Visible smoke coming from the air fryer during normal cooking.

Safety first: If heavy smoke appears, press cancel, unplug the unit, and carefully slide the basket out slightly to vent. Do not leave the appliance unattended.

User-level fixes:

• Reduce temperature: Cook fatty foods (bacon, sausages, wings) at a lower temperature and for a longer time to reduce splatter.
• Empty grease: Periodically drain grease from the drawer during long cooking cycles.
• Clean thoroughly: After cooling, clean the basket, drawer, and interior surfaces to remove burnt-on grease.

Inspection:

• Check heater guard: Ensure the heater guard is intact and not missing; it helps reduce direct splatter on the element.
• Nonstick condition: If the nonstick coating is heavily damaged and food sticks or burns easily, consider replacing the basket/drawer assembly.