From toasting your bread to baking muffins and cookies and even roasting chicken or reheating pizza, a toaster oven is quite a utilitarian thing. But after all these baking and roasting, have you wondered how much mess is created inside the oven?
With bread crumbs lying on the bottom, grease on the windows, and cheese splattered everywhere, your toaster oven might be looking like a filthy piece of machine. Cleaning a toaster is imperative as it’ll affect its functionality. If you’re wondering how to clean a toaster oven then you’re in the right place because we have some very effective techniques for you. This post will provide you with detailed cleaning methods and various tips and hacks to keep your toaster oven clean and functional.
Things To Consider Before Cleaning A Toaster Oven:
The first step for cleaning a toaster oven is to read the toaster oven manual so that you have a good understanding of the various parts and their locations. The instructions in the manual will help you have an idea regarding cleaning the oven and taking care of its components properly.
If you have somehow lost the toaster oven manual, you can visit the official website of the toaster oven and there you’ll find the manual or instructions. These websites have also mentioned the recommended cleaning materials and supplies for the particular toaster oven accessories. Following are the important factors that you should consider before cleaning a toaster oven:
Cleaning Supplies:
If you own a popular toaster oven, you can visit its official website and check the recommended cleaning materials. Mostly the manuals of popular ovens such as Oster, Breville, and Cuisinart recommend using a soft cloth or sponge for cleaning. Avoid using rough materials such as the Brillo pad to clean oven because they can scratch the surface of the toaster oven. Use soft plastic or nylon cleaning pads so that the toaster oven is cleaned easily.
Cleaning Solution:
Time required: 2 minutes
Materials needed: Bowl, warm water, white vinegar, dish washing soap, non-abrasive cleaner or sponge
The cleaning solution should be diluted white vinegar, mild detergent and water solution, or a non-abrasive cleaner. If you want to create a good cleaning solution, you can use some tablespoons of vinegar along with a liquid dish soap and warm water. This solution is better than the other chemical cleaning solutions and they don’t even leave the smell in the toaster oven.
You can also learn about ‘how to clean a toaster with salt’ if you are not willing to use vinegar. Some people don’t like the smell of vinegar, so if you are one of them, you can just prepare a soap-and-water mixture to clean your toaster oven. Use the damp sponge first by dipping it into the solution and then use the rag or scrubber to remove the stubborn stains. You can use a scrubber to remove all the residues and tough stains.
Cleaning A New Oven:
If you’re cleaning your new oven for the first time, it is very important to read the toaster oven manual so that you get aware of the toaster oven accessories and its parts. The recommendations of the user manual should always be given importance because they know the machine better than us.
Should You Use The Cleaning Sprays?
Cleaning sprays are sometimes helpful in cleaning various surfaces, especially counters but they aren’t made for cleaning aluminum. Mostly, the interiors of toaster ovens are made up of aluminum and cleaning sprays can damage the material. That’s why we recommend our readers to read the toaster oven instructions first and then try anything for cleaning.
How To Clean A Toaster Oven With Baking Soda?
Time required: 2 minutes
Materials needed: Warm water, baking soda, sponge, dish washing soap
Baking soda is a very effective thing for cleaning tough stains and dirt. Many people use baking soda to clean ovens and other appliances but if you’re willing to do so make sure you have read your toaster oven manual. Here you’ll get to know about the materials that are not suitable for your toaster oven. To clean a toaster oven with baking soda just sprinkle some baking soda on the yellow side of the damp sponge. Then clean the interior and exterior of the toaster oven and remove all the stains and residue easily. You can also prepare a mixture of baking soda, water, and dish washing soap to clean your oven.
How To Clean A Toaster With Salt?
Time required: 2 minutes
Materials needed: Salt, warm water, sponge, dish washing soap
If you can’t find vinegar or baking soda in your kitchen, you can always use salt instead. Add one tablespoon salt in hot water and add some dish washing soap in it. This mixture is also very effective for cleaning trays, racks, interior and exterior of a toaster oven.
What Are The Dos And Don’ts?
There are certain things which you should keep in your mind before cleaning your toaster oven. We are sure that your toaster oven manual contains all the details regarding the dos and don’ts but we are making sure that you still don’t make a mistake.
- Keep in mind that the cleaning solution should be applied to the toaster using a sponge or a cleaning cloth and it shouldn’t be applied directly on it.
- Make sure that the rag or the cleaning cloth is just damp and not wet particularly if there is a convection fan or something else that could be damaged with liquid.
- Never immerse the toaster oven directly into the water, this can damage the machine.
- Take care of the electronic components while cleaning the toaster oven because they can get damaged due to splash.
- Always use the soft yellow side of the sponge because the green side is thick and course and it can leave scratches on the surface of your toaster oven.
How To Clean A Toaster Oven – Step By Step Guide?
To have your toaster oven function properly, you must clean it regularly. We recommend cleaning your toaster oven weekly so that it remains clean and tidy all the time. Now that you’ve a good knowledge regarding the cleaning supplies and the solution, you can go ahead with the cleaning process. Make sure that the toaster oven is cool and unplugged before you clean it. Following steps should be taken to clean a toaster oven.
How To Clean The Inside Of A Toaster Oven?
Time required: 5-10 minutes
Materials needed: Dish, Sponge, Water, Vinegar, Dish washing soap
If you’re wondering how to clean the inside of a toaster oven, we are here to help you out. To clean the interior of a toaster oven, you must first take out all the racks and trays so that cleaning gets easier. After taking out all the toaster oven accessories, you should turn the toaster upside down for cleaning it effectively as this way you’ll reach the corners easily. However, if your toaster is mounted, you’ll have to un-mount it first to clean it. If you don’t want to un-mount your toaster every time you want to clean it, just take a stool and clean it properly.
Now prepare the cleaning mixture by taking ½ cup hot water, 2 tablespoons vinegar, and a little dish washing soap. Dip the sponge in this mixture and squeeze it to make it damp and not wet. Start cleaning the interior by wiping the sponge on the walls, floor, and ceiling of the toaster. Make sure that you don’t touch the heating elements.
How To Clean A Toaster Oven Tray?
Time required: 5-15 minutes
Materials needed: Sponge, Dish washing soap, Hot water
Once you’ve taken the toaster oven tray and racks, you can clean them anytime. First dump away all the crumbs and loose dirt on it, and then use the damp sponge which you used while preparing the water, vinegar, and dishwashing liquid mixture. All the tough stains and grease should go away by sponge-cleaning, now wash it with warm water. If there are still some stains remaining, you must now try another method. Fill your sink with hot water and dish washing liquid and soak the racks and trays for around 10 to 15 minutes in it. Hopefully all the stains will loosen up and if they are still a bit hard, you can use a scrubber to take them off.
How To Clean A Toaster Oven Outside?
Time required: 5 minutes
Materials needed: Sponge, Nylon scrubber, Home-made solution or cleaning spray
You can either use the water and vinegar solution or other ones mentioned in the above sections. Lightly moisten the sponge or nylon scrubber with your desired cleaning mixture and wipe the exterior of your toaster oven gently. Read the toaster oven manual to make sure if the oven material isn’t reactive or susceptible to any particular detergent or liquid. If you want to use a cleaner instead of a home-made solution, first spray it on the towel or sponge and then clean the exterior with it. Never apply the chemical cleaner directly to the exterior to avoid damage.
How To Clean Toaster Oven Glass?
Time required: 2 minutes
Materials needed: Damp cloth
All the toaster ovens have a glass panel on the front, which is there to make it easier for the user to have a look on the food’s condition. You won’t need any particular cleaner or mixture to clean the glass because only wiping can do good cleaning. However, if there are tough stains you can use the damp cloth for cleaning. Just make sure you don’t press hard otherwise there is a chance of scratch on the glass. Just wipe the toaster oven gently with a damp cloth and then pat it dry with another dry cloth. If your toaster oven has an LCD screen then don’t use a dry cloth as it can cause a scratch and damage the screen.
How To Clean The Heating Elements of Toaster Oven?
Time required: 2 minutes
Materials needed: Damp cloth
If the heating elements of your toaster oven got dirty somehow, you should clean them too but with great care. You should take care of some factors before cleaning the heating elements because they are the most sensitive part of a toaster oven. To clean the heating elements, use a damp cloth to wipe them. Don’t use any solution or cleaner and use simple and clean water as anything other than water can damage it. Don’t press very hard on the heating elements because they are fragile. Also, make sure that the heating elements are completely dry before you start using your toaster oven again.
Cleaning The Control Panel:
Time required: 2 minutes
Materials needed: Dry Cloth
The control panel can also get dirty and greasy if not cleaned over time. This dirt can accumulate and later cause difficulty in using them. The toaster oven manual of the Breville Smart oven has good instructions and advises for the users to clean the LCD panel. If you have a toaster oven from a popular brand, the manual or instructions will help you a lot to clean the control panel. Never use a coarse material such as nylon scrubber or even the sponge because it can damage the LCD screen.
How To Clean A Breville Toaster Oven?
If you are looking for a simple and easy way of how to clean a Breville toaster oven, don’t worry because it is cleaned the same way as mentioned above in this post. All the toaster ovens are more or less the same but obviously there are a few differences because of different manufacturers. Breville ovens are mostly counter top ovens and they have digital time and temperature settings. To keep a Breville toaster oven properly functioning, you must clean it regularly and dry it properly before using.
- Remove the crumb tray which is present at the bottom and wipe all the crumbs. Then use a non-abrasive cleaner to clean the tough stains.
- Remove the racks and baking pans and wash them with warm soapy water. Remove all the residues using soft pads.
- Clean the interior of the toaster oven by the method described in the above sections.
- Clean the heating elements with damp cloth and make sure they are left to dry on their own before using.
- Clean the exterior and the glass using the water and vinegar solution. You can also use baking soda or salt to clean it.
Important Tips:
Cleaning a toaster oven is an important task as you bake and re-heat your food in it. You must make sure that your toaster oven is free of germs and dirt so that you can maintain a healthy lifestyle. If you don’t clean your toaster oven regularly, crumbs, grease, and grime will accumulate over time which can be dangerous for your health. Moreover, crumbs and other particulars if left unattended can even catch fire during the heating process. Following are some important tips to keep your toaster oven clean:
How Often Should I Clean My Toaster Oven?
The answer to this question depends on your usage of microwave toaster oven. If you use your toaster oven frequently, you’ll need to clean it more often. Dumping the crumbs and wiping the interior with a damp cloth is recommended after each use. But, if you want to do a thorough cleaning, we recommend doing it at least once a month even if you don’t use it for a whole month. That’s because dust also gets accumulated inside and it is imperative to clean it before using. Also, make sure that you don’t clean it thoroughly (using the method described in this post) directly after using it. Give it some time to cool down and then clean it.
How To Take Care Of Microwave Toaster Oven?
If you want to make your kitchen life easier, the first thing to do is to take care of your toaster cleaning so that it doesn’t get dirty or messy. For this purpose, many toaster ovens are equipped with trays so that crumbs gets accumulated in them and dumping them gets easier. If your toaster doesn’t have a tray, you can buy one or an easy way is to use an aluminum foil to hold the crumbs or dirt.
Bonus Tips:
- Don’t rush while you’re cleaning your toaster oven. Cleaning and drying takes time and using a wet toaster oven can be extremely dangerous. Wait for 5 minutes after you’ve cleaned and dried your microwave toaster and then use it.
- Keep your toaster oven covered when you aren’t using it. This will help in keeping the dust away from the toaster.
- Once in a while, it is recommended to run the toaster on the highest setting keeping it empty. After this, shake the toaster and dislodge all the loose crumbs and particles accumulated inside.
- If dislodging the crumbs and other particles gets difficult, you can use a tooth brush to do the task.
- Before buying a toaster oven, read its reviews on different platforms and make sure you know the pros and cons.
- Lastly, our readers should know that cleaning a toaster oven regularly can increase its lifespan and improve its functionality.
Conclusion:
After cleaning your microwave toaster oven, let it dry properly. Re-assemble it by putting back all the racks and trays inside it. You can easily dry the removable parts using a towel and then put them back into their place. Make sure that the interior is completely dry before you put the racks and trays back into the oven. Always clean your toaster oven regularly because if you use it frequently, there will be a lot of grime, grease, cheese, and crumbs accumulated inside it. For best results, clean it every time you use it so the stains don’t get tougher by the time. Plug-in your microwave toaster oven after you’ve made it all glowing and shining and get ready to make it messy again.
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