How to clean a toaster for less crumbs: Toaster oven tips included

Cleaning and maintaining a toaster or toaster oven is an important kitchen chore that can easily be overlooked. But it’s important to take regular care of these little devices to keep them in good working order and, more importantly, to keep your family and home safe.

Christine Brown, Head of Consumer Care at Revolution Cooking, shares some general tips for cleaning a toaster or toaster oven, starting with safety: “To clean a toaster, unplug it and wait for the toaster to fully clean cool before removing the food .”

Brown offers a short list of tips to ensure you stay safe while cleaning these little devices.

• Pull the plug out of the socket and wait until the toaster has completely cooled down.
• The crumb tray should be emptied often to avoid food build-up; Failure to remove crumbs regularly can create a fire hazard.
• Do not attempt to remove food when a toaster or toaster oven is connected.
• Do not insert utensils into toasters as they may damage the heating elements and pose a risk of fire or electric shock.
• Avoid spraying or dousing a toaster or toaster oven directly with water and/or detergents.

Regularly cleaning a toaster to remove crumbs is an essential part of keeping these small appliances working well and reducing the risk of fire. Follow these steps to routinely clean a toaster.

Step 1: Prepare the device for cleaning

Unplug the toaster and allow it to cool before cleaning.

Step 2: Remove crumbs

Remove crumbs by holding the toaster over the sink or a trash can and gently shaking and/or hitting the sides of the unit. If the toaster has a crumb tray, remove and empty it. Use a pastry brush to brush out any crumbs stuck inside the toaster; If the toaster design allows, brush the top and bottom of the unit.

Step 3: Clean the exterior

Clean the outside of the toaster by wiping it with a damp microfiber cloth. Pay special attention to levers and knobs; On some models these can be removed and hand washed in hot soapy water.

If there is food residue, spills or sticky residue, the cloth can be dipped in a solution of diluted dish soap for extra cleaning power. A Dobie Pad can also be used to safely clean the exterior of a toaster with significant buildup.

Step 4: Dry and reassemble

Dry the exterior of the device with a microfiber cloth. Dry the individual parts thoroughly and put them back into 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 devices in good, safe working order.

Step 1: Prepare the device for cleaning

Unplug the toaster and allow it to cool before cleaning.

Step 2: Wash removable parts

Remove the cooking tray and the grid from the appliance. Wash them in hot soapy water or, if dishwasher safe, in the dishwasher. Cooktops and racks with adhered food or debris can be soaked for 30 minutes to overnight to make cleaning easier.

Step 3: Remove crumbs

Remove crumbs by holding the toaster over the sink or a trash can and gently shaking and/or hitting the sides of the unit. If the toaster has a trap door at the bottom, open it to discard crumbs. Use a pastry brush to brush out any crumbs stuck inside the toaster oven; If the toaster design allows, brush from the front and bottom of the appliance.

Step 4: Clean the exterior

Clean the outside of the toaster by wiping it with a damp microfiber cloth. Pay special attention to levers and knobs; On some models these can be removed and hand washed in hot soapy water.

Step 5: Thoroughly clean the interior

To remove sticky food from inside a toaster, use a damp Dobie Pad to remove buildup; Never use steel wool, scouring pads or scrapers inside a toaster oven. A paste of baking soda and water can also be used to safely remove stuck food from inside a toaster oven.

When cleaning the inside of a toaster, avoid getting the heating elements excessively wet.

Step 6: Clean the glass door

Apply a paste of baking soda and water with a damp sponge or dobie pad to remove buildup and debris from the toaster glass door. Wipe the paste off with a clean, damp sponge, then wipe the door clean with a microfiber cloth.

Step 7: Dry and reassemble

Dry the exterior of the device with a microfiber cloth. Dry individual parts thoroughly and put them back into the appliance and reassemble the toaster.

How to clean smart toasters and toaster ovens

“Regular cleaning of the crumb tray is important to get rid of the crumbs that can build up and become a safety hazard,” says Brown, “but remembering it can be the hardest part.” Smart toasters, like the Revolution InstaGlo Toasters, and smart toaster ovens like the June Oven, have features that let users know when it’s time to empty the appliance of crumbs. They are also usually designed with easy cleaning in mind.

Most toasters should not be cleaned with oven cleaners like Easy-Off; Consult the manufacturer’s instructions before using detergents stronger than soap or baking soda to clean a toaster oven or toaster oven.

Van Horn has provided the following instructions for cleaning the June oven.