Air Fryer is an essential kitchen product and is widely used by consumers, keeping in mind the magical spell it offers to the meals, which would otherwise require deep frying.
A quick, tender & crispy outlook without added fats & unwanted cholesterol magnifies their demand in the market.
Smoke from a Nuwave air fryer is principally due to the evaporation of moisture & residual oils from the surface of the food at elevated temperatures. However, there are multiple reasons in addition to the issue mentioned above.
To understand this phenomenon of a smoke generation & to implement tried and tested solutions for getting rid of the smoke, we recommend going through the below information.
Nuwave Air Fryer as a Convection Oven
The concept of air frying is laid on the foundation that the device behaves as a convection oven to process raw food in a controlled environment.
The convection phenomenon inside a Nuwave air fryer occurs when hot air interacts with the food for a pre-set proportion of time at an advisable temperature range.
Modes of Heat Transfer
A Nuwave air fryer uses atmospheric air swept through the in-built heater via the food basket to elevate the food’s temperature.
Environmental air distinctly affects the air frying process based on the air’s humidity values or wet bulb temperatures.
Using Air Fryer Racks can help reduce the smoke since air distribution inside the air fryer is even, and it doesn’t overheat the food.
How does the Smoke generate in an air fryer?
Smoke in an air fryer can originate from multiple sources & we recommend figuring out the actual root cause to get rid of the situation.
Smoke from Nuwave air fryer due to faulty electrical cable
The majority of Nuwave air fryers are powered through an AC voltage. The electrical cable connected to an air fryer is of prime importance.
Smoke emitting from the Nuwave air fryer electrical cord is due to the following reasons;
- Overload operation of the Air fryer
- Non-compatible Power rating (Voltage, Frequency, Current)
- Loose terminals due to rough usage
- Accumulation of water in the terminals
- Damaged cable
- Incompatible after-market cable
- Pinched cable
- Short-circuiting due to a problematic external circuit
To determine if the smoke emitted from a Nuwave air fryer results from a malfunctioning power cable, you shall sniff & notice if the smell is peculiar. It shall be similar to a burning plastic with a dark complexion.
The first step proposed by experts from Howmachines.com is to turn off the device without delay. Otherwise, the equipment or combustible material in the vicinity would catch fire.
It is always advised to take foremost care of the electrical cord by following the user manual & the precautions highlighted below;
- Always use a standard cord per the manufacturer’s recommended power rating of the Nuwave air fryer.
- The correct power rating can be easily referred to from the back of the air fryer. This rating is embossed or stamped near the chord termination point on the device.
- Never place the cable too close to a heat source like a stove, room heater, or cooking range. This can affect insulation on top of the chord resulting in shortcircuiting, exposure, or deshaping
- Always ensure that the air fryer is not overloaded with food
- Do not place anything over the sharp, combustible chord, or can catch fire. This can affect the chord in their own ways
- It is recommended to clean the air fryer with a wet cloth without letting any water in the power section of the air fryer
- Always ensure that the air fryer is handled with care and confirm no rough usage leading to cable pinching or getting loose from its terminals. Loose terminals cause fire incidents
Smoke from the electronic circuitry
Smoke from the electronic circuity of the Nuwave air fryer may be the result of water ingress or shortcircuiting due to the following reasons;
- Inadequate storage conditions of the air fryer (Long durations)
- Water ingress in the electronic circuitry
- Short-circuiting in the electronic control section
- Overheating of the electronic control section
- Inadequate ventilation
- prolonged operation of the air fryer
To curtail the issues from the electronic circuitry section, it is recommended to ensure the air fryer is kept in a dry place & covered when not in use for a long time.
- Make sure the electronic circuit of the device is kept away from water. This also corresponds to the IP rating of the device. The term ‘IP’ means “Ingress Protection,” and Nuwave ensures the IP rating is adequate to avoid undue ingress of dust or water droplets.
- The device shall be kept satisfactorily from walls, other equipment, and heat sources to assist in adequate ventilation.
- Prolonged operation of the air fryer is not recommended by the manufacturer and advised to provide a particular break before further meals are processed. This helps in heat dissipation from the Nuwave air fryer.
Smoke from the Nuwave Air fryer’s food section
It is very common for a Nuwave air fryer to emit smoke from the food section of the device. This category of smoke can be easily distinguished from other classes highlighted in the above paragraphs.
Smoke from the food section of a Nuwave Air Fryer is due to the following significant reasons that need attention;
- Presence of excessive fatty oils in the meal
- Overheating of the food
- Evaporation of moisture & residual oils
- Overcooking of the meal
- Inadequate water content
- Presence of loose food grains
- Inadequate temperature setting
- Addition of volatile ingredients
- Presence of smoke-producing substances in the marination of food
- Inadequate cleaning of the air fryer
- Partially chocked air fryer vent
- Inadequate ventilation of the device
The above list is self-explanatory and the end user is recommended to follow the user manual for more precise guidance on overcoming the smoke problem.
A minor or low smoke is regular for a Nuwave air fryer & nothing to worry about. However, when the smoke is in access and turns the air conditioner to a much stinky & unbearable, it is advised to follow the below steps to get rid of the situation.
- When the food has excess fatty oils, the chances of smoke generation are exclusively high during air frying. It is therefore advised to add a teaspoon of water to the air fryer so the mixture can suppress the generation of Smoke.
- Overheating the food occurs when the recommended temperature for processing food in an air fryer is surpassed. It is advised to follow the supplier manual as a guideline for setting the temperature of the food.
- Moisture and oils sometimes create an average smoke effect that gets settled as soon as the moisture levels decrease in the meal. It is a resonance effect where both oil & water forms an amalgam pretty suitable to form smoke at elevated temperature.
- The timer on an air fryer is again critical, and each meal gets cooked at a designated temperature range. Overcooking of meals evaporates the moisture and leaves the food dry with high chances of smoke generation.
- Adequate cleaning of the air fryer after usage reduces sticky food particles and the chances of generating smoke.
- Ventilation of the air fryer is again critical to allow proper airflow. Any restriction will reduce the airflow inside the air fryer resulting in a smoke generation.
- Certain food additives evaporate or produce smoke that shall be taken care of when air-frying in consultation with the user manual.
- A partially chocked air fryer vent again reduces the amount of airflow through the device and results in the production of high temp that, in turn, produces smoke.
Final Words – Conclusion
Nuwave air fryers come in various models and are built with different characteristics. The generation of smoke in air fryers can result from multiple reasons, including specific profound nature observations like problematic chords, storage conditions, or issues with the electronic circuitry.
Air fryers also produce smoke while processing typical food, and minor smoke shall be expected from an air fryer.
However, the production of high volumes of smoke needs attention and shall be suppressed with multiple techniques.
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