Can You Put an Air Fryer Tray in the Dishwasher? Read First

Yes for most removable trays that the manufacturer labels dishwasher safe. No for trays marked hand wash only, and no for any tray with a chipped, peeling, or flaking coating.

The deciding factor is not the tray’s shape or brand. It is the coating and what the manufacturer says about that exact part. A stamped symbol, the owner’s manual, or a model-number lookup will tell you which category your tray falls into. For background on how dishwasher cycles treat air fryer parts generally, see our related guide on putting an air fryer in the dishwasher.

The Coating Decides This, Not the Tray Itself

Two trays that look identical can carry opposite cleaning instructions, because the surface treatment is what reacts to hot water and detergent.

Nonstick coatings are the fragile group. A dishwasher cycle exposes them to sustained heat, detergent, and a heated drying phase, which is more stress than a sink wash. Stainless steel trays, mesh racks, and glass containers tolerate dishwasher cycles far better. Ninja states that all Crispi accessories are dishwasher safe and nestable for easy cleaning and storage. That is a brand-specific instruction for a specific product line, not a universal rule you can transfer to another manufacturer’s tray.

One useful reference point: the Ninja Crispi uses CleanCrisp glass containers that the manufacturer describes as designed for nontoxic cooking and storing without PFAS and PTFE. Glass and nonstick are different materials with different care requirements, even when both arrive in the same box.

How to Check Whether Your Specific Tray Is Dishwasher Safe

Three checks, in order of speed.

1. Look at the tray itself. Many manufacturers stamp or etch a dishwasher-safe symbol on the underside of the basket, crisper plate, or rack.
2. Check the owner’s manual for your model. The manual usually lists each removable part separately, with its own cleaning instruction. If you no longer have the paper copy, the brand’s website or a model-number lookup will normally surface the current version. Ninja hosts manuals by model at ninjakitchen.com, and Instant Brands does the same at instantbrands.com.
3. If neither is clear, treat the tray as hand wash only. That decision costs you a few minutes of washing. The reverse mistake can cost you the coating.

Accessories are where this gets confusing. A single air fryer can ship with a basket, a crisper plate, a rack, and a lid, and the manual may give each one a different instruction. Check them individually rather than assuming the set shares one rule.

What a Dishwasher Cycle Does That Hand Washing Doesn’t

A dishwasher cycle exposes your tray to three stresses at once: sustained heat, detergent, and a heated drying phase. Hand washing in a sink typically involves one of those at most, and usually at a lower intensity.

That combination is the reason manufacturers single out nonstick parts for hand washing. The coating is the part most likely to wear prematurely under repeated dishwasher exposure.

Heated drying adds a further consideration. Any residue left on the tray after the wash cycle can be baked on rather than rinsed away, which is the opposite of what you want on a cooking surface. For more on how dishwasher conditions affect nonstick surfaces, the FDA maintains food-contact substance information.

Which Air Fryer Parts Go in and Which Never Do

Part	Dishwasher guidance
Removable basket	Often dishwasher safe when the manual says so
Crisper plate	Check the manual; frequently dishwasher safe
Metal rack	Usually dishwasher safe
Glass container (where applicable)	Often dishwasher safe per manufacturer instructions
Main unit with heating element	Never submerge or place in a dishwasher
Control panel and display	Never submerge
Power cord and plug	Never submerge
Any part marked hand wash only	Hand wash only

The bottom four rows are not negotiable. Water reaching the heating element, the cord, or the control panel creates an electrical hazard and can end the appliance’s working life. Unplug the unit before you clean anything.

Loading the Tray So It Actually Comes Out Clean

A tray that is dishwasher safe but badly loaded comes out greasy anyway, and sometimes comes out damaged.

• Give the tray its own space. Overlapping it with plates or pans blocks water from reaching the surface.
• Keep it clear of the spray arm’s rotation. A tray that blocks the arm stops the whole load from being rinsed properly.
• Place it so water can drain off rather than pooling in a recessed area.
• Follow any rack-position instruction in your manual. Some manufacturers specify top rack only for specific parts. For a related walkthrough, see our article on putting an air fryer basket in the dishwasher.

The Three-Minute Hand Wash That Beats the Dishwasher on Grease

If your tray is hand wash only, or you would rather protect the coating, this method is quick and does not require special products.

1. Unplug the air fryer and let the tray cool completely. Putting a hot tray into cold water can warp thin metal.
2. Soak the tray in warm water with a small amount of dish soap for a few minutes. This loosens baked-on grease so you do not have to scrub hard.
3. Wipe with a soft sponge or a non-abrasive cloth. Skip steel wool, scouring pads, and abrasive powders, which scratch the coating.
4. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft towel. Leaving the tray wet invites water spots and, over time, corrosion at the edges. For a closer look at hand washing a basket, see our guide on washing an air fryer basket in the dishwasher.

For stubborn spots, a longer soak does more good than a harder scrub. Pressure is what damages nonstick surfaces, not warm soapy water.

When the Dishwasher Is the Wrong Call

Skip the dishwasher, and consider replacing the tray, in these situations:

• The coating is chipped, peeling, or flaking. Once the coating is compromised, the exposed metal underneath and the loose flakes are both reasons to stop using that tray for cooking.
• The tray is marked hand wash only. Manufacturer instructions for your specific model take priority over general advice, including anything in this article.
• The tray has a wooden handle or a hybrid lid. Mixed-material accessories rarely tolerate full dishwasher cycles. For hybrid units, see our note on washing an air fryer basket in the dishwasher.
• You live in a hard water area and notice a chalky film after cycles. That buildup affects the surface and browning performance, and hand washing gives you more control over rinsing.
• The manual warns that dishwasher use affects warranty coverage. Check before you run the cycle, not after.

Common Mistakes That Damage Air Fryer Trays

• Scrubbing a nonstick tray with an abrasive pad to remove one stubborn patch, then finding the coating gone in that spot.
• Stacking the tray against other dishes so the spray arm cannot turn.
• Putting the main unit, cord, or control panel anywhere near water.
• Assuming that because the basket is dishwasher safe, the crisper plate and rack must be too.
• Running a damaged tray through cycle after cycle instead of retiring it.
• Leaving the tray to air dry with water sitting in a recessed edge.

Closing Decision Rule for Your Own Tray

Check the tray’s own labeling first. If it says dishwasher safe, run it on the rack position the manual specifies. If it says hand wash only, or you cannot confirm, wash it by hand with warm soapy water, a soft sponge, and a thorough dry. Retire any tray with a coating that has started to chip or peel, and keep every part containing the heating element, cord, or controls well away from water.