Nothing says fun, easy dinner like a countertop fryer, right? Unfortunately, that ease of use doesn’t exactly translate to the cleaning side of things.

If you’ve ever found yourself feeling like you wanted to pull your hair out following a night of French fries or fish sticks, you aren’t alone. Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take in order to make the clean-up process simple and hassle-free.

Items You’ll Need to Clean Your Countertop Fryer

• Dish Soap
• Warm Water
• Plastic Sponges
• Steel Wool Sponges
• Paper Towels
• Baking Soda
• Separate container for oil

Say Goodbye to Grease

A countertop fryer fries things, and therefore it gets greasy. As you are well aware, grease is quite the foe, and without a house maid at your side, cleaning can seem like an uphill battle.

First, fill your countertop fryer with water, and dish soap that is specifically advertised as being “tough on grease.” Average dish soap will work fine, but the process will take longer and is far more frustrating. Remember: “tough on grease.”

Heat up the water in the fryer, and let it boil with the dish soap for a few minutes. As you watch the water boil, you’ll start seeing chunks of oil and grease break off from the sides. This is exactly what you want.

Once most of the grease and oil are cleared off the sides, turn off your countertop fryer, and let the water cool. Once that’s done, go ahead and dump the oily water into a separate container.

Wipe Down and Take Off Extra Grease

Now it’s time to wipe down the interior of your countertop fryer with paper towels or a dry, micro fiber cloth. While doing this, you may notice that there is still oil and grease that’s left behind.

Combat it by adding baking soda to the sides and bottom of the fryer. Now, add a small bit of water, and mix the baking soda into a paste-like substance. Spread that paste all over the interior of the fryer in a circular motion. If you notice any build-up on the exterior of the countertop fryer, you can use the solution there too. Let the paste sit for a few moments, and then use clean water and a sponge to wipe everything else off. That’s it! Really!

Want to try something else? A combination of vinegar and water works, too, but probably won’t work as effectively as the baking soda.

Electric Components

Since your countertop fryer is powered by electricity, it’s important to give the unit adequate time to completely dry before using it again. Plugging it in too soon after cleaning can damage the machine or even cause a circuit outage in your own home. It’s not worth the risk, and if you don’t know how to do it safely, leave it to your house maid.

Combating Really Tough Residue

If the baking soda and water solution in coordination with soaking doesn’t leave your fryer perfectly clean, you may want to consider utilizing oven cleaner instead. Just make sure to properly rinse it if you do, as these cleaners are often made using toxic or questionable chemicals.

By following this list of simple steps, your fryer will look like new in absolutely no time, and you won’t have to hire a house maid either. Stay safe, and stay alert! You’ve got this!