Air Fryer Troubleshooting Guide

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Got a problem with your air fryer *? I'm here to help! In this post I've gathered the most common problems that arise with air fryers, and suggestions for how you can solve them.

Jump to:

• Why does my air fryer not turn on?
• Why is my air fryer not heating up?
• Why does my air fryer smell like plastic?
• Why does my air fryer smell like it's burning?
• Why is my air fryer smoking?
• More Air Fryer Guides
• Reviews

Still haven't bought an air fryer *? Check out my guide to finding out which air fryer is right for you or get one of the four best pink air fryers, and bookmark this page for when you get it!

Why does my air fryer not turn on?

If your air fryer doesn't turn on, try these steps:

1. Make sure the air fryer * or the cord is not damaged
   • If it has been damaged, please contact the manufacturer for help
2. Make sure the air fryer * is plugged in to a working socket. Try another socket, just to be sure!
3. Make sure the basket is properly inserted, and the door is completely closed

If none of the above helps, please contact the manufacturer for assistance. Soemtimes there is damage to the air fryer * or cord, without it being visible.

Why is my air fryer not heating up?

If your air fryer * is not heating up, you can try the following steps:

1. Make sure you have the right voltages - if you've bought your air fryer * in another country, sometimes it will not work correctly with your sockets at home
   • If the voltage is wrong, you can sometimes get a transformer to ensure the right voltage, but the best thing to do is make sure to get appliances with the correct voltage
2. Make sure the air fryer * or the cord is not damaged
   • If it has been damaged, please contact the manufacturer for help
3. Make sure the air fryer * is plugged in to a working socket. Try another socket, just to be sure!
4. Make sure the basket is properly inserted, and the door is completely closed

If none of the above helps, please contact the manufacturer for assistance. Soemtimes there is damage to the air fryer * or cord, without it being visible.

Why does my air fryer smell like plastic?

Many air fryers have a distinct plastic smell when they're new, but this usually goes away after a few uses.

You can also try these steps to eliminate the plastic smell:

1. Check if there is any plastic left on the outside of the air fryer *, or inside it, that you might have missed while unpacking
2. Clean the air fryer * - both the basket and the inside including the heating elements
3. Run it empty for 20 minutes at 400°F (200°C) and see if it goes away. Repeat if necessary.

If the smell still doesn't go away, it's most likely nothing bad, but a smell that will go away with use. If you're concerned, or if the smell is very strong, please contact the manufacturer, otherwise you can use it anyway.

Why does my air fryer smell like it's burning?

If your air fryer * smells like it's burning, try these steps to fix it:

1. Make sure the air fryer * or the cord is not damaged
   • If it has been damaged, please contact the manufacturer for help
2. Check if there is any plastic left on the outside of the air fryer *, or inside it, that you might have missed while unpacking
3. Add a bit of water to the air fryer * basket - this will help if the reason for the burning smell is that fat or sauce is actually dripping from the food and burning at the bottom
4. Clean the air fryer *, both the basket and the heating elements inside - if there's food stuck to either this can cause the smell of burning food
5. Check if the food looks burnt - if so, you need to lower the temperature

If neither of these steps work, please contact the manufacturer for assistance.

Why is my air fryer smoking?

Most air fryer * produce no or very little smoke when used correctly. Sometimes, though, you might still experience excessive smoke coming from the air fryer *.

To be safe, always start by unplugging it and then investigate why there is smoke. You can then try these steps to fix it:

1. Make sure the air fryer * or the cord is not damaged
   • If it has been damaged, please contact the manufacturer for help
2. Add a bit of water to the air fryer * basket - this will help if the reason for the smoking is that fat or sauce is actually dripping from the food and burning at the bottom
3. Clean the air fryer *, both the basket and the heating elements inside - if there's food stuck to either this can cause the smell of burning food
4. Check if the food looks burnt - if so, you need to lower the temperature

If neither of these steps work, please contact the manufacturer for assistance.

More Air Fryer Guides

Looking for more help with your air fryer *, or wondering which air fryer * is right for you? Find all this in my Air Fryer Resource Library or have a look at these posts:

• Air Fryer FAQ - Everything you ever wondered about air frying!
• How to Use an Air Fryer: Air Fryer Get Started Guide for Beginners
• How To Choose The Right Air Fryer For You - 5 Important Factors to Consider!

If you have any other problems with your air fryer * - please comment below and I will try my best to figure out how to solve it!