That night reminded me that “off” does not always mean disconnected. Some appliances still draw small amounts of electricity, and worn cords or internal components can continue to hold heat. It’s easy to remember to lock doors or turn off lights before bed, but far easier to forget what’s still plugged into the wall.
Air fryers, in particular, are powerful tools packed into compact designs. They operate at high temperatures and pull significant electrical loads, which means even small issues can grow over time. Heat exposure, grease buildup, and normal wear slowly affect cords and plugs, often without visible damage at first.
Many people only notice something is wrong when a plug feels warm, a faint smell appears, or the plastic begins to discolor. After my experience, I discovered countless similar stories shared by others who noticed subtle warning signs long before anything serious happened. Those shared experiences made one thing clear: awareness is often the difference between prevention and regret.
