Is your electric fryer or traditional fryer clogged to the point of impossibility? It must be said that because of the oil, fat reigns supreme, sometimes leaving spots of cooked fat on the basket. However, maintaining the fryer is very important to avoid frying odors which quickly permeate the room. In addition, good fresh fries (you know, the little crispy homemade fries that come in handy when you don’t have any meal ideas!) could well become less delicious with all this dirt. But this task is so dreaded that we tend to put it off. However, it only takes a few minutes to clean a fryer when you know the right steps and techniques. Grandma shares her secrets with you for getting back even the dirtiest fryers.
What you need to clean the fryer:
- Flour
- White vinegar
- Soda crystals
- Optional: black soap and sodium bicarbonate
Steps for cleaning the dirty fryer:
1) First, empty the fryer tank of fat. To do this, we must not Never throw the oil down the sink or toilet. In fact, this action risks blocking your pipes. In addition, it is not very ecological, because it will pollute the water unnecessarily since the oil is not miscible. So, it is better to put it in a bottle and take it to a recycling center that accepts used cooking oils.
2) Then, we advise you to sprinkle it with flour and rub with a paper towel to absorb greasy residue. On a lightly soiled fryer, this may be enough to do most of the cleaning. You can then clean with very hot water and degreasing dishwashing liquid or with vinegar combined with coarse salt. It even works on the porthole.
3) When cleaning a dirty fryer, it is best to let everything soak in a mixture of hot water, soda crystals and vinegar. This unbeatable trio will remove remaining dirt and grease. However, you will have to leave the small chemical reaction to act for 5 minutes without danger. Then rinse well.
4) Now it’s time to scrub everything one last time and dry it all! If there is still a lot of encrusted dirt, a sponge and black soap sprinkled with baking soda or from vinegar combined with coarse salt will do the rest. Finally, rinse well and tadaaaam! Cleaning the very dirty fryer is a success.
Good to know: Consider changing your cooking oil more regularly or at least cleaning it between uses. In fact, the particles accumulate there and burn, making cleaning difficult. Also, do regular cleaning with hot, soapy boiling water and you will never again have odor problems in your multifunction household appliance. Your nuggets, gourmet donuts, crispy fries and other fried foods are saved! Consider doing a deep cleaning about once a month depending on the frequency of use.
How to keep a fryer clean and odor-free longer after cleaning?
To keep a fryer clean and odor-free for longer, it is important to follow some good regular maintenance and cleaning practices. Here are some tips that will extend its life and ensure optimal cooking results!
Proper use of the fryer
The oil must be filtered and changed regularly. After each use, let the oil cool, then filter it through a fine strainer or coffee filter to remove food residue. This helps extend the life of the oil and maintains a cleaner fryer. Additionally, replace used oil with fresh oil regularly, especially if it becomes cloudy, foamy or gives off a bad odor. Generally, it is recommended to change the oil after eight to ten uses.
Tips for cleaning and deodorizing it
First of all, clean up residue after each use. Wipe the inside of the fryer with paper towels to remove any leftover oil and food. Also clean the lid, basket, fryer surround and exterior walls.
Furthermore, use baking soda or white vinegar for lingering odors. For example, sprinkle baking soda inside the fryer and leave for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing with hot water. To deodorize and clean the fryer, you can also mix one part white vinegar with one part water. Fill the fryer with this mixture and leave to act for 15 minutes. Then empty the fryer and rinse with plenty of clean water. Before or after these treatments, you can carry out cleaning.
Finally, clean the fryer basket. The basket can often accumulate frying residue. Soak it in hot, soapy water for 15-20 minutes, then scrub it with a brush to remove deposits. You can also most often clean the removable parts in the dishwasher. If your fryer has removable parts that are dishwasher safe (like the basket and lid), clean them regularly following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Maintaining grease filters: don’t forget!
If your fryer is equipped with grease filters, clean or replace them regularly according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. This helps reduce odors and improve the performance of the fryer.