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Cuisinart Air Fryer Is Not Heating (How To Quickly Fix)

Air fryers are one of the most convenient appliances we have in the kitchen. They are also extremely popular but they are not without fault. Sometimes, you may have an air fryer that is not heating. What do you do when that is a problem?

Typically, an air fryer won’t heat when you don’t have things set up properly. If your air fryer isn’t heating, remove the basket and try reinserting it again, making sure that the door closes completely. Otherwise, it could be a power problem.

Modern air fryer in the kitchen with food inside

Air fryers give us the convenience of having a convection oven on our countertop. Essentially, it circulates hot air at around 400°F or so around food so that it gets crispy on the outside and stays just right on the inside.

Most people prefer air fryers because it gives us the chance to cook without using oil. There may be some recipes that require oil for an air fryer, but that is not typically the case.

When you stop to think that the first air fryer was released in 2010, it really is an amazing appliance. It is probably one of the most purchased appliances for the kitchen as well.

Of course, we’ve had convection ovens in our home for many years so we are used to cooking with them and the speed they can cook food. An air fryer is more convenient because it is smaller so you don’t have to heat up your entire home in order to cook a small side dish or meal.

In this article, we will look at the different factors that could lead to an air fryer not heating up. It’s also important to recognize that, although there may be some standard answers that work well, they’re also going to be some specific answers for different brands.

Before we start talking about the way to fix an air fryer that isn’t heating up, it’s important to consider safety. We might think that it is an easy thing to work on one of these kitchen appliances but in reality, it can be quite dangerous.

You need to be comfortable with working on electronic appliances because you may get into the inside, where there is circuitry and wires. In addition, you always need to work on the appliance while it is in a de-energized state.

Of course, the easiest way to turn off the power to your air fryer is to unplug it from the wall. You need to ensure, however, that it doesn’t get plugged back in before you finish working on it.

Most people don’t realize that there is more than enough power in a kitchen receptacle to kill a human being. Even if you aren’t killed as a result of an electrical mishap, it can leave you shaky and can injure you in a number of different ways.

In addition, if you do open up your air fryer and begin working on it, you may be voiding the warranty in the process. This is something important to consider, especially if the air fryer is new.

Before you do any work on the air fryer, make sure that you call customer service. They can alert you to any problems that may exist, recalls that may be happening, or perhaps even the fact that your particular air fryer is still under warranty.

This can be a real benefit to you, because it may get a new air fryer without any cost. Rather than having to fix it and run the risk of having it break again, you can have a new one on your countertop within a matter of days.

At this point, let’s consider some of the most common reasons why an air fryer will not heat up.

Try These To Fix Your Cuisinart Air Fryer Not Heating

Modern air fryer in the kitchen with food inside

Cuisinart is well known for the quality products they manufacture, including the air fryers they make. What can you do if the air fryer is not heating as expected?

1. Basket and Door

If the basket is not inserted properly and the door is not closed fully, the air fryer is not going to work. Remove the basket and reinsert it, making sure that it is fully seated in place. You should then close the door firmly to ensure it is latched.

2. Error Messages

If any error messages appear on the screen while you’re trying to operate your Cuisinart air fryer, stop operating and check the manual. It will give you an indication as to why you are experiencing the problem.

The first thing to try anytime your air fryer is not heating is to make sure that the power is fully engaged. Check the cord for any damage, verify that the receptacle is working, and check for a tripped breaker. Sometimes you may not be getting enough power for the unit to operate properly.

Reasons Cuisinart Air Fryer Is Not Heating

Modern air fryer in the kitchen with food inside

There are actually quite a few different reasons why you may be having problems with your air fryer. The 11 different solutions that we have for you below are more than just a checklist, they are the most common reasons why any air fryer may experience this problem.

1. Check the power cord

One of the most common reasons why an air fryer is no longer heating is because it is not getting enough power through the power cord. The power cord is easily damaged and although it is heavy-duty, it is subject to a number of different issues.

In some cases, the power cord may have been pinched or it may be wrapped and unwrapped constantly as you take the air fryer out of storage and put it away again. There may be other times when it gets too close to the heating elements and can get damaged in that way.

Most air fryers give you the opportunity to swap out the power cord because it unplugs from both ends. You can try another power cord if you have one available that fits. Otherwise, inspect the power cord visually to see if there is any noticeable damage or if the plug is burnt.

Along with a problem with a damaged power cord, there may be times when it is not plugged in properly. This is especially a problem for air fryers that connect on both ends. You may not have got it plugged in securely.

This is always one of the first things to check because it may be the easiest thing you fix all day. Plug the power cord back in again, make sure that it isn’t damaged or dirty, and then see if the air fryer works.

2. Check the receptacle

Something else you can check when the air fryer is no longer heating is the receptacle. It is not common for a receptacle to go bad but it’s not out of the question for it to happen.

Sometimes, the receptacle may have gotten dirty from grease pushing into the plug. At other times, it could just go bad because of a factory problem.

Something else to consider is that most kitchen receptacles are GFCI. They may not have the test switch on the receptacle directly, but they may be attached to another GFCI receptacle that does have it.

The easiest way to check this problem is to grab another appliance and plug it in. A lamp works best because it is very easy to see if it works or not.

If the receptacle is not working, check the breaker box to see if you have a tripped breaker. Perhaps you are operating too many appliances at the same time on a single circuit.

Otherwise, it may be necessary to swap out the receptacle. You can contact an electrician to do so if you are not comfortable with the process.

3. The temperature switch is broken

Most air fryers have a temperature switch that allows you to change the temperature inside of the air fryer as it is cooking. This is a convenience, but it is also an easy area for the air fryer to break down.

If the temperature switch is no longer operating as it should, you may be stuck on a lower temperature. You can always check the switch by removing it and using a multimeter to see if it tests for continuity.

Remember that it is always important to unplug the air fryer before you do any work on it. If you have to change the switch, it is a relatively easy thing to do but never do it with the air fryer plugged in.

After you change the switch, it will likely allow you to change the temperature as well. It’s a relatively easy fix that most DIY enthusiasts can do on their own.

4. The basket isn’t inserted properly

One of the conveniences that we have with air fryers is the basket. It allows us to put food in and take it out conveniently, but it can also be a problem that keeps the air fryer from heating.

As a safety feature, most air fryers will not heat and some will not even operate in the first place if the basket is not inserted properly. This is important to consider because it is a simple fix and can save you a lot of headaches.

If your air first suddenly stops heating, remove the basket and reinsert it properly. Make sure that it is seated fully in place and then close the door to see if the air fryer will start working again.

5. The heating element is faulty

One of the primary parts of the air fryer that keeps it working is the heating element. It is the part of the air fryer that heats up and then the hot air is circulated through the appliance like a convection oven.

Unfortunately, there may be times when the heating element is no longer working. This could be for a number of different reasons, including the possibility that it is dirty or that grease has spilled on it.

If you are experiencing problems and your air fryer is not heating, you may want to check the heating element. Doing so is advanced, but most DIY enthusiasts can take care of it within a matter of minutes.

First of all, unplug the air fryer to completely remove it from all electricity. Since you’re going to be opening the air fryer, you would be exposed to electrocution if you didn’t unplug it.

Take the air fryer apart and remove the heating element. Use a multi-meter to check for continuity. If the heating element doesn’t check out, you should contact customer service to get a new one.

6. The thermal fuse is failing

One of the internal parts of most air fryers that are easily broken is the thermal fuse. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does happen, a faulty thermal fuse will keep the air fryer from heating.

The thermal fuse is a small internal fuse that monitors the temperature inside the air fryer. If it detects temperatures that are too high, it will disconnect and not allow the air fryer to heat.

If you think that the thermal fuse may be to blame for your air fryer not heating, unplug the air fryer and remove the thermal fuse. You can test it using a multimeter and if it doesn’t test for continuity, it can be replaced.

7. The air fryer door is open

One of the simple issues that can occur with an air fryer is for the door not to be closed properly. This is a safety feature that is built into the appliance so that you are not cooking with the door open or even partially open.

Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on February 2, 2023.

On an air fryer unit with two doors, make sure that they are closed properly and completely latched. If your air fryer only has one door, make sure that it has latched into position.

It only takes a second to check this but it is something that can make a difference and could even solve the problem in a very easy way.

8. The cooking time/temperature is not set

Many people are surprised by just how intricate the controls are on some air fryers. There are some that are simplistic, but others have more bells and whistles than we really need.

This leads to a common problem that occurs sometimes when the cooking time or temperature is not set. Quite simply, if you don’t set the cooking time and the temperature is not set, it is not going to work for you.

If you feel that this is a problem, you should reset the unit and start from scratch. If you are in the middle of cooking something, you may be able to salvage the process by changing things at this point.

Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on February 2, 2023.

9. The air fryer needs to be reset

One other possible solution is that the air fryer needs to be reset. This is something that can be done on almost every air fryer, and the method is very similar.

First of all, you need to allow the air fryer to cool down completely before you go through with the process. Since it is not heating, this likely won’t be a problem but it would still be a good idea to allow it to sit unplugged for 30 minutes before proceeding.

On the bottom of most air fryers is a reset button. It is inside the unit, so you will need to take a pointed object, such as a toothpick, to press the reset button. It is best if you use a toothpick or something else that is non-conductive.

After holding in the reset button for a few seconds, you can put the air fryer back up again and it should have completed the reset process. This is often enough to get rid of any small errors that could build up and cause the air fryer not to heat properly.

10. There are error messages showing up on the display

One other thing to consider is the possibility that there are error messages showing up on the screen. These are going to be different from one manufacturer to another but they all have something in common; the fact that they tell you something specific is wrong with the unit.

In most cases, it is something internal, such as a short circuit with the thermal fuse. This may not be something that is repairable on all units, as some of those fuses are internal and you cannot access them easily.

The best thing to do if you have an error message is to search through the manual, either the one that came with the unit or search for your specific manual online. Find out what the error message is telling you and then call customer service to let them know.

11. The air fryer is dead

One final possibility is that the air fryer has just completely died. This doesn’t happen as often as you would think, but it does happen on occasion.

If you try everything on this list and it is still not working, then you should call customer service and let them know. You may also want to talk to them about the possibility of a warranty, as some may be willing to replace the unit, even if it is out of warranty.

As the old saying goes, you never know unless you ask, so it doesn’t hurt to ask the customer service representative if they would be willing to take care of this problem for you.

ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on February 2, 2023.

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