A simple overview on how to clean your toaster oven is to remove the crumbs from a toaster oven by opening it up.
Empty the crumbs tray and remove the racks.
Rinse them under running water. Wash the inside of the toaster oven with soapy water, baking soda, and water, or a similar mixture, after they have dried.
Maintain your toaster oven in a preventive manner, too, by placing a tray liner in the bottom and wiping down crumbs and grease when you see them.
Towards the end of the guide, we will breakdown each of these key steps that you will need to follow in order to achieve the most successful clean up you have ever accomplished for your toaster oven.
To achieve the best results, make sure that you thoroughly clean and wipe each section of your toaster oven.
The Basic Clean Of The Toaster Oven
So, your toaster oven needs cleaning, but you don’t know where to start.
In this section, we explain the basics of cleaning your toaster oven and break it down into details.
Getting Rid Of The Crumbs
The toaster oven should be unplugged and its door should be opened.
Tip the open side of your toaster oven toward the trash bin while holding it securely above the bin.
Shake loose any crumbs that might be trapped by tapping it once or twice on the back to be sure.
Take Out The Rack And Pans
You should be able to easily remove the rack of your toaster oven. Squirt an all-purpose cleaner on them after removing them to the sink.
In the same way, dump the contents of the pan that collects crumbs at the bottom of the toaster oven into the bin, then place the pan in the sink.
If the racks or the pan are charred or dirty, use a sponge to remove it. Once you’ve finished washing them, put them on the drying rack.
Cleaning The Inside
Cleaning the inside with a multipurpose cleaner is a good idea. A nontoxic all-purpose cleaner should be sprayed on a scrubber sponge.
To clean the inside of the toaster oven, wipe the sides and the bottom with a damp cloth.
Please do not use your sponge to clean the rear heating elements of the toaster oven. Please do not spray the toaster oven directly from the inside.
Letting It Dry
After you’ve cleaned the inside of your toaster oven, keep the door open while the racks and pans are drying. The oven will dry naturally this way.
If you do this, you won’t damage anything inside the toaster oven, and you won’t have any problems with anything.
Cleaning The Glass Door
Equal parts vinegar and water should be used in the mixture. Mix two tablespoons of white distilled vinegar with two tablespoons of water, for example.
You can use a dishcloth to wipe down your toaster oven’s glass door after dampening it with this liquid.
Wiping The Outside
The glass door outside your toaster oven can be cleaned with a glass cleaner or an all-purpose cleaner sprayed on it and dried with a dry dishcloth.
If your toaster oven’s exterior is painted steel or plastic, you can clean it with a rag dipped in soapy water.
Chrome exteriors can be cleaned with a damp cloth. The exterior of the toaster oven should be dried with a microfiber cloth.
Dealing With Grime
Even simple wiping will not remove the grime on some of the dirtiest and most difficult toaster ovens.
These steps can help you remove those tough stains you thought were impossible to remove.
Start Off Easy
Scrubber sponges should be sprayed with a nontoxic all-purpose cleaner. Wipe the inside of the toaster oven from sides to bottom.
Avoid wiping the back of your toaster oven with a sponge because it contains the heating elements. Avoid spraying the inside of your toaster oven directly.
Bring Out The Baking Soda
A paste of 3 tablespoons baking soda and 1 tablespoon ammonia can remove tough grease stains and baked-on food.
Apply the paste to the scrubber side of the sponge, then move your hand firmly around the area you want to clean in a circular motion.
A similar paste can be made by mixing two tablespoons of cream of tartar with one tablespoon of lemon juice.
You can also use this method on mesh inside the oven or grates made of steel.
Wipe Away The Grease
Wring out a dishcloth so it is damp without becoming dripping wet. Dust the cloth with baking soda.
If your toaster oven drip pan or inside the toaster oven is greasy, wipe it down with this treatment.
Nylon Scrubber Treatment
Remove charred or brown food from the sides and bottom of the toaster oven with a nylon scrubber dipped in soapy water.
Ensure the water does not drip inside the toaster oven. It is important not to compromise the functioning of your toaster oven, which is why you take precautions.
Looking After The Heating Element
The heating element can be cleaned with a dishcloth.
Using one tablespoon baking soda and one tablespoon water, you can make a paste in case any unsightly material has accumulated on the heating element itself.
The paste should be applied to the heating element and gently scrubbed with a dishcloth or toothbrush.
The heating element should not be scourged or scrubbed vigorously.
Before using the toaster oven again, make sure you clean the heating element if you applied the paste to it.
Otherwise, the leftover residue will burn.
Maintaining Your Toaster Oven
We cannot stress enough the importance of maintaining your toaster oven, by keeping it clean as often as possible you will avoid any problems you may encounter in the future.
These are a few maintenance tips you might find helpful.
Cleaning Regularly
Frequent light cleaning is a good idea. As soon as you notice grease spills or dirt in the toaster oven, wipe it down immediately.
If you have small spills or stains, wipe them down with a damp dish towel or sponge.
You will be able to prevent buildup and limit how much cleaning you have to do at one time.
Deeper Cleaning
You might need to do a deeper cleaning of the toaster oven. If you’re wondering how often you should clean your toaster oven, there is no set schedule to follow.
You will likely need to clean your toaster oven more frequently the more often you use it.
Give your toaster oven a thorough cleaning if you notice smoke coming from it, or if you notice food caked onto it.
You should clean your toaster oven’s drip pan if you see grease or significant amounts of crumbs.
Stop Using It As Storage
To save space and ensure convenience, it is hard to resist putting bread, bagels, and other kitchen staples on top of the toaster oven.
In any case, when the toaster oven heats up, the bags’ color may transfer onto the toaster oven.
The toaster oven’s exterior can burn the bag completely, depending on how hot it gets. Keep things off the toaster oven’s top to avoid this.
The discoloration on your toaster oven can be removed with a spot of nail polish remover if you’ve been using plastic bags that have transferred their color.
Cover It Up
The drip pan of your toaster oven should be lined with a heavy-duty reusable nonstick oven liner. Lay the liner inside the drip pan.
By doing this, you won’t have to clean the drip tray as vigorously the next time you clean the oven. Clean your toaster oven by replacing the liner.
Regular updates like this will keep your toaster oven nice and clean and make the job a whole lot easier.
Summary
Throughout this guide, all the steps you need to be taking to achieve an effective cleaning of your toaster oven have been outlined.
In order to make sure no area is overlooked, we have told you how to clean both the inside and outside of the toaster oven.
It is all about keeping your toaster oven maintenanced and in working order so that there are no further problems.
You should keep in mind that these aren’t the only methods for cleaning your toaster oven, just some of the easiest, most efficient, and cheapest ones.
Consult the owner’s manual before using another method to ensure you won’t damage your appliance.
You should check for any recommendations or guidelines that you can follow in order to save yourself the time and effort of having to figure it out for yourself and making a mistake.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Often Should You Clean Your Toaster Oven?
About once a week, you should clean your toaster oven if you use it frequently.
Keeping your toaster oven clean over the long run can be achieved with a little bit of daily maintenance.
It is important to clean the toaster oven every day since rogue food particles can quickly turn into stubborn grime or even a fire hazard.
Before turning it on each day, check inside for crumbs and other food particles, and clean them with a dry kitchen cloth before they become a problem.
How Do You Clean A Toaster Oven Door That Does Not Detach?
The toaster oven must be unplugged. Cover the countertop with a large piece of newspaper or other paper.
Remove the toaster oven from the countertop it is on.
When you are holding the toaster, hold both hands on either side so that you have a good grip; if you’re not strong enough to do this, have someone else do it for you.
Simply tip the toaster onto the newspaper. To help remove more crumbs, tap gently on the back of the paper after all of the crumbs have fallen out.
You can wipe out any remaining crumbs by hand with a damp cloth.
How Can You Clean The Inside Top Of The Toaster Oven?
You can clean the inside of a toaster oven by mixing vinegar, warm water, and a little dish soap and then applying it with a clean sponge.
Be careful not to get any of the heating elements on the surface.
Is It Dangerous To Leave Food In The Toaster Oven?
The fire hazards associated with toaster ovens are very real.
If crumbs and food particles accumulate near the heating elements on the bottom of the toaster oven, they can catch fire.
Too much time in a toaster or too high of a temperature can lead to food catching fire.
