These small-scale convection ovens, better known as air fryers or greaseless fryers, made a strong entrance on the market a couple of years ago and they’re still being sold all over the world.
The device cooks food by circulating heated air throughout its chamber and it’s capable of producing a decent crisp without oil thanks to something called the Maillard effect.
Being a kitchen appliance-enthusiast, I was quick to purchase one and I’ve upgraded to newer models several times since then.
No, I do not throw away a perfectly fine air fryer just because there’s a new model available – I’ve gifted them to relatives, friends, or people who need them more than I do.
Anyway, the point is that I’ve come across more error codes and malfunctions that you can imagine over the years. I’m not saying that these devices malfunction frequently, I’m saying that I’ve spent an unhealthy amount of time using them and experimenting with them.
An air fryer can display the E3 error code if it’s either overheating or the circuit board is having connection errors. These two seem to be the most common causes why an air fryer displays the E3 error code. However, the meaning of the error code will differ from one brand to the next. The user should, therefore, check the instruction manual for further information.
Considering that most brands have released more than just one air fryer, there are a bunch of different models available on the market. I have done my absolute best to gather information regarding this topic on as many models as I possibly could.
What Should I Do If My Air Fryer Displays The E3 Error Code?
When an air fryer is overheating it’s imperative that you unplug it from the socket and let it cool down for 15-30 minutes before you start it again. It’s most likely caused by excessive oil or food.
An air fryer’s basket shouldn’t be stuffed to the brink as it will cause the air fryer to overheat. They’re designed to operate at no more than 400 degrees Fahrenheit, adding more oil or food than recommended can raise the temperature even further.
This can either damage your air fryer or, even worse, potentially start a fire.
Depending on which air fryer you’ve got, the solution to the problem will most likely differ.
Regardless of what the problem is, remember that opening up your unit on your own will void the warranty. Therefore, I recommend that the first thing you do is to call customer service and have them identify the problem.
From what I’ve gathered over the years both off and online it seems like the error code is either an indication of excessive heat or circuit board errors. It should also be mentioned that most models only seem to have E1 and E2 error codes, and a small minority also have that third code.
Gowise and Nuwave air fryers both have the E3 code. GoWise recommends that you get in contact with customer service as it indicates that the circuit board is having connection problems.
On a Nuwave air fryer, on the other hand, the code is displayed when the unit is overheating.