Latest news with #kitchenappliance
CNET
3 days ago
- Business
- CNET
This All-in-One Kitchen Appliance Won Me Over. And It's 25% Off Right Now
I'm not a big fan of single-function kitchen gadgets, so when I tested the Chefman Everything Maker, I was expecting a novelty product that I would never actually buy myself. What I got was a genuinely useful, space-saving kitchen sidekick that's now part of my daily cooking routine. It's compact, clever and capable of making just about everything from waffles and paninis to pizza and eggs, all without taking up half the counter. The $59.99 price tag on the Chefman website already feels like a steal for what it does. Which is, well, everything really. But right now, you can get the Everything Maker in color Midnight for 25% off on Amazon, bringing the price down to just $45. (The Concrete color is currently 20% off, too). Too often all-in-one kitchen appliances end up doing a lot of things poorly instead of doing one thing well. And, since some models have a lot of different components, they can be a nightmare to clean. But the Everything Maker quickly won me over. The nonstick cooking surfaces heat up quickly and clean off with minimal effort (a serious win in my book). I've made crispy hash browns, gooey grilled cheese, breakfast sandwiches and perfectly golden pancakes -- all in one compact machine. And it's not just a breakfast tool. I've used it for late-night quesadillas and quick lunches more times than I can count in the last few weeks. The design is intuitive, easy to store upright (though I rarely put it away) and surprisingly durable. No extra bells and whistles here. It's just a well-made, easy-to-use appliance that works every time. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. How I use my Everything Maker Macy Meyer/CNET The Chefman Everything Maker lives up to its name by offering a versatile, all-in-one cooking solution that fits easily on a countertop. With a 12-inch nonstick cooking surface and a slim, compact design, it's well-suited for small kitchens or anyone looking to simplify meal prep. I've found it particularly convenient for cooking breakfast foods like eggs and pancakes with the lid open, then switching to grilled sandwiches or quesadillas with the lid closed. It also heats quickly and evenly, reaching up to 428°F (220°C), which is enough for searing, sautéing or even light grilling. I made a summer flatbread (with burrata, pesto and prosciutto) over the weekend and used the Everything Maker to lightly sear some peaches to add as a topping. They came out perfectly. Cleanup is another strong point. The nonstick surface wipes down easily after use -- no scrubbing or soaking required -- which has made it a reliable go-to for quick weekday meals. The Everything Maker also comes with a digital cookbook featuring 16 chef-crafted recipes, which I've used as inspiration for trying new dishes beyond my usual routine. While it doesn't replace every kitchen tool, the Everything Maker handles a surprising variety of tasks in a compact footprint. A thoughtful and affordable gift for Father's Day (and beyond) If you're looking for a gift for the dad who loves breakfast (or just appreciates a good gadget), the Chefman Everything Maker hits that sweet spot of fun and functional. At $60, it's already reasonably priced even without the discount. But the $45 deal on Amazon is quite the steal, considering it's the kind of gift that actually gets used and will keep getting used. While the Everything Maker isn't on sale on the Chefman website currently, it's still worth checking Chefman's website from time to time. They run promotions regularly (in fact, my favorite Obliterator Blender is 20% off right now). My buying advice Whether you're shopping for a Father's Day gift or just want to level up your own cuisine game, the Chefman Everything Maker is a surprisingly versatile little appliance. Even at full price, it offers solid value and delivers big on convenience, but for just $45, you really can't beat the value. If you're looking for other useful, fun gifts for your favorite hostess or the chef in your life, here are our favorite kitchen gifts under $50.
CNET
4 days ago
- Business
- CNET
This All-in-One Kitchen Appliance Can Do Everything. And It's Still 25% Off Right Now for Memorial Day
I'm not one for single-function kitchen gadgets, so when I tested the Chefman Everything Maker, I was expecting a novelty. What I got was a genuinely useful, space-saving kitchen sidekick that's now part of my daily cooking routine. It's compact, clever and capable of making just about everything from waffles and paninis to pizza and eggs, all without taking up half the counter. The $59.99 price tag on the Chefman website already feels like a steal for what it does. Which is, well, everything really. But right now, you can get the Everything Maker in color Midnight for 25% off on Amazon, bringing the price down to just $45. (The Concrete color is currently 20% off, too). Too often all-in-one kitchen appliances end up doing a lot of things poorly instead of doing one thing well. And, since some models have a lot of different components, they can be a nightmare to clean. But the Everything Maker quickly won me over. The nonstick cooking surfaces heat up quickly and clean off with minimal effort (a serious win in my book). I've made crispy hash browns, gooey grilled cheese, breakfast sandwiches and perfectly golden pancakes -- all in one compact machine. And it's not just a breakfast tool. I've used it for late-night quesadillas and quick lunches more times than I can count in the last few weeks. The design is intuitive, easy to store upright (though I rarely put it away) and surprisingly durable. No extra bells and whistles here. It's just a well-made, easy-to-use appliance that works every time. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. How I use my Everything Maker Macy Meyer/CNET The Chefman Everything Maker lives up to its name by offering a versatile, all-in-one cooking solution that fits easily on a countertop. With a 12-inch nonstick cooking surface and a slim, compact design, it's well-suited for small kitchens or anyone looking to simplify meal prep. I've found it particularly convenient for cooking breakfast foods like eggs and pancakes with the lid open, then switching to grilled sandwiches or quesadillas with the lid closed. It also heats quickly and evenly, reaching up to 428°F (220°C), which is enough for searing, sautéing or even light grilling. I made a summer flatbread (with burrata, pesto and prosciutto) over the weekend and used the Everything Maker to lightly sear some peaches to add as a topping. They came out perfectly. Cleanup is another strong point. The nonstick surface wipes down easily after use -- no scrubbing or soaking required -- which has made it a reliable go-to for quick weekday meals. The Everything Maker also comes with a digital cookbook featuring 16 chef-crafted recipes, which I've used as inspiration for trying new dishes beyond my usual routine. While it doesn't replace every kitchen tool, the Everything Maker handles a surprising variety of tasks in a compact footprint. A thoughtful and affordable gift for Father's Day (and beyond) If you're looking for a gift for the dad who loves breakfast (or just appreciates a good gadget), the Chefman Everything Maker hits that sweet spot of fun and functional. At $60, it's already reasonably priced even without the discount. But the $45 deal on Amazon is quite the steal, considering it's the kind of gift that actually gets used and will keep getting used. While the Everything Maker isn't on sale on the Chefman website currently, it's still worth checking Chefman's website from time to time. They run promotions regularly (in fact, my favorite Obliterator Blender is 20% off right now). My buying advice Whether you're shopping for a Father's Day gift or just want to level up your own cuisine game, the Chefman Everything Maker is a surprisingly versatile little appliance. Even at full price, it offers solid value and delivers big on convenience, but for just $45, you really can't beat the value. If you're looking for other useful, fun gifts for your favorite hostess or the chef in your life, here are our favorite kitchen gifts under $50.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Ninja slushi created one of the best drinks I've ever made, but is it worth the money?
Design The Ninja slushi uses a condenser and an auger to cool and mix ingredients, chilling them to the point of freezing but stopping them from freezing solid. This machine has a great capacity, with a 16oz minimum and a 64oz maximum, so it tops out at around six servings, depending on what you're making. The payoff for this capacity, however, is the size. The slushi takes up a huge amount of room. In fairness, I'm testing this in a small apartment, so space is already tight, but it takes up at least a fifth of my countertop real estate. I've had to move my air fryer to clear enough room for this, and it will be hard to store. During the summer, I'm happy to keep it on the countertop, but when the winter inevitably rolls around, I'll have to come up with a clever place to keep it — I've measured and it won't fit in any of my standard-size kitchen cabinets. However, it's very quiet. Though rated for 55dB, when I measured it was never louder than 45dB. It's a similar sound to a dishwasher; a gentle whirr with occasional sloshing liquid. The machine beeps when it's done, too, which is a useful feature when you're in another room. The only noise issue is that it runs constantly, even once it's finished — but the slush mix would freeze solid if it didn't. The low-level noise will be fine if you keep this in the kitchen while entertaining in the yard, but if you live in an apartment, you might find the noise too much for dinner parties. It's easy to clean, and though I tested some pretty messy ingredients, there was no trace of Oreos, hot sauce, or tomato juice after a quick hand wash. Slush function The most obvious test is on the straightforward slush function. I filled the tank with 24oz of Coca-Cola and set it to run. The guide says it will take around 15 minutes; it took 17, which is slower than stated, but not by much. The result was impressive. The machine made a perfect Coca-Cola slushie. I had to mix it a little when it came out of the machine, but it tasted incredible, particularly on a hot day. The sugar-sensitive might find it a little syrupy, but that's because, like any slushie, the freezing process gets rid of the carbonation. It would be amazing for Coca-Cola floats, a great base for cocktails, and would work particularly well with flavored sodas. Just bear in mind that this machine needs sugar to work, so diet sodas can't be turned into slush. Frozen juice It was a similar story on the frozen juice function. I used 24oz of tropical juice, hit the frozen juice function, and let it run. The guide said it would need about 15 minutes, but it took 19. The result was delicious. Like the Coca-Cola, it needed a little mixing in the glass, but it tasted great. It was very cold and perfect for a hot day. It's a slightly healthier option than Coca-Cola, but not by much — the machine always needs 5g of sugar per 3 fl oz, because the sugar content works like antifreeze, stopping the liquid from freezing solid. Milkshake Next up: the milkshake function. I wanted to see how it handled trickier ingredients, including those with a little grit, so I decided to make an Oreo shake out of chocolate milk, double cream, Oreos, and a little vanilla extract. I had to smash some Oreos to mix them with the chocolate milk — otherwise, they'd never fit through the feeder hole. Even with a lot of smashing, I still had to help them through with chopsticks, and it meant that not all of the cream went through the feeder hole. The 'easy-fill port' has a small ledge to slowly add liquids, but I found that heavier ingredients like cream don't flow straight into the machine. It beeped after 15 minutes, about as long as predicted in the guide. However, the milk meant that it didn't really thicken, despite all the extra sugar from the Oreos. This is a little odd because this is the sugariest drink I tested; I've done the maths and it worked out at about 32.3g of sugar per serving. I turned the level up two points for five minutes, and not much changed, so in the end I turned up to one below max for another 10. The result was a delicious, thick milkshake. The machine handled the gritty Oreo crumbs well, and the auger meant they were so well-mixed that you couldn't see them in the final product. It tasted great, but I think this is the least impressive function of this machine. It's perfectly nice, but it's not dissimilar from making one of these in a milkshake machine or blender, and it takes a lot longer. Frappé I then tried out the frappé function with Ninja's recipe: 12oz chilled coffee, 12oz whole milk, a tablespoon of double cream, and 60 grams of sugar. That's not a typo — it really needs that much sugar. It's quite an involved recipe, so this isn't an everyday drink. It's not exactly hard to make, but you have to make and then chill the coffee, then mix the sugar in with the milk so that you can pour it into the machine. It's no surprise, then, that it took the longest of all the recipes I tried. The booklet suggested 15 minutes, but it took half an hour. In short, don't buy one of these thinking you can make a quick frappe before work. However, it made for one of the most delicious frappes I've ever had. The slush is refreshing and cool on a summer's day, and making it at home makes for better quality than a big-brand coffee shop frappe. The big issue is the sugar content — 60 grams of sugar for two portions is hefty. I'm not a huge fan of sweet coffee, but even if I were, 30 grams of sugar per 12oz serving is a lot of sugar. Anyone worried about their sugar intake should probably steer clear of this machine. Frozen cocktail The best test of a slushy machine is whether or not it can handle a frozen margarita — it's half the reason slushy machines were invented. (Note to my editor: I tested this after work. I promise I'm not writing this review with the aid of 64oz of frozen tequila). To assess the frozen cocktail function, I first tried a margarita mixer with some tequila. It was easy to pour everything in and set the machine running. The guide said it needed 30 minutes, but it was finished in 17. However, the first attempt was a failure, though it wasn't the machine's fault. My ratios were off; the mixer had too little sugar, and the tequila had too much alcohol for the liquid to turn to slush. It tasted incredible and was right on the point of being a proper slushie, but it wasn't quite right. I made a second attempt with a ready-made margarita and tequila mix, keeping an eye on it as it developed. I wanted to use a ready-made mix when testing cocktails because that's how most people will use this machine. Assembling all the parts for a full-on margarita is pretty pricey, especially at the quantities you need to use for this machine. Again, it was done early, and again, the mix wasn't quite right, so I added some cloudy lemonade and lime to boost the sugar levels. Even this didn't work. I had to dilute it with water to take out some alcohol, per Ninja's troubleshooting guide and even ended up reaching up the back of my cocktail cupboard for some long-forgotten agave nectar to give this enough sugar to gum up into slush. Once I'd nailed it, however, it was incredible. It was a textbook margarita, delivering a perfect hit of sweet and sour citrus, served ice-cold. It's one of the best drinks I've ever made, and with a little work, it could be a go-to in my cocktail arsenal. However, it's a little frustrating that it needed so much tweaking. It's partly user error, but 'frozen cocktail' is such a broad function that it's hard to know what will work. The frozen cocktail function will be great for rum and cokes, but more involved cocktails need a little finessing. Michelada Finally, I made one of my favorite summer drinks, a michelada. For the uninitiated, it's a mix of beer, tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce — a bit like a Bloody Mary with beer instead of vodka. I wanted to try the machine without presets, and I also wanted to test how easy it was to clean. Any trace of hot sauce left over in the machine would ruin any future slushies. I added my ingredients and spotted a tiny design issue. Adding a dash of anything — in this case, some Maggi liquid seasoning — is tricky because of the 'easy-fill port'. It's not just a hole in the top of the machine, but a slope down to a tiny inlet hole that slowly drips liquid into the machine. However, thicker liquids like these sit on the slope and don't entirely fall into the vessel. One other small issue here is that there was one spot in the top right corner of the machine where the drink wasn't mixed properly, but it sorted itself out once I took some slush out. However, these are pedantic points. The drink itself was, once again, incredible. It made a delicious michelada slush that's somehow even more refreshing than usual. I think it would be a huge hit at a summer barbecue. Price The big drawback with this appliance, however, is the price. At $349, it is expensive — it's only $100 off a Nintendo Switch 2. For a while, this was a unique appliance. There are lots of slushie makers — including the Drew Barrymore Beautiful slush crush ($89, — that are really just blenders marketed for frozen drinks. However, there are a few other brands like the Inoviva slushie machine ($269.99, starting to come onto the market. These are usually cheaper than the Ninja slushi, but work in the same way. I haven't tested these, so I can't confirm, but they might be better value for money.
CNET
6 days ago
- CNET
Memorial Day Sale: This All-in-One Kitchen Appliance Can Do Everything. And It's 25% Off Right Now
I'm typically skeptical of single-function kitchen gadgets, so when I tested the Chefman Everything Maker, I was expecting a dud. What I got instead was a genuinely useful, space-saving kitchen sidekick that's now part of my daily cooking routine. It's compact, clever and capable of making just about everything I want to whip up, from pizza and eggs to waffles and paninis, all without taking up half the counter. The $59.99 price tag on the Chefman website already feels like a steal for what it does. Which is, well, everything really. But right now for Memorial Day, you can get the Everything Maker in color Midnight for 25% off on Amazon, bringing the price down to just $45. (The Concrete color is currently 20% off, too). Too often all-in-one kitchen appliances end up doing a lot of things poorly instead of doing one thing well. And, since some models have a lot of different components, they can be a nightmare to clean. But the Everything Maker quickly won me over. The nonstick cooking surfaces heat up quickly and clean off with minimal effort (a serious win in my book). I've made crispy hash browns, gooey grilled cheese, breakfast sandwiches and perfectly golden pancakes -- all in one compact machine. And it's not just a breakfast tool. I've used it for late-night quesadillas and quick lunches more times than I can count in the last few weeks. The design is intuitive, easy to store upright (though I rarely put it away) and surprisingly durable. No extra bells and whistles here. It's just a well-made, easy-to-use appliance that works every time. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. How I use my Everything Maker Macy Meyer/CNET The Chefman Everything Maker lives up to its name by offering a versatile, all-in-one cooking solution that fits easily on a countertop. With a 12-inch nonstick cooking surface and a slim, compact design, it's well-suited for small kitchens or anyone looking to simplify meal prep. I've found it particularly convenient for cooking breakfast foods like eggs and pancakes with the lid open, then switching to grilled sandwiches or quesadillas with the lid closed. It also heats quickly and evenly, reaching up to 428°F (220°C), which is enough for searing, sautéing or even light grilling. I made a summer flatbread (with burrata, pesto and prosciutto) over the weekend and used the Everything Maker to lightly sear some peaches to add as a topping. They came out perfectly. Cleanup is another strong point. The nonstick surface wipes down easily after use -- no scrubbing or soaking required -- which has made it a reliable go-to for quick weekday meals. The Everything Maker also comes with a digital cookbook featuring 16 chef-crafted recipes, which I've used as inspiration for trying new dishes beyond my usual routine. While it doesn't replace every kitchen tool, the Everything Maker handles a surprising variety of tasks in a compact footprint. A thoughtful and affordable gift for Father's Day (and beyond) If you're looking for a gift for the dad who loves breakfast (or just appreciates a good gadget), the Chefman Everything Maker hits that sweet spot of fun and functional. At $60, it's already reasonably priced even without the discount. But the $45 deal on Amazon is quite the steal, considering it's the kind of gift that actually gets used and will keep getting used. It's also a great gift for a grad who's moving into their own place for the first time. While the Everything Maker isn't on sale on the Chefman website currently, it's still worth checking Chefman's website from time to time. They run promotions regularly (in fact, my favorite Obliterator Blender is 20% off right now). For more discounts on appliances and other home essentials, check out our list of the best Memorial Day deals at Home Depot. Chefman CNET's buying advice Whether you're shopping for a Father's Day gift, a graduation gift, or just want to level up your own cuisine game, the Chefman Everything Maker is a surprisingly versatile little appliance. Even at full price, it offers solid value and delivers big on convenience, but for just $45, you really can't beat the value. We don't know how long this deal will last, as it's a limited-time offer. The discount could continue through Memorial Day, but there's no guarantee. So if you're interested in picking up the Chefman Everything Maker for yourself or a loved one, we recommend placing your order sooner rather than later so that you don't miss out on this deal. If you're looking for other useful, fun gifts for your favorite hostess or the chef in your life, here are our favorite kitchen gifts under $50.
CNET
22-05-2025
- General
- CNET
Air Fryer Safety 101: How I Keep My Kitchen and Home Fire-Free
Air fryers are incredibly handy for whipping up quick, delicious meals -- whether it's busy back-to-school dinners or fast bites during a hectic workday. But with regular use, buildup of oil and food debris in the air fryer basket can turn this convenient appliance into a potential hazard. I've found without regular cleaning and maintenance, you risk smoke, unpleasant odors and even dangerous grease fires. Taking the time to care for your air fryer ensures it stays safe, efficient and ready for every meal. One of the areas on air fryers that most people admit to ignoring when it comes time to clean it is the heating coils, housed inside under the hull. This spot is a prime place for grease splatter and gunk buildup. To prevent malfunctions, avoid fires and preserve the quality of your food, read on for a complete air fryer safety guide. Want the perfect air fryer recipes? Learn how to make crispy bacon, the perfect cheeseburger or a whole chicken in the air fryer. Key takeaways: Regular maintenance is important: Consistent cleaning of the air fryer basket after each use and cleaning the heating coils monthly is essential to prevent grease fires, unpleasant odors and maintain the appliance's efficiency. Consistent cleaning of the air fryer basket after each use and cleaning the heating coils monthly is essential to prevent grease fires, unpleasant odors and maintain the appliance's efficiency. Knowledge on grease fire safety is crucial: According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service, in the event of a grease fire, never use water. Instead, use a kitchen fire extinguisher or cover the fryer with a metal lid and immediately call 911. According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service, in the event of a grease fire, never use water. Instead, use a kitchen fire extinguisher or cover the fryer with a metal lid and immediately call 911. General safety precautions: Air fryers are generally safe but require proper usage. Avoid using extension cords, use dedicated outlets, don't overcrowd the basket, and never leave the air fryer unattended while in use. Best Air Fryers: Cheap vs. Expensive Best Air Fryers: Cheap vs. Expensive Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 19:24 Loaded : 0.51% 00:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 19:24 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Best Air Fryers: Cheap vs. Expensive Are air fryers dangerous? The potential risk of an air fryer should not overshadow the mighty countertop oven's many benefits. In fact, air fryers are generally safer than other cooking methods, including natural gas stoves, which have flammable gas flow and an open flame. Two alarming studies also show that gas stoves can leak toxic gas when not in use and may contribute to childhood asthma. When used properly, air fryers cut down on fat and calories compared to deep-frying or pan-frying and are an excellent conduit for eating more healthily. They can also save money on your energy bill if you use one instead of the wall oven, which takes more energy to heat and longer to cook food once heated. But the key to air fryer safety is taking care of your cookware. While these handy pieces of equipment are usually incredibly safe, it's important to keep them clean of any grime that might accumulate while you cook. Increased air fryer recalls since 2021 Consumer Product Safety Commission/ But that doesn't mean air fryers don't pose any risks. Faulty wiring or user error can cause air fryers to overheat, burn the food inside or melt the machine itself, leading to several reported cases of kitchen fires and burns. To date, no deaths have been reported. One of the reasons could be an influx of cheap air fryers, some as cheap as $20 or $30. A few of those cheaper brands have caused problems leading to consumer recalls. While you certainly don't have to spend more than $100 on an air fryer -- and probably shouldn't -- as with any product, going too cheap could spell trouble. If you're thinking of buying one, check out CNET's complete guide to air fryers, including how they work and what to consider when choosing a model. In this post, I'll explain the potential dangers of using an air fryer and how to mitigate the risk of an air fryer-related fire in your kitchen. My 5 air fryer maintenance and safety tips 1. Clean your air fryer basket after every use Wash the entire air fryer basket with soap and water after every use. Avoid the dishwasher, which can corrode the nonstick surface over time. David Watsky/CNET Air fryers are great for cooking chicken wings, mozzarella sticks (OK, not all air fryer food is healthy) and other crave-able snacks. If you don't add any cooking oil or spray, you might notice a pool of oil or film left in the basket when you lift out the eats. That oil -- and any other food bits -- should be thoroughly cleaned after every use. Residual oil and small burnt bits of food will increase the chance of a fire inside the basket. The good news is that most air fryer baskets are nonstick , so all it takes is a few vigorous scrubs with a warm soapy sponge to get them ready for the next session. Some air fryer baskets are advertised as dishwasher-safe, but I suggest washing them by hand. The pummeling your basket will take inside the dishwasher can erode the nonstick coating over time. 2. Clean the coils above the basket once a month Clean the coils above your air fryer cooking basket for a safer kitchen and better-tasting food. David Watsky/CNET A less obvious -- but equally important -- part of air fryer maintenance is cleaning the coils and the area around them inside the unit, just above the basket. During cooking, oil, sauce and even bits of food can spatter up and onto those coils. You likely won't notice this buildup unless you tilt the air fryer back or turn it upside down completely, so it's worth spending a minute or two looking over your cookware to make sure it's in tip-top shape. When cleaning the inside of an air fryer, it's best to avoid the use of soap, since residual soap could taint food the next time you cook. And saturating it with too much water could potentially damage the functionality of the coils. Instead, use a damp scrubby or the rough side of your sponge. If you do it often enough, it shouldn't be difficult to get those coils clean. Aside from lowering the risk of fire, cleaning this section will keep your air frying humming along and cooking with optimal power. 3. Give the air fryer its own outlet while in use and unplug it after The safest outlet is an empty one. Sarah Tew/CNET Air fryers draw a large current and have the potential to cause an electrical fire. It's always best to unplug them when not in use. Some air fryers are rather quiet, so this also ensures the air fryer isn't still running or won't be accidentally turned on by a passing cat or the curious hand of a toddler. (Plus, this can save you some money over time, as appliances can still draw power even when they're turned off.) Kitchen appliances, including toasters, air fryers and microwaves, should also be plugged directly into an outlet rather than into an extension cord or outlet extender, since they add more resistance to the flow of electricity. You should avoid running your air fryer through an outlet with other appliances plugged in, especially those in use, as it can put stress on the circuits. In truth, any electrical appliance can cause a fire if there's a faulty electrical outlet or bad wiring. Call an electrician if you hear a crackling noise or see sparks. Speaking of damaged electrical outlets, try to position your air fryer so the hot air blowing out the back is not hitting an electrical outlet in your kitchen. Over time, this can cause problems. 4. Don't crowd the air fryer basket If you're struggling to get the basket in because food is piled high, it might be time for a larger air fryer. David Watsky/CNET One thing you don't want is food touching the hot coils during use or loads of grease and sauce splattering up toward the hot coils. To avoid this, don't overcrowd the cooking basket or pile food so high that you have to jostle or squish it to get the basket in. If you find yourself jamming food in to cook the amount you need for you or the family, it might be time to spring for a larger air fryer. 5. Don't leave the air fryer on and unattended Do make bacon in the air fryer, but don't walk too far away while it's cooking. Getty Images Air fryers get hot and they get hot fast. As with any oven, you shouldn't walk too far away from it while it's in use. Monitor for smoke or unusual smells like burning food or plastic. And always adhere to the cooking instructions. Many ovens only suggest cooking on higher temps for 20 minutes or less at a time. Read your air fryer instructions carefully before diving in. Air fryer baskets and harmful chemicals or PFOAs Air fryer baskets are coated with the same chemicals as nonstick cookware. If you're trying to avoid nonstick altogether, you have plenty of options. David Watsky/CNET Most air fryer baskets are coated with a chemical nonstick surface. Depending on how old you are, you've probably heard about Teflon and may be wondering if it's safe. A chemical called PFOA used in the original Teflon was linked to cancer and banned in 2014. New and purportedly safer materials such as GenX are now used for nonstick-coated cookware and air fryer baskets. There is still some skepticism and ongoing debate about the safety of nonstick, but to date, no major studies have linked modern cookware use to negative health outcomes in those who use nonstick or Teflon cookware. GenX, however, when consumed in higher quantities and when found in drinking water, has been deemed toxic by the US Environmental Protection Agency. If you're trying to avoid nonstick altogether, there are options for air fryers without nonstick baskets, such as this model. Most toaster oven-style air fryers come with wire racks instead of baskets and present another good alternative to nonstick. For more on air fryers, read our beginner's guide to air fryers and find out how much cheaper an air fryer is to run than a big oven. Air fryer cleaning FAQs Is it safe to use a chemical nonstick air fryer basket? You may have heard of "Teflon flu," but it's generally safe to use chemical nonstick cookware nowadays. Teflon products created prior to 2014 contain a chemical called PFOA, and that was what would get people sick. Still, it's best to make sure you're getting your cookware from reliable vendors. If you buy something from outside of the US, you run the risk of that product still containing PFOA. Why is it important to clean your air fryer after you cook? When you cook something with an air fryer, especially foods like chicken wings or mozzarella sticks, an oily film can get left behind on the air fryer's basket. If you don't clean that up, there's a small risk that your air fryer basket will catch fire when you cook more food. What's the easiest way to clean an air fryer? We recommend cleaning your air fryer in three steps. Start by soaking up the oil inside or around the appliance. Then, remove the pan and the basket and wash them with some dish soap. Once washed, let these dry and wipe the heating element inside the air fryer. How do I put out a grease fire? According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service, do not attempt to put it out with water. Water can cause the flaming oil to spread dangerously. The best ways to extinguish a grease fire are with a kitchen fire extinguisher or by covering the fryer with a metal lid. Call 911 immediately if a grease fire occurs.
