We've all been there! You've just gotten your new air fryer, and you've been on a cooking frenzy for the last week because you're loving it.
You're enjoying the cooking experience with a new recipe when all of a sudden, you notice smoke coming from your air fryer. You freak out and wonder, "Why is my air fryer smoking?"
First things first, relax! Believe it or not, smoking air fryers are quite common in the kitchen, so there's no need to panic.
Let's assess the situation.
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Is It Smoke or Is It Steam?
It's natural for your air fryer to release steam as it cooks, just like any other method of cooking. Although steam and smoke can sometimes appear the same, the best guide between the two is your nose.
If food has gotten on your heating element, or you're cooking bacon, and the grease is falling to the bottom of your air fryer, you're going to experience smoke.
If your air fryer is smoking, you'll also be able to smell it burning. Thus, let your nose be the guide because the nose knows! If your food smells like it's burning as those white puffy clouds envelop your air fryer, then it's smoke.
Why Is Your Air Fryer Smoking?
There are a number of reasons you might see smoke coming from your air fryer. All of which could be a fire hazard if not addressed quickly. In most cases, the solution is rather simple.
If your air fryer starts smoking, it's a clear indication that something is either too hot or something is burning. Here are the most common troubleshooting tips for why your air fryer is smoking.
First Time Use
It's not uncommon for your air fryer to emit some white smoke the first time you use it, and this is usually delineated in your usual manual.
Should you see a little smoke the first time you air fry, this is normal and should resolve itself within the first couple of minutes. There is no reason to be alarmed unless it is something that persists for an extended period.
Low-Grade Oil or Too Much Oil
If you've used a low-quality oil with a lower smoke point, your air fryer will produce smoke once it reaches that oil's smoke point.
Alternatively, if you put too much oil on your food before placing it in your air fryer, the excess can drip onto the heating element, which can also cause your air fryer to start smoking. This is particularly an issue when marinaded meats are placed in air fryers.
In both cases, your air fryer will gradually emit smoke from its vents and rise toward your smoke detector. So, it's something that you want to deal with rather quickly.
Excess Food Particles
Food particles are another major culprit for air fryer smoke. Since air fryers function by blowing hot air, it's not uncommon for the circulating air to blow food particles around in your air fryer.
Whether it's a breadcrumb from your fried chicken or a topping that got blown off your pizza, when food particles fall onto hot heating elements, smoke happens!
Overfilling the Air Fryer Basket
Avoid an overcrowded basket. Placing too much food in your air fryer basket prevents the air from circulating properly, which can result in burning on the outside while food in the middle remains uncooked.
Remember that when filling your air fryer basket, food should be evenly disbursed with no overlapping so there's plenty of room for the air to flow.
Improper Placement
By design, air fryers are equipped with vents to prevent overheating. If your air fryer is too close to a wall or other appliances, your air fryer will overheat, and you're likely to see smoke coming out.
When placing your air fryer, ensure there is plenty of space on all sides. Each air fryer is unique, so how much space depends on your air fryer model. You'll need to reference your manual to find out.
Improper Cooking Times
Air fryers are prized for their short cooking process and really shouldn't operate for more than thirty minutes at a time.
If you're cooking food longer than thirty minutes, you may be inadvertently overcooking and burning your food, as well as overheating the internal components of your appliance. Both of which can cause your air fryer to smoke.
Old Food Residue
If you failed to clean your air fryer on its last use or maybe overlooked a little food residue, there's a good chance it will cause your air fryer to smoke the next time you use it.
To keep your air fryer from smoking as a result of this issue, be sure to thoroughly clean the inside and wash all of the accessories after each use. Especially your air fryer basket and drip tray, which typically collect the most grease and debris.
Manufacture Defect
It happens. If you're seeing gray or black smoke or more smoke than would be considered normal, this is likely a manufacturer issue.
Even though some components of your air fryer are heavy-duty plastics designed to withstand high heat, they melt and degrade over time with prolonged overheating. It could also be a result of overexposed or damaged wires.
If the smoke rising from your air fry is any color other than white, you should immediately unplug it and contact the air fryer manufacturer for further assistance.
Fatty Foods
One of the most common culprits for a smoking air fryer is fatty food. When you begin experimenting with cooking fatty foods like bacon, chicken, and burgers, be prepared. There's no doubt your air fryer will produce smoke.
As greasy foods get hot and begin to splatter, your air fryer is blowing that grease all over the place. Eventually, it's going to land on your heating element, heating coil, and everything in between.
You're left with one smoking hot air fryer. Not only will you see smoke, you'll smell the burn. Additionally, as meats cook, they continually release their juices, which fall and collect around the bottom of your air fryer.
Oil and grease, in general, are notorious for smoking.
Why Do Oil and Grease Smoke?
All oils have smoke points, even natural oils and fats. As oils, fats, and grease are heated, they all eventually reach a high temperature and begin to smoke and oxidize.
So, if you're cooking meats at their smoke point temperatures or higher, then you can expect some smoke during the cooking process.
Smoke Points of Common Meats and Fats
- Bacon grease 450°F (232°C)
- Beef tallow 375°F
- Chicken fat 375°F
- Duck fat 375°F
- Lard 370°F
- Suet 400°F
What to Do When Your Air Fryer Smokes?
The first thing you should do when your air fryer begins to smoke is turn it off. If you feel it's a manufacturer or electrical issue, then unplug it and contact your manufacturer.
There's usually a customer service number notated inside your instruction manual. If you've already tossed the manual, practically every manufacturer has their own website where you can find the appropriate contact information.
For Excessive Oil, Grease, or Marinades
If your air fryer smoking is caused by cooking foods with excessive oil, fat, or marinades, then you can remove and empty the drip tray or air fryer basket (depending on your air fryer model). It's not uncommon to have to do this during the middle of a cooking session.
Empty the grease into a safe container and wipe any excess oil off of your accessories with a paper towel to remove any remaining residue.
To reduce smoke, place a tablespoon of water in your drip tray before placing it into your air fryer. As the grease falls into your drip pan, it will mix with the water, thereby reducing its temperature, which helps keep your air fryer from smoking so much.
Although I've never personally tried it, many home cooks suggest placing a piece of bread in the bottom of your drip tray while air frying. It acts as a sponge and absorbs all of the juices as they drip.
It's also helpful if you can limit cooking times to 15-20 minutes.
For Low-Grade Oils and Smoke Points
If you feel the smoking air fryer is a result of low-grade cooking oils or the food's smoke point, use better quality oils with a higher smoke point, like avocado oil, olive oil, or peanut oil. For meats with lower smoking points, simply reducing the temperature should help.
In addition, adding water to air fryers, as noted above, can also help.
For Food Residue and Particles
If it's an issue of food particles or baked-on residue, the only solution is a clean air fryer. It's important to clean your air fryer regularly to prevent ongoing smoke issues.
One way to possibly prevent your air fryer from smoking is to use liners or parchment paper that will catch falling debris and prevent it from landing on your heating element. It won't stop everything, but it will certainly help.
If you've already got food on your heating element, you may be able to blow or brush it off. Otherwise, there's a good chance you'll have to wait until your air fryer is completely cool before wiping it down.
While you may be able to remove larger debris while cooking, it's likely you'll just have to wait until you're through air frying before you can tackle stubborn food residue.
Once you're done with your air fryer, remove the cooking basket, grease tray, and/or wire rack and wash them in warm soapy water.
For really stubborn baked-on food, feel free to soak your cooking basket and other accessories as needed to soften and dislodge any food particles or grease.
Then use a warm, dampened cloth to thoroughly wipe the inside of your air fryer clean, including the heating element. Remove any leftover grease or baked-on food from the inside of your air fryer.
If your components are dishwasher safe, go ahead and toss them in.
Tips to Reduce Air Fryer Smoke
- Always follow the manufacturer's guidelines for temperatures and maximum cooking times.
- Routine cleaning of your air fryer to remove excess oil, grease, and stuck food helps minimize smoking air fryers.
- Before you cook food, trim excess fat off meats so there's less dripping.
- Don't poke or prod meats. This not only releases juices that fall to the bottom of your air fryer, but it also prevents meats from retaining their moisture, leaving them dry.
- Reduce the amount of oil used in marinades for less dripping.
- Use high-quality oils that can withstand high temperatures.
- Always keep a fire extinguisher in your kitchen.
Getting to the Bottom of Your Air Fryer's Smoky Behavior
Most air fryers smoke just the same as any other cooking appliance, so don't let it alarm you.
But yes, air fryers catch fire if you're not careful. So if your air fryer starts to smoke, shut it off and troubleshoot the issue, starting with your heating element.
Now that you know how to minimize and prevent your air fryer from smoking, you can continue enjoying your cooking frenzy with some of these great recipes:
How to Cook Air Fryer Hamburgers (Fresh and Frozen)
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