How to Clean a Deep Fryer

Unplug your deep fryer before you start cleaning it.

• You can’t clean a fryer with hot oil in it. If you’ve used your deep fryer recently, allow it to cool down completely before you start the cleaning process.
• It may take a deep fryer several hours to cool off after you use it.
• Take the frying basket and put it in the sink, where you can wash it with dish soap and hot water. A cleaning brush or toothbrush can help you loosen small bits of food that may be stuck to the basket.

Before you can start deep cleaning a deep fryer, remove the oil. Adding water to the oil could cause an accident.

• Carefully lift the oil reservoir and pour the oil into a plastic bowl or container.
• If the oil is still relatively clean, you can pour it back into the fryer after you clean it . If you plan to reuse the oil, pour it out using a strainer to remove any leftover bits of food.
• If the oil is cloudy, very dark or smelly, safely dispose of it in the trash.

Tip: Do not pour oil down your sink drain as this can cause plumbing issues.

As you figure out how to clean your deep fryer, work on the counter of your kitchen instead of placing the fryer in the sink. Though you’ll be using soap and water, you shouldn't ever submerge your deep fryer in water. Never put a deep fryer into the dishwasher.

• Use an abrasive sponge or a straight plastic edge to scrape away any build-up on the sides or bottom of the deep fryer.
• Work your way around the inside of the fryer, cleaning the sides and the corners.

• Add a squirt of liquid dish soap to the inside of the deep fryer. Use a measuring cup or pitcher to fill it up the rest of the way with hot water. Avoid putting your deep fryer in the sink. Exposing the electrical parts of your fryer to water can ruin it.
• Mix up the dish soap and water.
• Plug the fryer in and turn it on. You’ll be bringing the soapy water to a boil, which is also known as “boiling out” your deep fryer.
• Let the water come to a boil so the soap solution can break down the remaining grease inside the unit.
• Allow the water to boil for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how dirty the fryer is.
• Once the water has boiled, turn the deep fryer off and unplug it. Keep an eye on the water as it boils. Don’t let all the water boil away.
• Allow both the fryer unit and the water inside it to cool completely.
• After everything is cool, dump out the soapy water into the sink.
• Rinse the inside of the fryer well to make sure there’s no soap left in it.

• Using an old rag or microfiber cloth, wipe down the inside of the fryer, working to remove all the remaining sticky oil and grease.
• If more soap is needed, fill a small bowl with liquid dish soap and hot water to form suds. Dip the cloth in the mixture between scrubs.
• If you can get all the oil off, set the unit out to dry. If more oil remains on the inside of your deep fryer, try moving on to the next step.
• Once the inside is clean, then work on wiping off the outside of the deep fryer. Use a cloth and the same soapy water mixture to work on sticky oil spots on the exterior.
• Because oil spatters as you deep fry, even the cord of your deep fryer might be dirty. Wipe the cord down with a cloth dampened with some soapy water.

• When liquid dish soap and hot water don’t cut it, baking soda can act as a powerful cleaning agent.
• Add a heaping spoonful of baking soda to a small bowl.
• Add just enough hot water to work the baking soda into a paste.
• Work the paste into the areas where you still have a sticky film or stuck-on residue.
• If the reservoir features a nonstick coating, use a soft cleaning brush to work the paste in.

Tip: If your deep fryer has a metal reservoir, you can use a steel wool sponge to scour dirty areas.

• When your fryer is nice and clean, it is important to let the unit dry completely before using it again.
• Wipe it down as much of the fryer as you can with a clean, dry cloth. Allow the rest of it to air dry.
• When the fryer is totally dry, refill it with oil.

• You don’t need to clean a deep fryer after each use. That oil will be good for multiple frying sessions. Over time, however, there will be some buildup.
• Avoid all the electrical components when cleaning a deep fryer.
• Never submerge your fryer in the sink.
• How often you’ll need to clean your deep fryer will depend on how much you use it. If you deep fry at least once a week, clean the fryer every three months.