How to Clean a Greasy Deep Fryer

Deep fryers can help you cook tasty foods.

Many different appliances need very different cleaning methods after using them. For example, your deep fryer will be covered in grease after you use it. This means that the cleaning method you use will need to specifically tackle grease to get your deep fryer as clean as possible and ready to be used again. Properly cleaning and maintaining your deep fryer will make it more likely to continue to operate at peak performance.

Things You'll Need

• Paper Towels
• Water
• Degreaser dish-washing liquid
• Plastic spatula
• Rough sponge
• Strainer

Instructions

1. Wait at least two hours after using your deep fryer to start cleaning it. This gives the oil a chance to cool down. Make sure it is unplugged before you begin to clean it.

2. Wipe out any food remnants from inside of your deep fryer with paper towels.

3. Fill your sink with warm water and add a few drops of degreaser dishwashing liquid. Remove the frying basket and place it in the sink filled with water and soap. Let it soak for about 30 minutes before cleaning it with a rough sponge.

4. Strain the oil if you plan to use it again. Two weeks is the maximum time used cooking oil should be stored if you plan to cook with it. Whether you are storing or disposing of the oil, it should be placed in a sturdy container that seals, such as a coffee can.

5. Wash the loose parts of your deep fryer, such as the lid or the filter, in a dishwasher. However, check with your manual before doing so, since not all brands have dishwasher safe products. If not, you can wash these items in the sink with the frying basket.

6. Place a few drops of degreaser dish-washing liquid into the bottom of the greasy deep fryer and several more drops along the sides. Use a damp rough sponge to scrub the sides and bottom of the deep fryer. This will create a lather that will cut through the grease. Never put your deep fryer directly into the water.

7. Fill your deep fryer with this hot water and let it sit. It may take up to 30 minutes to effectively clean all the grease.

8. Pour out half of the water that's inside your deep fryer. Use your sponge to give the inside one last scrub, and then pour out the rest of the water. Rinse the deep fryer until all of the soapy residue is gone. Allow it to air dry.

References

• Overstock.com Guides: How to Clean an Oil Deep Fryer
• Cuisinart: Deep Fryer Instruction Manual
• Oster: Frequently Asked Questions