Something I like about the period after Christmas is how many unwanted gifts get liquidated on Craigslist. In 2022 I decided to get an air fryer. Brand spanking new. 300 dollar model for a third of the price.

I loved using it. I was won over. As someone who enjoys cooking when they can, it's not easy to win me over with kitchen appliances.

For the past two years, I have been too afraid to use mine. Let me explain why.

This might not apply to all types of air fryers. But I want to share this in the event it saves a life.

This is roughly how my model works. There is an induction coil, similar to a stove top, on the top. Then there is a fan, and a small metal protective layer separating the fan from the rest of the heating chamber. Pretty cool!

Except..

When you cook with really hot fats, like oil or butter, the fumes from that carry a small amount of airborne grease. This is part of frying.

If you have worked in a restaurant that fries anything, or doesn't, you may have had to clean the vents. It's part of kitchen safety and a lame cleaning task you got to do every several months. Your household stove probably has vents you can clean periodically. But if you don't fry anything, you may never need to.

Do you see where this is going?

air-fryer-fire

At least with my model, In order to clean it, you have to take it apart. And even then, it's not made to be cleaned thoroughly. This may be an act of planned obsolescence.

This is when products are made for self-destruction, so you buy a new version of the product every couple of years.

But not being able to adequately clean residual grease when your vent is a heating element. That can be deadly.

If you are enjoying the convenience of an air fryer, you likely don't want to take it apart to clean it. Some models might not be like this.

You might have a better experience with a toaster oven.

They are cheap, reliable, but take a little bit longer to cook your food.

This might not apply to you. You might have an easy to clean air fryer that isn't a fire hazard. Mine is. I am sticking with a toaster oven from here on.

What are your thoughts?