White Smoke is Coming Out
- The Cause: White smoke typically indicates that dripping fat from your food is burning at the bottom of the drawer.
- Use High Smoke-Point Oils: Avoid standard vegetable oils. Opt for healthier oils that tolerate high heat without burning, such as avocado oil or extra-light olive oil.
- The Water Trick: Pour a small amount of water into the very bottom of the air fryer drawer (underneath the cooking grate). This cools down any dropping fat and stops it from smoking.
Black Smoke is Coming Out
- The Cause: This is more serious and usually means food debris, floating spices, or loose breading have blown up and stuck to the top heating element.
- Deep Clean: Turn the machine off immediately. Make sure you regularly clean not just the basket, but also wipe down the upper interior walls and around the heating element once the machine cools down completely.
The Machine Keeps Running After the Timer Dings
- Residual Fan Cycle: If the timer reaches zero and dings but you still hear the machine blowing, do not panic. It is normal for the internal fan to continue running for a few extra seconds to cool down the heating element before shutting off completely.
For a complete beginner guide, read:Air Fryer Guide for Beginners
