Air fryers have been around for some time now and are arguably one of the most popular kitchen appliances – I mean, the whole team at F&H is obsessed with them and can’t live without them. But like all appliances, with constant use comes some tough decisions: repair or replace.
Experts have a golden rule of thumb for air fryers: they usually last between three and five years – lasting longer with regular care/maintenance. While regular cleaning makes your beloved appliance last longer, when things start sounding odd, buttons keep glitching, and you start seeing sparks, it’s time to replace your air fryer.
Signs it’s time to replace your air fryer
As much as we’d love air fryers to be lifelong kitchen appliances (just imagine), they, like so many others, have a shelf life. And ignoring the signs of a failing air fryer can lead to some serious stuff like undercooked food, burnt food, unwanted smoke, longer cooking times, and even electrical hazards (think sparks and orange flames).
If your air fryer is showing any one of these signs, it’s time to replace it (forget about repairing it; it’s past that point):
1. Soggy, undercooked food
If your air fryer was producing excellent cooked foods but is now only able to produce soggy, undercooked and unbelievably sad things – it’s time to say goodbye. It’s usually a sign that the fan or heating element has been damaged or compromised, and repairing it might just not make much of a difference, or end up costing the same as an adequate replacement.
2. Smoke or burning smells
Most air fryers have hard-to-reach places that regularly get overlooked when cleaning. But when you start noticing smoke or strong burnt smells, it’s a sign your air fryer is K-O. You can absolutely try one last deep-clean session before plugging it out and binning it.
3. Overheating and other glitches
If you start dinner only to come back and find your air fryer switched off, it’s overheating. Check yourself first: have you left enough space for the air to circulate; are you cooking in small batches? If you are and it’s still switching off due to overheating, the heating element and exhaust may be damaged.
If you notice any other glitches, like the buttons not being very receptive, or your digital display is acting like a portal into another world, then it’s time to start shopping for a new one.
4. Non-stick coating is damaged
Most air fryer baskets are coated in Teflon – a non-stick lining that’s easy to clean up. If you notice chips, scratches, or chunks that have peeled off, then the situation has become hazardous. It’s not just that your cleaning task will become more tedious; it’s the fact that you are at risk of ingesting bits of Teflon – which is extremely unsafe to consume.
As soon as you notice this, it’s time to shop for more modern alternatives like stainless steel, glass or ceramic air fryers.
5. Sparks and orange flames
As soon as you notice frayed cords, sparks or any other electrical hazards, you’re probably one or two sessions away from a small (but spreadable) electrical fire. Safety and ease of use are what we want from our air fryer, not electrical hazards and safety concerns.
Unplug immediately and start looking for a replacement ASAP.
