The air fryer cleaning hack that can make your device 'nearly set alight'

Air fryers have certainly taken the culinary world by storm, with more people opting for these devices as they use less oil than traditional cooking methods, potentially making meals healthier.

The trend has seen individuals around the globe swapping their conventional ovens for these convenient appliances.

Yet, a troubling incident involving an air fryer was recently highlighted on social media, prompting an important caution from a user whose appliance almost caught fire all due to a simple yet widespread error.

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Chloe Billins raised the alarm on TikTok, posting a video that has already gathered over 15,000 likes, as reports the Mirror. She aimed to inform fellow air fryer enthusiasts about a hazardous mistake, titling her post: "If you use an air fryer, listen to this."

The TikToker pointed out the dangers of using paper liners in the air fryer to catch food debris and grease - something many might do to avoid the hassle of cleaning. However, she emphasised the need for extreme caution when using them, as they can be a serious safety hazard, advising watchers with the liner in hand: "Anyone who uses these for your air fryer, be so careful."

Chloe shared a concerning incident about her air fryer, revealing: "Because I'd put the chicken on one end of the liner, the [burnt] end was blowing up, and it had caught fire. So the whole air fryer nearly set alight."

She warned others, advising: "So if you're using these, make sure that your food is evenly placed, because otherwise it'll start a fire."

The post quickly gathered attention, with hundreds commenting in disbelief and sharing tips to prevent such hazards.

A commenter suggested an alternative, saying: "You should use rubber [liners], I've got them and they're so good!" One person shared their similar frightful experience: "Omg this happened to me! I smelt burning opened the air fryer and it was on fire! So scary."

While another added their own close call, stating: "It happened with me luckily I caught it, but now got silicone holders."