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How do you clean the inside of a toaster oven?
How about the glass door and heating elements?
Is there a way to clean all corners of the appliance without damaging it at all?
If you’ve been asking yourself such questions, then you came to the right place!
It’s true that cleaning a toaster oven can be a very daunting process to anyone who’s never done it before. It can be worse if you’ve messed up before while trying to do it.
Lucky for you, there are easy ways and steps to clean the appliance safely and effectively. Regardless of the model you’re using, here’s how you should clean your toaster oven.
The Best Way to Clean Your Toaster Oven
Cleaning Frequency
It is important to ensure your toaster oven is cleaned every week if you use it daily. This ensures that all the lingering bits of food that can alter the taste of your food or cause a fire are eliminated.
Remember that toaster ovens don’t just make toast; they have many other uses which necessitate frequent cleaning. For instance, if you also use it to broil or heat food, you should clean the appliance after using it. Even if you use your appliance to make toast alone, you should try to clean it weekly.
So, how do you clean the appliance?
Step 1: Unplug your toaster oven
Like any other machine, you should never attempt to clean your toaster before you unplug it. You can easily cause an electric shock or fire if you insert anything besides food into the machine while it’s plugged in. Once you unplug it, let it cool fully before you start cleaning it.
Next, place the machine in a location where the cleaning process would be convenient. You can place it near your kitchen sink or your garbage can; it should rest on a surface with a comfortable height, such as on a countertop. Just remember to avoid immersing the unit in water or spraying your cleaning solution into the machine directly.
Step 2: Remove all the relevant parts and soak them in water
If you’re using your sink, fill it up with warm water. Add a couple of squirts of dish soap. Remove the racks and trays and immerse them in the water. If your sink is small, you can use a plastic storage bin or something larger, like a bathtub.
Note: you can create your own cleaning solution so that it’s cheaper and easy to clean your toaster oven. To make a good homemade cleaner, combine warm water, vinegar, and some dish soap. This is what you’ll use to clean the inside of your toaster.
Step 3: Remove the crumbs and grime
Grab a pastry brush and remove the crumbs from the toaster, and dump them into your trash can. If necessary, turn the machine upside down and shake out the remaining bits. Now use the brush to reach any crumbs still lingering inside your toaster.
If possible, try working from the top and bottom of the appliance. Get a dry rag and wipe out any remaining crumbs and grime.
Note: you should avoid using any form of a rough or abrasive scrubber, as it can easily damage the non-stick coating if it is present. You should also avoid wetting the heating elements.
You can use a stronger scrubbing pad to scour the metallic parts of the toaster that don’t have the non-stick coating if you really have to. Not sure if what you’re looking at is non-stick or not? Refer to your unit’s manual. You can get a copy online.
Step 4: Clean the outside of your toaster oven
Dip a dishcloth in the water, wring it a bit and start wiping down the exterior of your toaster. Put it back in the water, wring out most of the water and repeat the whole process, while paying more attention to the dials on the controls and the handles.
When the exterior is clean, dip your dishcloth in clear water, wring it and use it to remove any soapy residue. Dry your toaster using a soft, microfiber cloth.
Step 5: Clean the removable parts
Take the oven parts out of the water one by one while cleaning them thoroughly. To beat any stubborn stains present on these parts, you can soak them in the sink overnight. Allow them to dry fully while cleaning the other sections of the machine.
Step 6: Clean the toaster oven glass door
The oven glass door is one of those parts that can easily dishearten you after completing the process. It’s not uncommon to see streaks of grime on it after completing the cleaning process.
The best way to clean the toaster oven glass door is by paying more attention to the inside section. Before we get there, let’s start by checking out how to clean it on the outside.
Start by spritzing your cleaner on the door’s exterior. Wipe the cleaner and dirt away using a microfiber cloth. Buff any streaks present using a dry microfiber cloth.
Next, open the door and wipe off any bits of dirt with the cloth. Add baking soda to water slowly to create a paste. Its consistency should resemble that of shaving cream.
Spread the paste on the interior section of the oven window and allow it to sit for up to 20 minutes.
Using a damp microfiber cloth, wipe the paste away. Buff out any present streaks using a dry microfiber cloth.
Step 7: Reassemble your toaster oven
Put back the trays and racks, and plug in the toaster.
As you can see, cleaning your toaster oven is not as difficult a process as you might think. All you need to do is:
Unplug the oven, remove all the relevant parts and soak them in water; clean out the crumbs and grime from the inside.
Next, clean the outside of the oven along with the removable parts. Tackle the toaster oven glass door and then reassemble the toaster oven to complete the process.
That’s the simplest and safest way to do it.
