A man shared an urgent PSA after an air fryer from Walmart’s Beautiful brand almost caused a fire in his kitchen. A friend of his, however, thankfully saved the day.
Man Shares Scary Walmart Air Fryer Incident
TikTok fragrance influencer Paul (@paulnotreacting) said he was out of town when the incident happened. Luckily, his best friend stopped by to check on the house.
“So I’m out of town, and my house almost caught fire,” he said at the start of the video, as he shows footage of the damage in the background. Both the microwave and stove in the footage have a big dark circle on top of them.
“Thankfully for my best friend going to my house and checking on it, she was able to catch it early,” he added.
Paul explained that he had left his air fryer plugged in, something he didn’t think much about at the time. “I didn’t think that I would have to plug out an air fryer,” he said. “It doesn’t normally stay on. I barely use it. I barely ever cook.”
The air fryer, from Walmart’s Beautiful brand, had been sitting unused on the stove. He had no idea it was heating up.
“I asked her to go and pick up some packages,” he said. “As she walks into the house, she texts that she’s like, ‘Hey, it smells like something’s burning.’”
Paul didn’t panic right away. “That’s not the first time that necessarily something smelled burning,” he said. “I thought maybe it’s the plug-ins or something.”
But his friend followed the smell and found something burning on top of the stove.
“She sniffs it out, and she found out that this mother—– was burning on top,” Paul said. “Which—why is there a box on top of the oven? I don’t… we don’t cook.”
He admitted he didn’t even remember that the air fryer had been left plugged in. “I can’t even explain the amount of anxiety that I had in that moment,” he said. “Once my friend found it and took care of it… I’m just so blessed and grateful.”
‘She Saved My Life’
Paul said this wasn’t the first time his friend had come through for him. In another incident, she knew exactly where his inhaler was when he texted her during a medical emergency.
“This is the second time that my friend has necessarily saved my life,” he said. “Saved so much for me in the last year.”
The Beautiful brand, sold exclusively at Walmart, is backed by Drew Barrymore and known for its sleek, colorful kitchen appliances.
Commenters Share Similar Experiences
In the comments section of Paul’s video, people praised his friend and shared their own warnings.
“You definitely need to give girlfriend some mega bottles of perfume or a brand trip because seriously that’s amazing,” one person wrote.
Another exclaimed, “NO THE BEAUTIFUL BRAND… THAT WAS GONNA BE EVERYTHING IN MY KITCHEN.”
“My friend’s son’s house recently burned down from an air fryer that was plugged in,” one user shared. “Fire department said to ALWAYS unplug after use.”
“Going to go unplug my exact air fryer right now!” someone else added.
Should You Unplug Your Air Fryer When Not in Use?
Yes, unplugging it is the safest option.
Even though most modern appliances come with built-in sensors that shut them off when they’re idle, experts still say it’s best to unplug small heat-producing appliances like air fryers after every use. That includes similar items like toasters and electric hot plates.
Air fryers pull a lot of electricity and generate heat fast. Some also contain oil or food debris, which can make them even riskier to leave plugged in. And while the chances of something going wrong are lower with newer models, there’s still enough risk that safety professionals recommend playing it safe.
@paulnotreacting Go tell @Jenny – Beauty Creator ♬ original sound – paulnotreacting
What Do People Think of the Beautiful Brand Air Fryer From Walmart?
Not everyone’s had a scary experience. In fact, many people love it.
According to a review from Fit Healthy Macros, the Beautiful 9-quart TriZone air fryer is a favorite for households that cook often. The reviewer praised its flexibility, design, and overall quality.
The Mary Sue has reached out to Walmart via contact form and Paul via TikTok messages.
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