Cleaning and maintaining a toaster or toaster oven is an important kitchen chore that can easily go unnoticed. But showing these small appliances regular maintenance is essential to keeping them in good working order and, more importantly, to keeping your family and home safe.
Christine Brown, customer service manager at Revolution Cooking, offers some general tips for cleaning a toaster or toaster oven, starting with safety: “To clean a toaster, unplug it from the outlet and wait toaster to cool completely before removing food. .”
Brown provides a quick list of tips to make sure you stay safe when cleaning these small appliances.
• Unplug from outlet and wait for toaster to cool completely.
• The crumb tray should be emptied often to prevent food buildup; failure to regularly clean up crumbs can create a fire hazard.
• Do not attempt to dislodge food while a toaster or toaster oven is plugged in.
• Do not insert utensils into a toaster as they may damage the heating elements and create a risk of fire or electric shock.
• Avoid spraying or spraying a toaster or toaster oven directly with water and/or cleaning products.
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A pastry brush to brush the crumbs.
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Microfiber cloths for cleaning the exterior of the device.
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Dilute dish soap in water for a mild cleaning solution to remove stuck-on food and buildup.
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A non-scratch abrasive sponge for scrubbing stubborn build-up inside and/or outside the unit.
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A paste of baking soda and water can help gently remove stubborn buildup from the toaster oven parts, interior, and glass door.
Cleaning a toaster regularly to remove crumbs is essential to keep these small appliances running smoothly and reduce the risk of fire. Follow these steps to regularly clean a toaster.
Step 1: Prepare the device for cleaning
Unplug the toaster and allow it to cool before cleaning.
Step 2: Dislodge crumbs
Dislodge crumbs by holding the toaster over the sink or trash can and gently shaking and/or tapping the sides of the unit. If the toaster has a crumb tray, remove it and empty it. Use a pastry brush to brush out any crumbs that cling to the inside of the toaster; if the design of the toaster allows it, brush from the top and bottom of the appliance.
Step 3: Clean the exterior
Clean the exterior of the toaster by wiping it with a damp microfiber cloth. Pay particular attention to the levers and buttons; on some models, these can be removed and hand washed in warm soapy water.
If there is stuck-on food, spills, or sticky buildup, the cloth can be soaked in a diluted dish soap solution for extra cleaning power. A Dobie Pad can also be used to safely clean the exterior of a toaster that has heavy buildup.
Step 4: Dry and reassemble
Dry the exterior of the device with a microfiber cloth. Dry the individual pieces thoroughly, put them back in the appliance and reassemble the toaster.
Cleaning a toaster oven involves a few more steps than cleaning a traditional toaster. Here’s how to keep these small appliances running smoothly and safely.
Step 1: Prepare the device for cleaning
Unplug the toaster oven and allow it to cool before cleaning.
Step 2: wash the removable parts
Remove the baking tray and grid from the unit. Wash them in hot soapy water or, if dishwasher safe, in the dishwasher. Baking trays and grates that have stuck-on food or buildup can be soaked for 30 minutes, up to overnight, to make cleaning easier.
Step 3: Dislodge crumbs
Dislodge crumbs by holding the toaster oven over the sink or trash can and gently shaking and/or tapping the sides of the unit. If the toaster oven has a hatch at the bottom of the unit, open it to dispose of crumbs. Use a pastry brush to brush out any crumbs that cling to the interior of the toaster oven; if the design of the toaster oven allows it, brush from the front and bottom of the appliance.
Step 4: Clean the exterior
Clean the exterior of the toaster oven by wiping it with a damp microfiber cloth. Pay particular attention to the levers and buttons; on some models, these can be removed and hand washed in warm soapy water.
Step 5: Thoroughly clean the interior
To remove stuck-on food inside a toaster oven, use a damp Dobie pad to remove buildup; never use steel wool, abrasive sponges or scrapers inside a toaster oven. A paste of baking soda and water can also be used to safely remove food stuck inside a toaster oven.
When cleaning the inside of a toaster oven, avoid overwetting the heating elements.
Step 6: Clean the glass door
Apply a paste of baking soda and water using a damp sponge or Dobie Pad to remove baked-on food and buildup from the toaster oven glass door. Wipe off the paste with a clean, damp sponge, then wipe the door with a microfiber cloth.
Step 7: Dry and Reassemble
Dry the exterior of the device with a microfiber cloth. Thoroughly dry the individual pieces and put them back in the appliance and reassemble the toaster oven.
How to Clean Smart Toasters and Toaster Ovens
“Cleaning the crumb tray regularly is important to remove crumbs that can accumulate and become a safety hazard,” Brown says, “but remembering to do it can be the hardest part.” Smart toasters, like the Revolution InstaGlo toasters, and smart toaster ovens, like the June Oven, have features that tell users when it’s time to clean the appliance’s crumbs. They are also generally designed to make cleaning easier.
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Brown has provided the following instructions for cleaning a smart toaster.
- Step 1: Unplug the toaster and let it cool completely before cleaning.
- 2nd step: Remove the crumb tray, empty it and replace it in the appliance.
- Step 3: Clean the exteriors with a soft, slightly damp cloth, then buff with a soft, dry cloth to dry completely.
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Matt Van Horn, co-founder and CEO of June, which makes a 12-in-1 countertop oven, recommends monthly cleaning using a commercial oven cleaner.
Most toaster ovens should not be cleaned with oven cleaners like Easy-Off; consult the manufacturer’s instructions before using cleaning agents stronger than soap or baking soda to clean a toaster or toaster oven.
Van Horn has provided the following instructions for cleaning the June Oven.
- Step 1: Spray the interior walls and interior door of your June with a cleaning solvent such as Easy-Off Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner, avoiding the heating elements.
- 2nd step: Close the oven door and let the solvent sit until the grease comes off easily with paper towels.
- Step 3: Wipe off the solvent with dry paper towels, then wipe the interior with a damp sponge to remove any residue.
- Step 4: Use June’s dual convection fan blow dry feature to speed up the drying process.