The items required for cleaning up a deep fryer are;
- Sealable containers/cans/buckets for storing/disposing of the oil
- Sponge
- Dishwashing liquid
- Scrubbing brush
- A toothbrush or soft-bristled brush
- Paper towels/ dry cloth
- Funnel
- Wet wipes
- Vinegar
- Scrapers
- Baking soda
We’ve simplified the process as much as we could, so let’s move on to the step by step method of cleaning a deep fryer easily.
1. Let the Deep Fryer Cool
After you are done with frying in your Deep fryer, unplug it (for electric deep fryers) or turn off the gas valve (for gas deep fryers) and leave it for an hour or two to cool down completely.
Note: Do not try to clean the deep fryer while it is hot.
2. Disassemble the Deep Fryer
Once the deep fryer is cooled down to room temperature, disassemble all the removable parts.
3. Drain the Oil
Now first of all drain the oil if you intend to use it again.
Drain it into a separate sealable oil container/jar/bottle/can. You can use both plastic and glass containers. Use a drain hose (if your deep fryer has one), a flask (as shown in the picture), or a strainer to drain the remaining oil for the next use and to remove any particles or crumbs from the oil.
Also, some electric deep fryers have the oil-draining spigot located on the bottom of the front housing/base for draining the oil in a separate container. But note that, one needs to attach the drain hose (which comes along the fryer) to the spigot before draining the oil through the spigot.
Other than that, there are a few deep fryers which offers automatic oil filtration system, so if your deep fryer has one, just turn the control button to “oil filtration” position and the fryer will automatically drain the clean oil into the storage box which also comes along with the fryer.
Remember: It is always better to not let the oil remain in the deep fryer.
However, if you want to dispose of the oil, simply pour it into a can/container, seal it tightly and throw it into the trash.
Note: Never pour the oil into the sink. It can block the drain or pipelines.
As for the Gas deep fryer, use the drain valve (almost every gas deep fryer has one) to drain the remaining oil. As it uses more oil, drain it in a big bucket or container.
Other than that, if your deep fryer is dishwasher-safe (read your deep fryer’s manual to learn about it), after this step you need to put all the parts in the dishwasher except for the heating element and control panel. Clean them with wipes or wet paper towels with a little of any dishwashing liquid.
If not dishwasher safe or if your dishwasher is not big enough for a deep fryer, follow the steps below.
4. Wipe the Oil Reservoir
Now, remove any oil residues or particles of food from inside/outside of the oil reservoir with the help of a damp cloth or soft wet sponge.
In case the oil is caked on the reservoir, use a scraper to remove it (be careful not to crack/damage the finishing).
5. Fill the Fryer with Water and Set the Temperature
After removing the residues from the oil reservoir, place it into the deep fryer again (along with the basket and heating element) and pour water into it.
Now plug the fryer and adjust the temperature to 100 – 105 ° F. and add any good dishwashing liquid accordingly.
Leave the water inside the fryer for about 25 – 30 minutes (don’t let the water boil ).
If available you can also add hot water from your sink tap directly and leave it for at least 30 minutes in the deep fryer.
Other than that, for gas deep fryers, do the same process but bring the water to little boil and add a cleaning detergent. Leave it for at least 20 minutes then rinse it thoroughly with cool water.
6. Clean All the Parts With Dishwashing Spray or Liquid
Now, remove the water from the fryer and again separate the lid, oil reservoir, frying basket, and housing/base.
The grease on the deep fryer will be now easy to remove
To clean them thoroughly , you can use one of these;
- Any good dishwashing liquid/spray
- Warm soapy water (mixing any dish soap in warm water)
You can apply the mixture/dishwashing liquid on the parts directly with a scrub or else, you can pour it into a spray bottle and spray it on each side of these parts.
Now leave it for at least 5 – 8 minutes.
Note: If the filters in the lid are not washable, do not immerse the lid in water instead, clean it with wipes or a damp cloth with a little bit of dishwashing liquid.
Read the manual’s instructions to see if your deep fryer’s lid has replaceable filters or washable filters.
In case the filters are washable, remove them and clean them with the help of wet paper towels, dry them and place them on the lid when the lid is dried completely. And in case the filters are not washable, replace them with new filters when they become grimy and blocked.
7. Rinse All the Parts with Water and Dry them
Now after 5 to 8 minutes, rinse the parts thoroughly with a sponge dipped in water. It will help to remove all the stains or splatters easily from top to bottom.
Other than that, if the oil residues still remain at some points, make a thick paste of baking soda and water. Apply it to the sponge and scrub off headstrong stains smoothly.
For the frying basket, use a scrubbing brush or soft-bristled brush to clean it properly and remove any stubborn leftover particles. Then wash it with warm water to remove the dishwashing liquid. After that, wipe it out with a paper towel and leave it to dry.
As Gas deep fryers are deep, use a long-handled brush/ scraper to clean the interior thoroughly, then rinse it.
After that, dry the parts with the help of a dry cloth or paper towel. And set them aside.
Note: Some edges of the deep fryer are sharp, specially the stainless steel housing, so be very careful while cleaning as well as assembling it.
8. Clean the Control Panel and Heating Element
For cleaning the heating element and control panel use wet wipes or paper towels. You can also use a damp cloth (not dripping).
Some deep fryers have a removable heating element that helps with easy cleanup. It can be removed by just lifting the control panel straight up.
Now, for removing any stuck on oil grease or food particles from the control panel and heating element, use a mixture of baking soda and water and with a soft-bristled brush scrub it thoroughly, then wipe it off with a paper towel/wipe.
Note: Do not immerse the heating element in the water, otherwise it will be damaged. And be gentle while cleaning the heating element because it is comprised of some wires that could become loose/broken.
9. Let the Deep Fryer Dry Entirely
After you are done with the process, let dry the parts completely and thereafter assemble them properly.
You may also like our best pick of deep fryer: T-Fal Deep Fryer Review.
FAQs
How to clean a deep fryer with vinegar?
Make a mixture of white household vinegar with hot water. Pour this mixture into the deep fryer, scrub it and rinse it thoroughly with cool water. Dry the deep fryer with the help of a cloth or paper towel.
How to deep clean an air fryer?
Both Air Fryers and Deep Fryers are used for frying, however they function a bit differently. In order to clean an air fryer, create a paste of baking soda and water. Then apply it in the air fryer with a scrubbing brush or toothbrush. Let the mixture in the fryer for about 30 minutes then rinse it.
Other than that, you can use any dishwashing liquid as well. Do not use metal utensils to clean an air fryer because they can damage the nonstick surface of the fryer.
How to clean stuck-on grease from a deep fryer?
In warm soapy water, dip a sponge or a scrubbing brush and scrub the grease from the deep fryer thoroughly. If there is still grease in some areas, mix baking soda with water to form a thick paste, then apply it to the scrubbing brush and scrub again. After that, rinse the deep fryer properly and dry it with a cloth.
How often do you clean a deep fryer?
It depends on how much you use the deep fryer. If you use it daily, make sure to clean it once a week. And if you use it occasionally, clean it once or twice in two months. It’s good to be consistent with the cleanup because it will prevent the fryer from stubborn grease which is difficult to clean.
Can you wash the whole deep fryer in a dishwasher?
No! Some parts cannot be put in the dishwasher e.g. Heating element etc. It also depends on your deep fryer if its parts are dishwasher safe then you can put it in the dishwasher otherwise clean it as mentioned in the steps above.
How to clean the outside of a deep fryer?
It is important to clean the deep fryer from the inside as well as from the outside. The oil splashes out onto the base of the deep fryer as well, so apply the mixture of baking soda and water on a sponge to clean it.
If the stain does not come off after that, scrub it with a paste of vinegar and water ( 80% water, 20% vinegar), then rinse it with water.
Wrapping Up
Cleaning a deep fryer can sometimes be a little irritating because of the grease and oil but if you stay consistent with it, you will have fun cleaning it every time.
We’ve explained the very straightforward steps for cleaning a deep fryer, however, the steps may look difficult to you at first, but when you will follow these steps practically, they will seem to be the easiest steps for cleaning a deep fryer thoroughly.
Share your ideas on tips and tricks for cleaning a deep fat fryer.
