How To Clean Toaster Oven Heating Element
Toaster ovens are one of the most useful and versatile appliances in every kitchen today.
That’s because it can cook small amounts of almost anything you would cook in an oven.
Aside from that, it is ideal for a small apartment or dorm.
However, with frequent use, food residues will accumulate in a toaster oven.
If left unattended, it can catch fire if not properly cared for and cleaned.
Moreover, you can have it as good as new in a matter of minutes.
Continue reading to find out how to clean a toaster oven heating element and its exterior.
How to Clean a Toaster Oven’s Heating Element
Most toaster oven cleaning manuals will advise you to avoid cleaning the toaster oven heating element.
So, what do you do when your toaster oven is greasy with food residues?
Fortunately, there are ways to help you clean your toaster oven element and prevent any unfortunate accidents.
Here are the supplies you’ll need on how to clean your toaster oven heating element properly.
- Dish soap to clean heating elements
- Soft cleaning cloth and extra cloth
- Vinegar
- Baking Soda
Don’ts of Heating Element Cleaning
Before we proceed, know the specifics of how to clean a toaster oven heating element. Let us first establish the “don’t” such as:
- Do not soak heating elements in water or any other liquid
- Do not scrape or scrub the toaster oven heating element’s surface.
- Do not leave any used cloth fiber. When the toaster oven is turned on, this could cause sparks or an explosion.
- Ensure that there are no presence of cracks on the heating elements
- If there is any sign of a crack or dent in the heating elements, do not plug the oven in or turn it on. It most likely poses serious electrocution and fire risk.
- Make sure the heating elements are completely dry
- Never, ever plug in a heating element if it still has a hint of dampness on it.
CAUTION: If you discover that you have broken any of these “don’ts” while cleaning, do not plug the toaster oven. Make sure the heating element is dry at all times.
How to clean the oven toaster’s heating element with lighter stains
Keeping in mind all the don’ts, follow these steps on how to clean the toaster oven heating element.
- Check that the appliance is unplugged
- If stains are severe, use a damp cloth and a small amount of soap or vinegar
- Then, gently but firmly clean the length of the heating element
- If the stains have not been removed, dab a damp cloth with vinegar, then wipe it through the stains
- Rinse the heating elements thoroughly and allow them to dry for as long as they require
How to clean the oven toaster’s heating element with harder stains
If the vinegar and soap did not work, it would be worthwhile to try cleaning the heating elements with baking soda.
1. Check that the oven toaster is unplugged
2. Make an equal-part mixture of water and baking soda as follows:
- 1 tablespoon water and 1 tablespoon baking soda.
- Leave it for about 30 minutes, it should thicken into a paste.
3. Apply the paste to the heating elements, paying special attention to the areas where the stains are the most stubborn, and leave it to sit for about an hour.
4. Clean the baking soda off the heating elements carefully with a damp cloth, making sure there is no debris left.
5. Allow the heating elements to dry for as long as necessary before re-plugging in the toaster oven.
Is it necessary to clean the heating element of a toaster oven?
Cleaning the heating element of a toaster oven regularly is not necessary.
It’s more likely of a once-in-a-while task in cleaning this component.
Frequent cleaning of the heating element can cause damage to the component.
So, to be on the safe side, clean it only when there is visible grease or accumulated dirt.
On the other hand, if the heating material has accumulated grease and spills, it can be dangerous as it can easily create large flames.
The accumulated grime is not only unsightly, but it also has the potential to catch fire.
Therefore, don’t wait for food residue to harden and accumulate.
Takeaway
Cleaning and maintaining are not the same things.
Simply wipe away grease and spills to keep a toaster oven clean.
Maintenance, on the other hand, refers to a more thorough cleaning of the appliance.
And as already mentioned, frequent cleaning of the heating elements can damage the component.
But, when you clean the rest of the toaster, it can help maintain the overall cleanliness of the heating element.
Therefore, do not allow any food to accumulate.
Not only will it form into caked-on gunk, but it also poses a safety risk.
Simply wipe away any food residue that has remained after baking or roasting.
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