How To Fix An Air Fryer Drawer That Won’t Close

Air Fryers are great for cooking a number of things and in a healthier format compared to some more traditional methods. But like any appliance, there can be some technical issues and things can get age and break.

The best way to fix an air fryer drawer that won’t close is to make sure that the basket is in place and you have not overfilled the basket with food.

In this article I am going to go through the different reasons why your Air Fryer drawer is sticking, how to prevent it and how to fix it.

Why Does an Air Fryer Drawer Not Close?

Closing an air fryer drawer should be just as easy as opening it. Hence, if yours isn’t closing or takes a bit of effort to do so, you might have cause for worry. There are several possible causes of a rigid or unresponsive air fryer drawer.

For starters, check if your basket isn’t filled to the maximum level. Your air fryer drawer may not close if this is the case.

Also, check if your basket is aligned properly. Not arranging your basket to perfectly fit the drawer pan might cause it not to close. There could also have been an oversight on your part, causing you to forget to properly place the drawer pan into the air fryer.

In summary, you need to ensure there are no obstructions to the drawer pan closing properly.

If the problem persists, you may try an old trick where you lift the handle of the drawer while you slide the drawer in for easy passage. It’s an old trick but it has worked surprisingly well for a lot of people who had this problem.

How To Prevent An Air Fryer Drawer Sticking

There are a number of ways in which you can prevent your airfryer drawer from sticking before using it, during and after.

Here are the ways in which you can prevent your air fryer drawer from sticking.

Season Your Airfryer

To prevent your food from sticking to the air fryer basket, you must season your air fryer before cooking and after cleaning by using the following steps:

  • With the aid of a sponge (nothing too thick), soap, and water, wash your air fryer thoroughly. Next, dry the air fryer drawer with a towel. You don’t have to do a tough job of drying it completely since the air fryer will eventually dry the basket and drawer. 
  • Put the basket in the drawer and place it inside your air fryer. Adjust the temperature to 400 degrees and set the timer to five minutes. Don’t wait until the five minutes are completed, but remove the drawer after three minutes.
  • With the aid of a sponge (nothing too thick), soap, and water, wash your air fryer thoroughly. Next, dry the air fryer drawer with a towel. You don’t have to do a tough job of drying it completely since the air fryer will eventually dry the basket and drawer. 
  • Put the basket in the drawer and place it inside your air fryer. Adjust the temperature to 400 degrees and set the timer to five minutes. Don’t wait until the five minutes are completed, but remove the drawer after three minutes.

And that’s how you season your air fryer. Remember to rub coconut oil on the basket before you start cooking.

Move The Draw Around

The process is quite different if you want to prevent your air fryer drawer from sticking while you cook. 

  • During cooking, you should always shake your fryer from time to time, and from side to side. This is an old trick that eliminates any sticking that was forming while also ensuring even cooking. Unfortunately, this method only applies to specific foods. For instance, if you happen to be cooking a muffin, shaking it would crush your muffins. 
  • You should also make a habit of adding small amounts of water or marinade while cooking. The addition of water to your food gives it that extra thickness and moisture. However, you must be careful not to add too much. One tablespoonful at a time would be ideal. While water is known to be very effective, I’d recommend marinade, only because it has all the necessary spices mixed within it.
  • Don’t put too much food in your air fryer basket. When there’s not enough space for foods to cook evenly, they tend to stick. You must pay attention and put the precise amount of food in the fryer. 
  • Setting the right temperature for your cooking is also very important in preventing your drawer from sticking. If you overcook your foods it will lead to sticking, just like frying eggs for too long will leave sticking in your pan. The trick here is to monitor the heat and adjust your temperature settings to avoid overcooking. 
  • Purchasing a quality air fryer is also another way you won’t get to worry about sticking. Most air fryers in the market have a non-stick function. Although it’s not very effective, it’ll still do better than those low-quality ones. 
  • Purchasing a quality air fryer is also another way you won’t get to worry about sticking. Most air fryers in the market have a non-stick function. Although it’s not very effective, it’ll still do better than those low-quality ones. 

How To Fix A Broken Air Fryer Drawer 

Fixing a broken air fryer does not necessarily require the services of a professional or an expert. With the right manual and steps, you too can do a good job.

Fixing The Draw Handle

The most breakable part of the air fryer drawer is the handle. I say this because the handle tends to carry the weight of the contents of the basket every time you place or remove food in the fryer.

Fixing an air fryer drawer with a broken handle is not as difficult as it seems. You could order a replacement part from the store.

To fix a broken air fryer drawer handle, all you need is a new handle, two screws, two bolts, and a screwdriver. You can accomplish the task by following the 4 simple steps below:

Step 1: Remove the basket from your air fryer and locate the screw on the inner metal part of the attached handle (broken handle). With your screwdriver, unscrew the screws from the handle.

Step 2: Lift and remove the broken handle from your air fryer basket.

Step 3: Fix the new handle to the side of your air fryer basket and be sure to align the holes on the handle with the ones on the basket.

Step 4: Using your screwdriver, screw the newly included screws into the handle while ensuring the basal screw is on the outside of the handle. Next, replace the bolts on the inside of the handle inside the basket of your air fryer. 

Fixing The Basket

Another common problem an air fryer basket that lacks stability and keeps falling off when you lift the drawer by the handle. Here’s what you can do:

Step 1: Unscrew the rivets that are preventing you from having a closer look at the basket handle.

Step 2: Tighten the screws at the handle and ensure they’re well placed. 

Step 3: Screw it all back together and try holding your basket again. They should be sturdy and firmer now.