I Nearly Caused a Fire In My Kitchen With My Air Fryer Placement – Here's the Key Lesson To Learn From My Blunder

After a rushed dinnertime, I ended up melting the front of my plastic microwave because of my poorly-placed air fryer. I was lucky that was the only damage caused by my otherwise reliable small appliance.

It was entirely my fault and, in hindsight, easily avoidable. So, to understand how to prevent similar mistakes in the future and to avoid a fire risk in your home, I spoke with a home safety expert.

Here’s what went wrong, and how you can avoid making the same error with your vital kitchen investments, such as one of the best non-toxic air fryers.

How My Placement Blunder Nearly Started a Kitchen Fire

Small cooking appliances have become an integral part of most kitchens, sitting on countertops for near-daily use. Air fryers, for example, are practical and typically unobtrusive; however, I made a critical error that could have ended terribly.

Most of the best air fryers vent heat from the back, away from the operator. I, in a rush, had pulled my appliance out of the cabinet and left it on the counter where I first placed it, in front of my countertop microwave. I plugged the air fryer in and set it off to cook my sweet potato fries.

I didn't realise I was making an air fryer mistake at the time, and it was only when I moved it to clean up that I noticed the damage. The rear vent had been blasting out intense heat for 20 minutes straight, melting and warping the front of the nearby appliance.

When it dawned on me what had gone on, it threw into sharp perspective how even the smallest of blunders can drastically increase the fire risk in your home, especially around plug-in appliances.

Edward Susolik, CEO, president, and trial attorney at Callahan & Blaine, has extensive experience with home injury cases. When asked about this surprisingly common mistake, he explained, 'A blocked vent can make it overheat and cause a fire.'

It isn't just about making your air fryer last longer, he adds. 'Placing this kitchen gadget in the right spot makes all the difference in preventing burn injuries or destroying your home.

'It’s really the simplest way to prevent a problem with America’s new favorite appliance, and in the manual that came with your model, there are warnings about where to place it and where to avoid, but most people never read them.'

Where to Put Your Air Fryer Instead

While it can be appealing to try to conceal an air fryer in a kitchen, this should be saved for when it is cool and not in use.

When in use, Edward urges that you keep at least five inches clear on every side of your appliance. 'An open countertop that is away from the wall, any overhead cabinets, and other appliances is the best spot to use,' he specifies.

'Ideally, if you can put it near your range hood or exhaust vent, that’s even better. Where you should never put this appliance is right under low-hanging kitchen cabinets, up against the wall or backsplash, on your stove itself, or right in front of an outlet that has anything plugged into it.

'The surface you set it on also matters and needs to be heat-resistant,' he adds. 'If your countertops aren’t made of a material that can handle the heat, use a heat-safe silicon mat [from Amazon] to protect the area.'

What to Shop

FAQs

What should you do if an air fryer causes damage?

Edward Susolik, attorney, explains, 'Aside from not panicking, if your air fryer damages other appliances or malfunctions, stop using them immediately, and do not use either again until you can have a professional inspect them.

'Damaged parts can easily start a fire or cause an electrical hazard, and you don’t want to be in either of those scenarios. You’ll want to take photos of the damage, especially if it seems to have been caused by the design of the product itself, and then report it to the government’s CPSC website, which forms a record to help potentially spot patterns that typically lead to product recalls.

'If you didn’t read the manual and did something you shouldn’t have, you may want to consider yourself lucky if you didn’t get burned or cause a house fire. But if you did use it as instructed in the directions that came with it and damage happened, definitely document it thoroughly.'

Meet the Expert

Edward Susolik

With over 35 years of experience, Edward has become one of the top litigation and trial attorneys in Southern California, and has developed extensive expertise in the area of personal injury, through several home injury cases in relation to appliance malfunctions.

Beyond placement, make sure to avoid these common air fryer cleaning mistakes to ensure perfectly crisp, uncontaminated food and less fire risk, and the labels to watch out for on cookware to avoid greenwashing.

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