Skip to Content

Do Air Fryers Set Off Smoke Alarms?

By: Author Jeff Campbell

Posted on  - Last updated:

Categories Appliances, Air Fryers

If you have an air fryer or are looking to purchase one, you’ve likely heard all of the good things about air fryers. I have an air fryer, and love it! However, since it is “frying” food, many people wonder do air fryers set off smoke alarms?

No. Air fryers do not set off smoke alarms if used normally. Though designed to air fry food at a high heat without posing any fire hazard, using too much oil or overfilling the basket could possibly set off smoke alarms.

But there’s a lot more to know about why air fryers would set off smoke alarms.

Also, you might also be interested to learn how you can reduce the smoke. I will share all these details with you in this article. I’ll also suggest you the best way to clean your air fryer and more.

Just keep reading!

Why do air fryers smoke so much?

Your air fryer really shouldn’t smoke. But if it does smoke, it’s most likely because food particles or oil are splattering onto the heating element. Using too much oil on the food or overcrowding the basket can also cause this.

If this happens, stop the air fryer and, using a paper towel, carefully wipe the bottom of the air fryer to clear any excess grease. You can even put a piece of bread at the bottom of the machine to soak up any oil.

But a couple of tablespoons of water in the bottom of the basket can also help to stop the excess oil from smoking.

If you are ever concerned about the amount of smoke coming out of your air fryer, stop air frying. Unplug the machine and let it cool while you continue cooking using an alternate method, like your oven, stovetop, or even deep fryer.

Fatty foods release grease and that grease will splatter on the heating element.

Sometimes, it’s not just grease, but food particles as well. Of course, when things get stuck on the heating element, it’s going to burn and smoke.

If your food isn’t very fatty and your air fryer is still smoking, it’s probably because your basket is overcrowded. Or you may have put too much oil on the food, to begin with.

If you cook too much food at one time, it can cause food particles to get stuck on the heating element.

Another problem could be that you are cooking using temperatures that are too high. Some air fryers may cook too hot too fast. Try turning down the temperature on your air fryer and cooking your food for longer to prevent smoking.

Is it normal for my air fryer to smoke?

No. Typically, air fryers don’t smoke or set off smoke alarms. If it does start to smoke, it’s most likely due to excess fat and/or oil that can build up while cooking. This is particularly when cooking high-fat foods like bacon or hamburgers.

Usually, the excess fat or oil will build upon the bottom of the air fryer’s cooking compartment. When this happens, it will start smoking because of the high temperatures causing it to burn.

You may even see smoke if there is food stuck to the heating element at the top of your air fryer.

It’s not normal for an air fryer to smoke under normal operating conditions. If it does smoke, it’s not likely to be an issue with the appliance itself, but rather, the way it’s used.

How do I stop my air fryer from smoking?

To stop an air fryer from smoking during the cooking process, temporarily remove the food basket and insert pan and wipe up any excess oil at the bottom of the pan, using care because it will be hot. Also, ensure no food or oil has splattered on the inside of the unit. If it has, again wipe safely as it will be quite hot.

There are a few things you can do to prevent your air fryer from setting off smoke alarm.

First, don’t use too much oil when frying.

Try not to cook super fatty foods in the air fryer, like bacon. And don’t be tempted to cram the basket completely full of food.

One of the advantages of using an air fryer is that you only need to use a tiny amount of oil if any.

Now if you do cook fatty foods in an air fryer, such as bratwurst sausages, understand that smoking may just be part of the process. When high-fat foods are cooked at high temperatures, some amount of smoking is to be expected.

Second, try the bread at the bottom of the air fryer to see if it helps reduce some of the smoking

But most of it is going to be due to fat splattering on the heating elements.

There’s no way to prevent that unless you cook your high-fat foods on the stovetop or in the conventional oven. But stovetop bacon may create even more grease splatter and smoking than the air fryer.

If your air fryer is clean, and you’re not cooking high-fat foods, but it’s still smoking, check the heating elements.

Food particles can get stuck to the heating elements and burn and smoke. Wait until the air fryer is completely cooled, and gently wipe down the heating element to remove old grease and food particles.

Finally, make sure you are using the right temperature setting

If you are cooking at temperatures that are too high, you could be burning your food, causing it to smoke.

Air fryers cook at a max temperature of around 400 degrees Fahrenheit. They are designed to cook your food at a high heat without posing a fire hazard. But if the manufacturer’s instructions are not followed, they could overheat.

To read more about whether air fryers can overheat, read this recent article.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Do you have to clean your air fryer after every use?

Yes. Air fryers should be cleaned after every use to prevent the buildup of grease and food residue. Cleaning every time will help prevent smoking or overheating, and produce better cooking results as the air is allowed to flow more freely throughout the unit.

To clean your air fryer, unplug the air fryer and let it cool completely.

All of the air fryer’s removable parts, like the basket and the pan, can be placed in the dishwasher.

Clean the inside of the air fryer with hot water and a cloth or sponge. Be sure just to wipe it down really well. You don’t want to submerge the air fryer because you can damage the electrical components.

If there is any food stuck to the heating element above the food basket, use a soft-bristled brush to clean it off.

Wipe off the outside of the air fryer with a damp cloth.

Finally, make sure the cooking compartment, basket, and inside of the machine are dried completely before putting it back together.

Just like an air fryer, a toaster oven cooks with a heating element. The heating element browns and crisps food.

They are just like miniature versions of your oven and can be used to replace your microwave oven. They will cook slower than a microwave, but most of the time, the results will be superior.

To learn more about whether a toaster oven can replace a microwave, check out this recent article. After all, many of us don’t have the space or the money to buy one of every small kitchen appliance. So knowing which ones can take the place of others is crucial.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Do air fryers smell up the house?

No! Air fryers don’t smell up the house! Unlike a traditional deep fryer that would cause the whole house to smell, air fryers only put out a small amount of food odor. And the odor typically dissipates quickly as opposed to that deep fryer smell that can take days to go away.

I often do my deep fryer outside. Otherwise, my whole house will smell like fried foods for several days afterward.

One of the major advantages of using an air fryer is that it doesn’t smell up your house like a deep fryer does.

It also doesn’t splatter grease all over my kitchen.

Deep fryers, on the other hand, will splatter everywhere. And then you have to figure out what to do with the grease when you’re done. And you can’t forget cleaning the darn thing!

Air fryers make virtually no mess whatsoever.

On top of that, they are super easy to clean. You can put the basket and the cooking compartment right in the dishwasher. Just wipe the inside and outside of the machine down with a damp cloth.

But these are just a few of the reasons air fryers are awesome.

I’ve compiled a whole list of advantages of having an air fryer in this recent article. I get into all the pros and cons including the 1 con that almost prevented me from buying mine.

Just click the link to read it on my site.

Final Thoughts

In this post, I took a look at why air fryers would set off smoke alarms.

I talked about why air fryers smoke and what you can do to prevent it. Besides, highly fatty foods will almost always cause splattering and smoking.

I also talked about how and when to clean your air fryer. Also, air fryers don’t smell up your house like deep-frying does, making it a better cooking option.

One thing you might not expect from a new air fryer is a plastic smell the first time you use it.

Is that normal? Will it affect the taste of the food? How do you get rid of it? Luckily, I answer all those questions and more in a recent article.

Just click that link to read it on my site.

Photo which requires attribution:

McDonald’s will be cooking their foods on the Power Air-Fryer oven by PatrickRich is licensed under Public Domain

Jeff Campbell
Latest posts by Jeff Campbell (see all)