Updated: February 03, 2026

If your air fryer smell bad when cooking, it can feel instantly alarming—especially if the odor shows up mid-cook and seems to “stick” to your food.

The good news is this: most of the time, when an air fryer smell bad when cooking, it’s caused by something fixable (old grease, trapped crumbs, or the wrong setup). The important part is figuring out which smell you have—because the wrong “fix” can make the smell stronger, or even damage the basket coating.

So before you scrub anything aggressively, do this quick check. It takes one minute and usually points to the real cause.

Safety note: If the smell is electrical (hot wires), you see sparks, hear crackling, notice melting plastic, or the unit starts smoking from inside the base (not just food/grease), stop cooking immediately. Unplug the air fryer (if safe), let it cool, and do not test it again. Contact the manufacturer or replace the unit. Always unplug and fully cool the air fryer before cleaning, and never spray cleaner directly into the unit.

The 60-second smell check (so you don’t guess wrong)

When your air fryer smell bad when cooking, the smell type matters more than the intensity.

Smell like plastic or “new appliance”

• Most common in the first 3–10 uses.

• Often strongest during preheat or the first minutes of cooking.

Maybe like burning grease / smoky “old fryer” odor

• Often gets worse as the air fryer heats up.

• You might also see light smoke or a haze.

More like fish/eggs/onion (even when you’re not cooking that)

• Usually a “flavor memory” from oil, silicone, or unwashed parts.

Or like soap/perfume/cleaner

• Usually leftover detergent, dish pods, or a scented sponge.

Smell like electrical burn / hot wires

• This is the one you do not troubleshoot while cooking.

Safety rule: If you smell electrical burning, see sparks, hear crackling, or notice melting plastic, stop the cook, unplug (if safe), and skip straight to “When to stop and replace.” If an air fryer smell bad when cooking in that specific way, you don’t want to “test one more time.”

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FAQ: 

Is it safe to eat the food if my air fryer smelled bad during cooking?

Usually, yes—if the smell was normal cooking/grease/old crumbs and the food looks and tastes normal. Do not eat it if the smell was electrical, melting plastic, or chemical, or if you saw smoke coming from the unit itself. In those cases, stop using the air fryer.

Why does the smell show up only with fatty foods (bacon, wings, burgers)?

Fatty foods melt and drip, and that hot fat can re-activate old residue you didn’t notice (under edges, corners, and the underside of parts). It can also smoke slightly if there’s too much rendered fat sitting where airflow is hottest. The fix is usually less drip buildup + better airflow, not stronger detergent.

My air fryer smells “soapy” even after washing—what causes that?

Most often it’s soap film trapped in texture, holes, seams, or on accessories (including silicone). Heat turns that film into “perfume steam.” Fix it by rinsing longer than you think, then doing a final wipe with clean water and a full dry. Avoid heavily scented sponges or dishwasher tabs if your unit re-releases fragrance.

Can I put the basket and crisper plate in the dishwasher to remove odors?

If your manufacturer allows it, you can—but dishwasher cleaning sometimes creates odors (detergent fragrance + water trapped in tight spots). If dishwasher makes smells worse, switch to hand-wash with mild soap, extra rinse, and thorough drying. Odor problems are usually about residue + moisture, not “not enough soap.”

How do I remove stubborn “fish/garlic/onion” smell that keeps coming back?

Treat it like “odor memory” instead of dirt: clean first, then deodorize gently. The most reliable approach is a short, ventilated run with a small amount of steam + mild deodorizing (like lemon water in a small oven-safe ramekin), then wash and dry again. If the smell tracks with one accessory (especially silicone), isolate it—accessories can hold odor longer than the basket.

Should I run the air fryer empty to burn off the smell?

Only after cleaning and drying. Running it dirty just bakes the smell in harder. If you do an empty run, keep it short, ventilate the kitchen, and stop immediately if you get electrical/melting odors or smoke from the unit body.

Why does the smell transfer to my food even when the basket looks clean?

Because air fryers recirculate air. A tiny burnt crumb, thin grease film, or scented residue can “perfume” the cooking air and cling to food—especially mild foods (fries, plain chicken). The fastest fix is improving airflow cleanliness (remove residue where air passes) and making sure parts are fully dry before storage.

When is a bad smell a sign I should stop using the air fryer or replace parts?

Stop using it if you notice electrical burning, melting-plastic smell, repeated smoke not linked to food/drips, visible scorching near the cord/plug, or the unit behaves oddly. Also consider replacing parts if the basket coating is peeling/flaking, badly warped, or the smell returns immediately even after a proper clean-and-dry cycle—because trapped residue becomes impossible to fully remove.

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Why your air fryer smell bad when cooking (the real causes)

Here are the most common reasons an air fryer smell bad when cooking, ranked from “most likely” to “less common but important.”

1) Hidden grease under the crisper plate (the #1 surprise)

Even if the basket looks clean, grease can pool under the crisper plate, around corners, and near the rim. When it reheats, it releases a stale, smoky odor that can cling to your food.

Clue: Smell gets stronger after 5–8 minutes, especially with higher heat.

2) Tiny crumbs stuck where you don’t look (rim, seam, or heating area)

Air fryers recirculate air. That means a single burnt crumb can perfume the whole cook.

Clue: Smell is sharp and “burnt toast”-like, even with bland foods.

3) Too much oil (or greasy foods) overheating and smoking

Air fryers need less oil. When oil drips and heats repeatedly, it can create a lingering odor—especially if it’s old oil or if you’re cooking very fatty foods.

Clue: Smell is greasy + smoky, and you may see light smoke.

4) The “new appliance” smell (normal early on—but should fade)

Many air fryers have a temporary odor during early uses. This usually improves quickly after a proper wash + a short empty run.

Clue: Smell is most noticeable during the first few uses and doesn’t smell like food burning.

5) Soap residue (the cleanest-looking basket can smell the worst)

If you wash with strong soap, scented sponges, or run a dishwasher cycle and don’t rinse well, that fragrance can reappear when heated.

Clue: Smell is perfumey, chemical, or “soapy steam.”

6) Silicone liners and accessories holding odor

Silicone is convenient, but it can trap and re-release odors (especially fish, garlic, onion, or spice blends). If you use the same liner repeatedly, it can make an air fryer smell bad when cooking even when the basket is clean.

Clue: Smell follows the accessory—not the food.

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7) Overcrowding (steam + trapped moisture = stale smell)

When you overcrowd, food steams instead of fries. Steam lifts old odors and makes the air fryer smell “damp” or stale.

Clue: Food comes out soft and the smell is “warm wet leftovers.”

8) Paper/liners used wrong (and singeing near hot areas)

Loose parchment can lift and touch hot surfaces, especially during preheat, causing scorching smells.

Clue: Smell appears early and is papery/burnt; may come with light smoke.

9) Coating damage or warped parts (rare, but it changes everything)

If the basket coating is peeling, scratched deeply, or the tray is warped, grease can seep into areas you can’t fully clean.

Clue: Smell returns fast, even after deep cleaning.

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Fixes in the right order (fast, safe, and no damage)

When an air fryer smell bad when cooking, do the fixes in this order so you don’t accidentally make it worse.

Step 1: Do a “split clean” (basket + plate separately)

1. Remove the crisper plate/tray.

2. Wash basket and plate separately with warm water + mild dish soap.

3. Use a soft sponge (no abrasives).

4. Rinse until you don’t feel “slick” soap film.

Why this works: Most smells live under the plate and around the rim.

Step 2: Degrease the spots that actually hold smell

Use a paste of baking soda + a few drops of water:

• Rub gently on greasy corners, rim, and under-plate area.

• Let sit 10 minutes.

• Rinse thoroughly.

This targets odor without stripping coatings.

Step 3: Clean the inside walls the “safe way”

Unplug. Let it cool.

• Wipe interior with a damp microfiber cloth.

• If needed, add a tiny drop of dish soap, then wipe again with clean water.

Avoid spraying cleaner directly into the unit.

Step 4: Dry like you mean it (this is where most people fail)

Even a “clean” air fryer can smell bad if it’s stored damp.

• Towel-dry basket and plate.

• Then air-dry them separately for 10–20 minutes.

If you want a faster method:

• Put the empty basket back in.

• Run 2–3 minutes at medium heat to evaporate hidden moisture.

Step 5: Do a short “burn-off” cycle (only after cleaning)

If the smell is still there:

• Run the empty air fryer for 8–10 minutes at a normal cooking temp.

• Keep the kitchen ventilated.

This helps remove lingering manufacturing odors and leftover moisture/film.

Step 6: Deodorize gently (if the smell is food-based)

If the smell is clearly “food memory” (fish/garlic/onion):

• Put a small oven-safe ramekin with water + lemon slices in the basket.

• Run 10 minutes at a medium temp.

• Wash and dry again.

It’s simple, and it doesn’t risk damaging coatings.

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Common mistakes that keep the bad smell coming back

If your air fryer smell bad when cooking repeatedly, one of these is usually the reason:

Mistake 1: “I cleaned it” (but never removed the plate)

Grease under the plate is the classic odor trap.

Mistake 2: Preheating with loose parchment

Loose paper can lift, scorch, and create a burnt smell fast.

Mistake 3: Using a scented sponge or heavy soap

That fragrance can reappear every time you heat the basket.

Mistake 4: Storing it “almost dry”

Moisture + trapped grease smell worse over time, not better.

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What to do now (if you need to cook today)

If your air fryer smell bad when cooking and you need dinner right now:

1. Remove plate, wash basket + plate separately, rinse well.

2. Towel-dry, then heat-dry 2–3 minutes.

3. Cook something simple first (fries, nuggets, plain veg) to “test” without strong marinades.

4. Avoid fatty foods for the first test cook.

If the smell improves during that test cook, you’re on the right track.

When to stop troubleshooting and replace (or contact support)

Stop using the air fryer and consider replacement/support if:

• The smell is electrical, “hot wire,” or burning plastic that doesn’t fade.

• You see smoke that isn’t food/grease-related, sparking, or melting.

• The basket coating is peeling/flaking or there’s visible damage that keeps trapping odor.

• The smell transfers strongly to neutral foods even after deep cleaning + burn-off.

If an air fryer smell bad when cooking in a way that suggests electrical or melting components, it’s not a cleaning problem.

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How to prevent your air fryer from smelling bad again (easy habits)

To stop the cycle where your air fryer smell bad when cooking every few days:

• Split-clean (basket + plate separately) after messy cooks.

• Quick wipe inside walls weekly (not with spray cleaner).

• Dry fully before storage—especially under the plate.

• Use liners correctly (never loose, never blocking airflow).

• Rotate accessories (don’t let one silicone liner become the “odor sponge”).

Common pattern: I treat air-fryer odors like troubleshooting a car noise—identify the type first, then use the least invasive fix before escalating, because “stronger cleaning” is how people accidentally create bigger problems.

Bottom line

When your air fryer smell bad when cooking, the cause is usually trapped grease, crumbs, soap residue, or an accessory holding odor. A careful split-clean, thorough drying, and a short burn-off cycle fix most cases quickly. However, if the odor is electrical or you see melting/sparking, stop using it and contact support or replace the unit.

Safety note: If the smell is electrical (hot wires), you see sparks, hear crackling, notice melting plastic, or the unit starts smoking from inside the base (not just food/grease), stop cooking immediately. Unplug the air fryer (if safe), let it cool, and do not test it again. Contact the manufacturer or replace the unit. Always unplug and fully cool the air fryer before cleaning, and never spray cleaner directly into the unit.

 

Part of our Air Fryer Troubleshooting Hub

Want the full list of fixes? Go here: Air Fryer Troubleshooting: The Complete Fix-It Guide

 

Sources (optional)

1. Philips support page on plastic smell during early use. Philips USA

2. COSORI user manual note about first-use smoke/steam and cleanliness/grease. Cosori

3. NFPA electrical home safety guidance (re: electrical odor/fire risk awareness). NFPA