Ninja's not the only company that does this... My first Philips air-dryer is constructed the same way... It's disgustingly dirty after about a year, and there's no easy way to thoroughly clean the heater element & fan assembly... Unless you pull the wires out cut and install connectors on them...
I do use spray-on oven cleaner on mine. I spray, leave it for an hour or two, and then spray generously again a few times with clean water (from a hand-held spray bottle) to rinse off the oven cleaner. I do it about once a month and so far it hasn't caused any issues and cleans it pretty well without any disassembly.
I was really impressed how you cleaned it. It definitely looked 95% better after all of your efforts. I just brought my Ninja a month ago and I had no idea ever where the heating element was located. Because of your video, you have educated me with the process involved in the cleaning. I am looking forward to following your steps. Thank you.
Thank you, Scott. I use mine almost daily, sometimes several times a day so it does make it difficult to keep the lid clean. Glad to know how to do this without breaking it!
GJ....i started like you with soapy water...at the time when "elboy grease" was required I changed to Baking Soda and a bit of water to make a paste...that did the trick
I did mine just like Scott did yesterday. Unfortunately two of the screws were already chewed or whatever but I managed to get them out with small pliers. The other two came out ok. I also suggest that you put cling film or something over the pot because I dropped one screw and had to undo the plate underneath the ninja( easy enough to do btw) to get it out. When it came to replace the screws I used 3.5 mm x 10mm bolts and they do a real neat job. I used a mini steam cleaner as well and it sure made the job easier. My ninja looks really good now.
You don't have to take it apart. Put lemons and water in the bottom turn it on dear let it come to a boil then close the lid. Let it steam for five to ten minutes. Then use a bottle brush that bends in place and scrub. It is super easy. You don't need soap because the steam loosened everything.
Thanks so much for posting things, Scott! On my model, the screwdriver was impeded by a small "nob" in the center of the screw, so I used my snub-nosed pliers to remove the screws.
My cousin gave me one of these machines for free I heard they were life-changing but I have one that you cannot remove the lid it is impossible to clean. But when I flipped it upside down I saw all the grease. I instantly wanted to disassemble it to get all the grease out of there but now I know I should not do that so thank you for your video it gave me a jumpstart on how to clean my ninja air fryer. It’s a shame that it’s a mini stove that you can’t just replace the filter on. Thank you though I watched this before I actually disassembled my air fryer so I did not ruined something that is life-changing
This video was a worse case scenario. I let it get very dirty to show how to clean it. But in actual use I clean it off every time I use it. Usually just a soapy sponge and a quick wipe with a paper towel. If you wipe it off after every use I doubt your lid will get this bad :)
I spray a small amount of oven cleaner in the top of the air fryer put about 2 cups of water in the inter pot bring it to a boil close the lid and cut it off after about 2 minutes so the stem can pernitrate the air fryer let it set for about 15/20 munities all scum from the air fryer will have dripped off into the water in the inter pot just dump the scum down the drain leave the led on the air fryer open to dry the air fryer will look like it's never been used.
@@monicacadagan6196 Just cleaned mine again yesterday oven cleaned from dollar store like i said spray a small amount of oven cleaner in the top of the air fryer put about 2 cups of water in the inter pot bring it to a boil close the lid and cut it off after about 2 minutes so the stem can pernitrate the air fryer let it set for about 15/20 munities all scum from the air fryer will have dripped off in the inter pot just dump the scum down the drain. Don't need a video for that Simple task.
Thanks not many are willing to tell their secrets about this machine cleaning but maybe no Ninja will make a machine that is easier to clean. The problem with a foodi is that once you own one thats all you use to cook with and that means your oven stays clean but the foodi needs attention. Thanks again
In sweet savants video she used a brush cleaner for bottles to get in there without removing the lid and it worked great! I’m gonna use your lid removal method along with the bottle cleaning brush ! Thanks!
Been going back and forth between foodie and instant pot crisper. The difficulty cleaning the lid may be the deal breaker. If insta is easier to clean might go with that.
Thanks for the tips. My model doesn't have the guard in front of the heater element. I saw on another site that those are Torx type screws & that the right size is #15.
You can put water in pot heat with a lemon in it. Take a bendable bottle brush round and stick it up under the cap the grease will come off easier when damp
THANK YOU so much for this video!! You are saving me! I made a cake in mine and it got too big and baked up and around the element! A total nightmare. I absolutely had to take it completely apart. I don’t even care about the warrantee because it was my fault and probably wouldn’t have been replaced anyway. The lack of having the name of the specific hex was what was so frustrating to me- and you saved the day!
Thank you for this video! I was about to throw it out and my husband said “I want to take it apart!” I lost our bet but I don’t have to replace my Ninja Foodi 😂
I like the idea of the Ninja Foodi ,but if its going to become basically unhygienic after normal use I'll leave it well alone, Ninja has to radically rethink the design, I think the only way to get it looking spotless again would be to use a handheld steam cleaner with small brush attachments.
That portion is the heating element. It maybe unsightly to many, but it is not "unhygienic" - it is perfectly safe from a health perspective. Just like the heating elements in ovens or toasters that people rarely clean, or the bottom of a grill. The heat kills any pathogens and your food doesn't rest up there
I do wish the lid detached though and would be nice to access that area better for basic cleaning. It will just never be something we'll be able to stick in the dishwasher
Do you know that element can be replaced in a service application so I’m sure it comes out but you’d have wiring than that you would have exposed so you know you don’t wanna put easy off on something like that you want you could get into that fan and everything. I wonder if a surface center could install a burner that unplugs
The T15 TORX driver has to be hollowed out for this to work on the later models'. These screws have a pin in the center and you must buy a hollow TORX set to remove the newer one.
The easiest way to clean it is by putting about 5 to 6 cups of hot water in the cooking pot (cooking pot have to be clean), set it to steam for 20 minutes, when time is up, turn off the unit, when it cool off wipe & dry everything. Do this after every used, you would never have to go through that type of cleaning you are showing in this video. Doing this process it will come out completely clean. For the newest model, remove the silicone Ring and wipe it clean without stretching the Ring after the steaming cycle is complete (always wait until the unit cool off to do this).
need to corect torx size i just wnet and bought a torx t 15 and got back and was to big , now have to go back and get a t 14 or smaller , and its not a hex it a torx bit
It is a t15 safety torx. Do not ever use a regular torx on safety torx screws it will strip the head of the screw over time. We use them all the time and you can find them at Lowe’s and Home Depot.
Hello Scott, Thank you for you video. It is helpful. I cleaned mine without talking the lid off. With a sponge and knife and I used Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray, and it comes out easy. How do you rise yours?
i dont thinks a issue of removing the heating element. once you remove the screw it's either wired or it has a slot connection. reason why it's good to remove the element is to access the fan so you can do a good clean up of the fan so it spins freely and balanced. if the fan becomes unbalanced from all that grease the bearings will eventually fail. and then you have a bigger problem.
Thanks for the upload Scott.Have just bought the Ninja foodi..great cooker but by the look of it not the easiest to clean ! When I do come to clean it I reckon instead of using a knife with the sponge i'll use it with a thin wooden spatula or wrap the sponge around some chop sticks,just abit worried the knife may slip through the sponge and cause damage.
Will not work on the new machines. They use T-15 security screws so you need security bit T-15. Basically the same thing but with a hole in the middle.
This is exactly whet I’ve been looking for! Pretty silly that Ninja didn’t make this easier to do. I first put a paste of baking soda & dawn, let it soak for a couple of minutes. Very little elbow grease required & this machine was nasty before cleaning. Thanks for the video!
great video. your heating element has the same dark marks at the bottom of it that mine has... clearly it's exposed to food debris, grease, etc... i wonder if that will be the ruin of it eventually no matter how well you clean the rest
@@ScottCooks Yes he is correct. I have a newer model and it has that tip in the middle of the screws. Just like freaking apple does to keep us out lol.
I removed the air Crisp lid before to clean it with no problem. I'm trying to clean it again but the T15 torx bit won't unscrew the screws. It looks like there is a bit in the middle of the screw raised out so the T15 would need a hole in it to unscrew. I have a pic but unable to out it on here
Nice video Scott, try using a steam cleaner with a nozzle. Easy peasy. Keep up the good work. Peace. P.S. no need to disassemble. Just be sure to keep pot inside. Don't get water in electronics at the bottom.
Could you get some of the dark on the fan with gentle moist sponge scrubbing on the side OPPOSITE the plug for the element so you can lift it slightly to clean it as it goes around. Jus asking ?
I use a chopstick and a dishcloth for the area behind the heating coil. First add lemon juice, detergent and water to the basket and let it run for 10 minutes at 200 degrees, this dissolves the grease better.
The element will come out enough to remove the fan. There is enough slack in the wires. And you will need a security torx bit with the hole in the center.
I clean the basket with every use. If you take the pot, wipe out any oil that is in it, if any, put dawn and fill it with hot water and set the basket down in it and let it soak for a few hours, everything cleans off real easy.
Or you could do a clean with one lemon quartered, a tablespoon of Baking soda (Bi carbonate of soda) boiling water put on the pressure cooker lid and give it 40 minutes.
Use what you feel safe with. So far I have not used anything but soap and water and elbow grease. If you decide to use a degreaser please thoroughly clean it afterward to avoid any contamination with your food. It's not easy to clean. Getting that shield off by removing the torque screws helps a LOT. You will never get it perfect but enough to remove excess grease .
Thanks for this Scott - another of life's great mysteries solved...!! My only concern is, if you did take those screws out and damaged the lid (in some way) would it invalidate the warranty? I agree the Ninja Foodi is one hell of a device but cleaning the air crisper lid is a branch of science all on its own...!!
oven cleaner is toxic, so you must be very thorough on clean up. as the chemicals will end up in your food. even if you think it's a thorough job, I'm certain not every nook and cranny will be wiped clean of the chemical. So if you do use it I would suggest you do a long burn on the foodi to remove the rest of the chemicals.
@macks Smith Sure, and when spraying my oven I feel safe that these chemicals are doing wonders for my lungs as I inhale them. Most will open windows, wear mask to work with these caustic cleaners. When they say it safe, it's safe because you are not currently ingesting or inhale enough toxins from their product. What they are not telling is the cumulative amount over a period of time that your body has consumed over a day or a year numerous poisons from cans that all say it's safe in low dosage.. So spray away and enjoy our dinner. I'm sure if you swab that meal you will probably find low amounts of toxins that came directly from that can.
Nicely done.. something I do with my Ninja Air Fryer is to wrap a half or quarter of a sheet of paper towel around a clean used chopstick then tape it into place so it becomes like a large q-tip.. then I can clean around & under the fan unit better. I try to do it every time as mine doesn’t have a protective grate and I would have to remove the element every time.. its certainly not as clean as yours but does get the residual oil up so it doesn’t smell like burnt oil when using it.
Exactly what I was looking for..I`m going to use a child`s toothbrush . I used it for the channel inside the lid and it filled the ticket. (the Foodi was gifted to me after they decided they didnt like it). Very hard kitchen gadget to clean.
just a heads up for those of you trying this. Quick background, our food I hasn’t been cleaned for nearly a year. I know, it’s gross. I used Easy Off oven cleaner (blue can). I removed the screen with a T15 security bit, and also removed the Philips screw for the heating element. The element is hardwired and does not come off so just let it sit off out of the way. I sprayed behind the element and inside the fan assembly. I then reattached the heating element with the single screw, and let the oven cleaner penetrate. Poured two cups of water in the pot, set it on broil at 450 for 10 minutes. Let it sit for an hour. Open it up, remove the element screw again and sprayed warm soapy water and started scrubbing with a toothbrush. It helps to also rotate the nut on the fan to fling off any crap stuck behind it. I used a 10mm socket here. Don’t attempt to remove the fan assembly by holding it, as it is super sharp and thin gauge steel. Bending it throws off its balance. You can repeat the above steps until it’s clean enough for your liking. Then just reattach everything in reverse order, boil another pot of water and lemon slices to eliminate and santize any remaining grease, and you’re back in business.
@@romeo_alpha0176 the fan motor stopped working. I think the way this guy cleans the instant pot, is the way to clean the Foodi too. You need to remove all the parts and clean them OFF the machine. I left mine to soak, and clearly water got to the electric motor for the fan. ua-cam.com/video/0qLp2RCADoI/v-deo.html
I did think about it. A little too close to my food for me. Also I can't really get all the back in there to remove all the oven cleaner. Just made me too nervous to try it
I RECEIVED ONE AIR FRYER, ON 2021 MOTHERS DAY, AT THE BEGUINING I WAS USINING A LOT BUT ALL THOSE VENTS MAKE THE HOUSE STINKY, I CLEAN IT AFTER EVERY USE WITH VINEGAR WATER I DONOT LET IT GET LAKE YOURS, BUT YES IS DIFICULT TO CLEAN THE FAN, I HAVE NOT USE IT FOR A WHILE I DONOT LIKE THE SMELL IN THE HOUSE. IN THE LINE UP I MEAN "LIKE NOT LAKE.
So far I have not experienced any extreme smells. There is usually some smells immediately after cooking but they seem to go away in a few hours and never too bad. Just the smell of whatever food I was cooking. Maybe try positioning the Foodi near a window or something.
Easy-off oven spray, then shove a few papertowels under the element & work them back & forth & around. It takes a while, but I didnt have to remove any of the torx screws😉
Very helpful, Scott. I agree with Robert that Ninja should seriously look at making this cleaner-friendly, especially as it's such a great product.
Couldn't agree more
Agreed. I was given one of these, but would never buy one. Too much maintenance. Ninja wasn't thinking when this was produced.
Ninji knows what its doing....they want you to keep buying another one and another and etc.
But it's so heavy! And needs lots of storage spsce. 😕
Good job Scott. Ninja needs to think about making it easier to clean. Aussie Bob
I agree. If they made the element a plug in it could easily be removed. But it is what it is lol....
Agree 1000%
/Bklyn👑
No kidding!! What the heck were they thinking making that so hard to get to? Once it gets filthy, do they think people will just buy a new Foodi?
@@lkayh they want people to do what he does and pray they break it
Ninja's not the only company that does this... My first Philips air-dryer is constructed the same way... It's disgustingly dirty after about a year, and there's no easy way to thoroughly clean the heater element & fan assembly... Unless you pull the wires out cut and install connectors on them...
I do use spray-on oven cleaner on mine. I spray, leave it for an hour or two, and then spray generously again a few times with clean water (from a hand-held spray bottle) to rinse off the oven cleaner. I do it about once a month and so far it hasn't caused any issues and cleans it pretty well without any disassembly.
I was really impressed how you cleaned it. It definitely looked 95% better after all of your efforts. I just brought my Ninja a month ago and I had no idea ever where the heating element was located. Because of your video, you have educated me with the process involved in the cleaning. I am looking forward to following your steps. Thank you.
Glad I could help!
Thank you, Scott. I use mine almost daily, sometimes several times a day so it does make it difficult to keep the lid clean. Glad to know how to do this without breaking it!
GJ....i started like you with soapy water...at the time when "elboy grease" was required I changed to Baking Soda and a bit of water to make a paste...that did the trick
Awesome solution! Thanks for that tip
I did mine just like Scott did yesterday. Unfortunately two of the screws were already chewed or whatever but I managed to get them out with small pliers. The other two came out ok. I also suggest that you put cling film or something over the pot because I dropped one screw and had to undo the plate underneath the ninja( easy enough to do btw) to get it out. When it came to replace the screws I used 3.5 mm x 10mm bolts and they do a real neat job. I used a mini steam cleaner as well and it sure made the job easier. My ninja looks really good now.
You don't have to take it apart. Put lemons and water in the bottom turn it on dear let it come to a boil then close the lid. Let it steam for five to ten minutes. Then use a bottle brush that bends in place and scrub. It is super easy. You don't need soap because the steam loosened everything.
I'd considered vinegar but lemons would smell better.
Heh. NOPE! That may work for some stuff but not mine.
How do you wipe clean those nooks and crannies? It's impossible....I tried
What bottle brush? Nothing fit in there
@@ellensoj the bendable brush that is used to wash baby bottles.
Thanks so much for posting things, Scott! On my model, the screwdriver was impeded by a small "nob" in the center of the screw, so I used my snub-nosed pliers to remove the screws.
that nob isn't in impediment, that's a particular type of screw that take a specific screw bit, it is not a standard Philips head screw
i used a dremel to drill out that stub. absolutely pointless that it requires a special screw
On my unit I had to get a Torx-15 (T-15) with a hole in the end to fit the screws.
My cousin gave me one of these machines for free I heard they were life-changing but I have one that you cannot remove the lid it is impossible to clean. But when I flipped it upside down I saw all the grease. I instantly wanted to disassemble it to get all the grease out of there but now I know I should not do that so thank you for your video it gave me a jumpstart on how to clean my ninja air fryer. It’s a shame that it’s a mini stove that you can’t just replace the filter on. Thank you though I watched this before I actually disassembled my air fryer so I did not ruined something that is life-changing
This video was a worse case scenario. I let it get very dirty to show how to clean it. But in actual use I clean it off every time I use it. Usually just a soapy sponge and a quick wipe with a paper towel. If you wipe it off after every use I doubt your lid will get this bad :)
Thanks for the detailed instructions. Really Ninja needs to do a better job here for accessibility.
you should use a bottle washing brush with plastic covered twisted wire and the bristles about 3/4" diameter.
I spray a small amount of oven cleaner in the top of the air fryer put about 2 cups of water in the inter pot bring it to a boil close the lid and cut it off after about 2 minutes so the stem can pernitrate the air fryer let it set for about 15/20 munities all scum from the air fryer will have dripped off into the water in the inter pot just dump the scum down the drain leave the led on the air fryer open to dry the air fryer will look like it's never been used.
WOW! I will try that ASAP! Awesome tip.
@@ScottCooks have you tried this method yet?
Make a video doing this!
@@monicacadagan6196 yea I need a video before I screw mines up
@@monicacadagan6196 Just cleaned mine again yesterday oven cleaned from dollar store like i said spray a small amount of oven cleaner in the top of the air fryer put about 2 cups of water in the inter pot bring it to a boil close the lid and cut it off after about 2 minutes so the stem can pernitrate the air fryer let it set for about 15/20 munities all scum from the air fryer will have dripped off in the inter pot just dump the scum down the drain. Don't need a video for that Simple task.
Thanks not many are willing to tell their secrets about this machine cleaning but maybe no Ninja will make a machine that is easier to clean. The problem with a foodi is that once you own one thats all you use to cook with and that means your oven stays clean but the foodi needs attention. Thanks again
Mine ends up as a portable convection oven and I take it just about everywhere
I used your method and it worked great! Thanks for sharing as my Ninja Foodi was a real mess. Looks great now!
In sweet savants video she used a brush cleaner for bottles to get in there without removing the lid and it worked great! I’m gonna use your lid removal method along with the bottle cleaning brush ! Thanks!
Great tip!
@@ScottCooks thank you for this video I was nervous to unscrew mine. Ninja should come out with a splatter guard attachment! I’ll tell em 😂
Been going back and forth between foodie and instant pot crisper. The difficulty cleaning the lid may be the deal breaker. If insta is easier to clean might go with that.
Thanks for this. Any tips on how to take apart the base? I keep getting "add pot" error and need to investigate
I bought my Ninja in December 2019 and mine needs a t15 security bit. The screw has a pin in the middle. Used a Wera Z Torx BO bit
I heard they started changing the screws on some models. Thanks for info!
Thanks for the tips. My model doesn't have the guard in front of the heater element. I saw on another site that those are Torx type screws & that the right size is #15.
You can put water in pot heat with a lemon in it. Take a bendable bottle brush round and stick it up under the cap the grease will come off easier when damp
Great tip! I will try that next time I clean the lid. Thanks!
THANK YOU so much for this video!! You are saving me! I made a cake in mine and it got too big and baked up and around the element! A total nightmare. I absolutely had to take it completely apart. I don’t even care about the warrantee because it was my fault and probably wouldn’t have been replaced anyway. The lack of having the name of the specific hex was what was so frustrating to me- and you saved the day!
Thanks Scott , very useful , now I know its a T-15 bit , just what I needed to know.
Thank you from Ontario Canada .
Thank you too!
Thank you for sharing. I love to cook in Ninja Foodi but cleaning the aircrisp lid is a bit problem.
Yes, true. Difficult. I hope they re-design it...Try a toothbrush
I find getting the Pot back to normal difficult even in a dishwasher which they recommend in their manual.
Hmm never had an issue with cleaning the pot. I have NEVER put it in the dishwasher. Just mild soap and water and elbow grease for me.
I'm glad I wasn't the only one who thought taking apart would be beneficial to deep cleaning. Thanks. T15 =Torx bit #15
sooooo, he has regular torx bits there. Those are secure torx screws, how the hell is he getting that to work.....
Thank you for this video! I was about to throw it out and my husband said “I want to take it apart!” I lost our bet but I don’t have to replace my Ninja Foodi 😂
Glad I could help!
I like the idea of the Ninja Foodi ,but if its going to become basically unhygienic after normal use I'll leave it well alone, Ninja has to radically rethink the design, I think the only way to get it looking spotless again would be to use a handheld steam cleaner with small brush attachments.
Totally agree. That damn screen is the only thing I hate about it, a bit pain the rear to clean. Other than that is a great kitchen cooking ware
That portion is the heating element. It maybe unsightly to many, but it is not "unhygienic" - it is perfectly safe from a health perspective. Just like the heating elements in ovens or toasters that people rarely clean, or the bottom of a grill. The heat kills any pathogens and your food doesn't rest up there
I do wish the lid detached though and would be nice to access that area better for basic cleaning. It will just never be something we'll be able to stick in the dishwasher
Steam is a great idea!
I just used easy-off on mine, I'll definitely look into a steam cleaner for next time. Great idea, thanks for sharing
steam lemon or vinegar water first
to boil...use a regular lid that fits
then bottle brushes and it works great
I'm trying to get my lid dirty enough to make an new video. I have lots of cool suggestions. I will film them all.
@@ScottCooks thank you!!!!
Thank you for this video. .i cleaned mine today and it looks amazing ❤
You are so welcome!
I wonder if a steamer like one people use on wrinkled clothes will help?
Good work. I agree with you
Thanks!
The t on the screwdriver bits stands for torx , So it's called a torx 15 screwdriver. Here in the UK. We can buy them separately. or as a kit.
Brillo pads work great !
LOL now that's something I haven't tried yet! So simple jeez... Thanks!
Do you know that element can be replaced in a service application so I’m sure it comes out but you’d have wiring than that you would have exposed so you know you don’t wanna put easy off on something like that you want you could get into that fan and everything. I wonder if a surface center could install a burner that unplugs
What is the tool you used to take off the part at the time of 3:06 min
Thanks Scott.
You're welcome!
I just tried cleaning mine and soooo nasty... This helped so much!!! Thank you
Glad it helped!
Just what I needed to know thxs Scott I felt their had to be away to clean it great job just got mine so going to stay on it
No problem 👍 Keep an eye out for my new video coming soon and some new ways to clean the lid!
The T15 TORX driver has to be hollowed out for this to work on the later models'. These screws have a pin in the center and you must buy a hollow TORX set to remove the newer one.
Thank you!
Thank You for this video
Ninja needs to rethink (cleaning) the unit
Yes they do. It wouldn't be difficult, The element needs to plug in instead of being hard wired. Thanks for watching!
@@ScottCooks
I so AGREE
On my unit I had to get a Torx-15 (T-15) with a hole in the end to fit the screws.
That's the same as on my Foodi
The easiest way to clean it is by putting about 5 to 6 cups of hot water in the cooking pot (cooking pot have to be clean), set it to steam for 20 minutes, when time is up, turn off the unit, when it cool off wipe & dry everything. Do this after every used, you would never have to go through that type of cleaning you are showing in this video. Doing this process it will come out completely clean. For the newest model, remove the silicone Ring and wipe it clean without stretching the Ring after the steaming cycle is complete (always wait until the unit cool off to do this).
This was very helpful. I need to find a way to clean mine, because it keep making my smoke alarms go off!!!
you can pull the element out a few inches. they are connected to two braided cables. if you pull it out you can clean behind much more easily.
need to corect torx size i just wnet and bought a torx t 15 and got back and was to big , now have to go back and get a t 14 or smaller , and its not a hex it a torx bit
I have been told that newer models have had some changes.
Haa yea thats all good 😀
They could have made that burner unplug. Stoves uses burner, and they’ve unplugged for decades.
It is a t15 safety torx. Do not ever use a regular torx on safety torx screws it will strip the head of the screw over time. We use them all the time and you can find them at Lowe’s and Home Depot.
Hello Scott,
Thank you for you video. It is helpful. I cleaned mine without talking the lid off. With a sponge and knife and I used Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray, and it comes out easy.
How do you rise yours?
I just use a new clean sponge and water. Sometimes I dampen a paper towel and run it around a few times.
i dont thinks a issue of removing the heating element. once you remove the screw it's either wired or it has a slot connection. reason why it's good to remove the element is to access the fan so you can do a good clean up of the fan so it spins freely and balanced. if the fan becomes unbalanced from all that grease the bearings will eventually fail. and then you have a bigger problem.
Maybe try bbq grill cleaner...it's food safe.
Thanks for the upload Scott.Have just bought the Ninja foodi..great cooker but by the look of it not the easiest to clean ! When I do come to clean it I reckon instead of using a knife with the sponge i'll use it with a thin wooden spatula or wrap the sponge around some chop sticks,just abit worried the knife may slip through the sponge and cause damage.
A wooden object is a much better idea. I just grabbed the first handy thing lol
Will not work on the new machines. They use T-15 security screws so you need security bit T-15. Basically the same thing but with a hole in the middle.
Thank you for that info! Very good info
This is exactly whet I’ve been looking for! Pretty silly that Ninja didn’t make this easier to do. I first put a paste of baking soda & dawn, let it soak for a couple of minutes. Very little elbow grease required & this machine was nasty before cleaning. Thanks for the video!
Glad I could help!
thx for posting, this is great help
Glad it helped!
I LOVE MY FOODI. I need another, because steak isn't the same angelic meal without it.
Burner needs to be a plug in like the old stoves that would it easy to clean
I agree. That would be perfect.
great video. your heating element has the same dark marks at the bottom of it that mine has... clearly it's exposed to food debris, grease, etc... i wonder if that will be the ruin of it eventually no matter how well you clean the rest
Couldn’t you use a baby toothbrush for the hard to reach places? I haven’t tried yet, but hopefully it can get in there a bit easier.
Thank you !!!! I was battling this a lot ... this is so helpful :)
The screwdriver head you used, does it have kind’ve and indentation in the tip of it, cause of what kinda pokes out in the middle of those screws?
I have been told the Ninja has changed the screws on newer model. I think what you need now is call a "security torque" type
@@ScottCooks Yes he is correct. I have a newer model and it has that tip in the middle of the screws. Just like freaking apple does to keep us out lol.
I removed the air Crisp lid before to clean it with no problem. I'm trying to clean it again but the T15 torx bit won't unscrew the screws. It looks like there is a bit in the middle of the screw raised out so the T15 would need a hole in it to unscrew. I have a pic but unable to out it on here
Love the ninja but man I wish they made the top easier to clean... thnx 🤙
Yeah me too
How did you get the cover off the machine not the burner over but actual top
Nice video Scott, try using a steam cleaner with a nozzle. Easy peasy. Keep up the good work. Peace. P.S. no need to disassemble. Just be sure to keep pot inside. Don't get water in electronics at the bottom.
U can get those screws out with a small pair of pliers fyi.
thank you for the t 15 torx bit information , appreciate it
On my unit I had to get a Torx-15 (T-15) with a hole in the end to fit the screws.
@@rick-jw2fl thanks👍
Thank you!
You're welcome!
Could you get some of the dark on the fan with gentle moist sponge scrubbing on the side OPPOSITE the plug for the element so you can lift it slightly to clean it as it goes around. Jus asking ?
Great video. I needed that info. 🙌🏻
Glad it was helpful!
What if I took out those screws 😬 out to the element?? How would I reconnect it? HELP!!!!! PLEASE!!!!
I use a chopstick and a dishcloth for the area behind the heating coil. First add lemon juice, detergent and water to the basket and let it run for 10 minutes at 200 degrees, this dissolves the grease better.
Hello, have you ever had issues with the heating element not heating up? And if so, were you able to fix it?
Hi Scott, thanks for the T15 reference. I have two toolsets and there was nothing in there that fitted. Subscribed👍
On my unit I had to get a Torx-15 (T-15) with a hole in the end to fit the screws.
I think you could leave the grate cover off. A lot of air fryers have the bear element.
Any suggestions on how to clean the fan?
My ninja foodi has a filter in front of it I wash the filter it's a mesh filter and I have the same unit that you have picture of
Hi Scott - Thanks for your great video. Can you send me what socket kit you purchased and where?
Can the whole lid be taken off. I don’t use the air fryer lid at all.
The element will come out enough to remove the fan. There is enough slack in the wires. And you will need a security torx bit with the hole in the center.
GREAT VIDEO!!
Thanks!!
I bought my Ninja Foodi August 2020 and my screws are not T15 they have a piece of metal in the center of the screw. Any idea what it’s called?
It’s called a CR-VT-15 bit. Has a pin hole in the center of the bit.
Thank you ...You beat me to it :)
I just got one of these (slightly diff model) and I figure using my hand-held steam cleaner might work, what do you think?
Scott, grest video but can you do one on cleaning all the junk & grease build up on the basket? The basket gets loaded with junk over time.
Sure! I clean my basket pretty often so I'll do a quick video on it. look for it soon
I clean the basket with every use. If you take the pot, wipe out any oil that is in it, if any, put dawn and fill it with hot water and set the basket down in it and let it soak for a few hours, everything cleans off real easy.
Or you could do a clean with one lemon quartered, a tablespoon of Baking soda (Bi carbonate of soda) boiling water put on the pressure cooker lid and give it 40 minutes.
Can we put some degreaser spray ?
Use what you feel safe with. So far I have not used anything but soap and water and elbow grease. If you decide to use a degreaser please thoroughly clean it afterward to avoid any contamination with your food. It's not easy to clean. Getting that shield off by removing the torque screws helps a LOT. You will never get it perfect but enough to remove excess grease .
Very glad I found this video. Thank you so much. I just spent all morning air frying wings, so, splatter all over.
Thanks for this Scott - another of life's great mysteries solved...!! My only concern is, if you did take those screws out and damaged the lid (in some way) would it invalidate the warranty? I agree the Ninja Foodi is one hell of a device but cleaning the air crisper lid is a branch of science all on its own...!!
why can’t you use. oven cleaner & then steam it after wards to remove any oven cleaner residue.
oven cleaner is toxic, so you must be very thorough on clean up. as the chemicals will end up in your food. even if you think it's a thorough job, I'm certain not every nook and cranny will be wiped clean of the chemical. So if you do use it I would suggest you do a long burn on the foodi to remove the rest of the chemicals.
@macks Smith Sure, and when spraying my oven I feel safe that these chemicals are doing wonders for my lungs as I inhale them. Most will open windows, wear mask to work with these caustic cleaners. When they say it safe, it's safe because you are not currently ingesting or inhale enough toxins from their product. What they are not telling is the cumulative amount over a period of time that your body has consumed over a day or a year numerous poisons from cans that all say it's safe in low dosage.. So spray away and enjoy our dinner. I'm sure if you swab that meal you will probably find low amounts of toxins that came directly from that can.
Handheld steamer.
My Ninja does not have a heating element guard and the element can't be removed. I am going to use Easy Off.
Let me know!
Nicely done.. something I do with my Ninja Air Fryer is to wrap a half or quarter of a sheet of paper towel around a clean used chopstick then tape it into place so it becomes like a large q-tip.. then I can clean around & under the fan unit better. I try to do it every time as mine doesn’t have a protective grate and I would have to remove the element every time.. its certainly not as clean as yours but does get the residual oil up so it doesn’t smell like burnt oil when using it.
That's a great idea! Awesome!
Exactly what I was looking for..I`m going to use a child`s toothbrush . I used it for the channel inside the lid and it filled the ticket. (the Foodi was gifted to me after they decided they didnt like it). Very hard kitchen gadget to clean.
Great idea!
just a heads up for those of you trying this. Quick background, our food I hasn’t been cleaned for nearly a year. I know, it’s gross.
I used Easy Off oven cleaner (blue can). I removed the screen with a T15 security bit, and also removed the Philips screw for the heating element. The element is hardwired and does not come off so just let it sit off out of the way.
I sprayed behind the element and inside the fan assembly. I then reattached the heating element with the single screw, and let the oven cleaner penetrate.
Poured two cups of water in the pot, set it on broil at 450 for 10 minutes. Let it sit for an hour. Open it up, remove the element screw again and sprayed warm soapy water and started scrubbing with a toothbrush. It helps to also rotate the nut on the fan to fling off any crap stuck behind it. I used a 10mm socket here. Don’t attempt to remove the fan assembly by holding it, as it is super sharp and thin gauge steel. Bending it throws off its balance.
You can repeat the above steps until it’s clean enough for your liking. Then just reattach everything in reverse order, boil another pot of water and lemon slices to eliminate and santize any remaining grease, and you’re back in business.
I did that and the fan broke :(
@@soulmansaul did the fan blade get corroded and disintegrate or did the fan motor stop working?
@@romeo_alpha0176 the fan motor stopped working. I think the way this guy cleans the instant pot, is the way to clean the Foodi too. You need to remove all the parts and clean them OFF the machine. I left mine to soak, and clearly water got to the electric motor for the fan. ua-cam.com/video/0qLp2RCADoI/v-deo.html
You thought about oven cleaner
I did think about it. A little too close to my food for me. Also I can't really get all the back in there to remove all the oven cleaner. Just made me too nervous to try it
Thanks so much!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
You're welcome!
I RECEIVED ONE AIR FRYER, ON 2021 MOTHERS DAY, AT THE BEGUINING I WAS USINING A LOT BUT ALL THOSE VENTS MAKE THE HOUSE STINKY, I CLEAN IT AFTER EVERY USE WITH VINEGAR WATER I DONOT LET IT GET LAKE YOURS, BUT YES IS DIFICULT TO CLEAN THE FAN, I HAVE NOT USE IT FOR A WHILE I DONOT LIKE THE SMELL IN THE HOUSE. IN THE LINE UP I MEAN "LIKE NOT LAKE.
So far I have not experienced any extreme smells. There is usually some smells immediately after cooking but they seem to go away in a few hours and never too bad. Just the smell of whatever food I was cooking. Maybe try positioning the Foodi near a window or something.
Easy-off oven spray, then shove a few papertowels under the element & work them back & forth & around. It takes a while, but I didnt have to remove any of the torx screws😉
Not him presenting a 100x cleaner ninja crisp than mine. 😂😂😂😂
I have a T15 but it doesn't take out the screws.