Air fryer plastic/chemical smell ?

Emp_Fab

I've been using my air fryer for about 18 months and it's still giving off a rather unpleasant chemical/plastic smell.  I can't say if it's affecting the food taste - I haven't noticed, but it's not inspiring confidence that we're not eating contaminated food.

Does yours smell and have you found a solution?

darthed1981

Nope ours doesn't smell.

Which make or model? You checked for recalls just in case?

EricTheWeary

Not that I've ever noticed. The only problem we sometimes have is if the fan drives something up that hits the element. So cooking, err, very light food (making tortilla chips out of unwanted tortillas for example). It smells then. 

RaymondLin

I have the Ninja and no smell.

RiftAmps

My Ninja stinks if I have it too close to the wall and the exhaust ports heat up the tiles

darthed1981

RiftAmps said:

My Ninja stinks if I have it too close to the wall and the exhaust ports heat up the tiles

You checked for Xwings targeting your exhaust port with proton torpedoes?

Sporky

Aren't they like kettles, in that before you use them properly you're meant to wee in them, and run that through? 

swiller

give it a wash. after 18 months its probably due one. 

darthed1981

Sporky said:

Aren't they like kettles, in that before you use them properly you're meant to wee in them, and run that through? 

Well it's best to wee in everything just to be sure.

Gets a reaction from guests when you tell them as well.

Sporky

darthed1981 said:

it's best to wee in everything just to be sure.

That should be carved in stone over the entrance to every public building. 

Emp_Fab

I wash it after each use.  Unless you're suggesting I dismantle it to clean the internals!  It's an Asda jobbie - Scoville.  The smell appears to be coming from the non-stick coating on the basket and the tray.

ToneControl

have you tried unwrapping the food before cooking?

boogieman

Ours doesn’t smell, another Ninja. 

mo6020

Our Ninja always stinks of plastic..

thumpingrug

Only has this on first use with ours.  You sure its the tray and not the wiring burning away.

ToneControl

actually the most likely reason is that you didn't remove all the packaging when it was new - there was all sorts of bits of sticky tape and stuff when I unwrapped ours.

Manual for my one says:

BEFORE FIRST USE

1. Remove all packaging stickers and labels from the air fryer, including the

tape securing the basket to the unit.

2. To pull out the basket for cleaning, remove the tape securing it into

place. Secure the unit with one hand and pull the handle straight back

with the other hand.

3. Thoroughly clean the basket and crisper tray with hot water,

dishwashing liquid, and a non-abrasive sponge.

4. Wipe the inside chamber and outside of the air fryer with a moist cloth.

NOTE: During the first few uses, there might be a “hot plastic” smell. This is

perfectly normal in new air fryers as the material is heated for

the first time. It will go away after the first few uses.

spark240

We have the Ninja thingy....I said from day one it had a strange odour...but the chef dismissed it ...I can still smell it though.

ESBlonde

We bought a cheapie a few months back to see what all the fuss was about. It has been used dozens of times and still gives off that plastic smell that concerns me. Herself doesn’t smell it,
youngest son was a chef and had a non branded unit which got upgraded when gifted a Ninja, he said the old one always smelled but the ninja doesn’t.
Now we’ve decided there are some benefits I see an upgrade in our future. 

BillDL