This morning, I almost had a real disaster in my kitchen. I was going to make breakfast using my air fryer, something I’ve done dozens of times before. But suddenly, I smelled something strange… and then I saw flames inside the device.

Thankfully, I was nearby and could quickly switch it off and extinguish the fire. I still get chills thinking about what might have happened if I had stepped away for just a few minutes.

The cause turned out to be ridiculously simple – dirt. Grease and crumbs that I had been meaning to clean out for a while, but “never had the time.” That buildup was what caught fire.

I want to share a few important rules with you that I’ll never ignore again – and I hope you won’t either:

Always monitor your appliance while it’s in use.

Even if your air fryer has an auto shut-off feature, never leave it unattended. Unexpected things can happen. You can only react quickly if you’re nearby.

Avoid using baking paper.

It can block air circulation, overheat, and even catch fire. Only use accessories that are specifically made for air fryers.

Clean after every use.

This isn’t just about hygiene. Grease and food residue inside the appliance are a real fire hazard. That was my mistake. Don’t postpone cleaning.

Let it cool completely before storing.

Never put a hot air fryer away in a cabinet or enclosed space. Wait until it’s fully cooled down.