How often should you clean a toaster oven?
Care and maintenance are part of learning how to use a toaster oven. So, to keep your toaster oven looking fresh and working well, regular cleaning is important. But how often is often enough? Here are a few tips to keep in mind when it comes to the frequency of your toaster oven cleanings:
● A light cleaning once a week can help you stay ‘ahead of the grime,’ with deep cleanings added on an as-needed basis.
● Since old food can bake on toaster oven surfaces and become harder to clean later, regular and proactive care can save you a little elbow grease in the future.
How often and to what degree you clean your appliance really depends on how much you use it. But in general, it’s a good practice to at least clean up stains and runaway bits of food as you notice them.
See related: Convection Oven vs. Toaster Oven
How to deep clean a toaster oven
When it comes to regular, light cleanings, emptying the crumb tray and doing a quick wipe-down with a damp kitchen rag or sponge gets the job done. But when you’re looking for a deep clean, you need a more comprehensive approach.
Here’s our six-step deep cleaning process for Breville toaster ovens:
1. Do a quick safety check – Make sure your toaster oven is unplugged and completely cooled down, especially if you recently used it.
2. Gather your cleaning essentials – Prepare a non-abrasive liquid cleanser (no need for baking soda paste!) and apply it to a soft, damp sponge or rag. Remember to always apply cleansers to your cleaning cloth or tool, never directly onto the oven's surface, interior, or accessories.
3. Address crumbs and food residues – Slide out the crumb tray and empty it, giving it a quick wipe down. For baked-on grease stains, you might need to soak the tray in warm soapy water, rinse, and then let dry. Just remember to reinsert it before plugging the machine back in.
4. Attend to other removable parts – Remove any other parts designed to be taken out, like the oven racks or drip pans. Wash them in warm soapy water with a soft sponge, avoiding abrasive cleansers or metal scouring pads. To prolong the life of these parts, it’s best to skip the dishwasher.
5. Clean the exterior – Wipe the outer body with your damp sponge. Clean the LCD screen with a soft, damp cloth (never dry, as that can scratch the screen). For the glass door, choose a glass cleaner or mild detergent paired with soft plastic scouring pads to ensure a scratch-free clean.
6. Clean the interior – The inside walls of a Breville toaster oven have a non-stick coating for easier cleaning. Gently wipe down the interior, using your liquid cleanser (again, applied to the cloth or sponge) if need be, being mindful around the quartz heating elements.
Pro tip: You can even use old newspapers to catch loose crumbs and to wipe the glass of your toaster oven clean without streaks.
Once everything has thoroughly dried, simply reassemble, plug in, and enjoy your freshly-cleaned kitchen appliance.
How to clean heating elements
Cleaning the heating elements of your toaster oven calls for a little extra care and caution. Although these elements naturally burn off most debris when heated, there are still times they might require a gentle cleanse.
Here's a guide to safely clean the heating elements of your Breville toaster oven:
● Before you start, ensure the oven is turned off, unplugged from the power outlet, and has completely cooled down.
● With utmost care, gently rub a soft, damp sponge or cloth along the length of the quartz heating elements.
● It's essential not to use any cleansers or cleaning agents, such as baking soda paste, multi-purpose cleaner, or standard oven cleaners, as they can harm the metal surface.
Before plugging the toaster oven back in, ensure the heating element is completely dry and debris-free. Obstructions to these sensitive electrical parts have the potential to be a fire hazard—just another reason why cleaning your toaster oven regularly is so important.
Find the perfect toaster oven with Breville
A clean toaster oven is a canvas for all kinds of culinary delights, whether you’re looking to start your day with a freshly toasted bagel, indulge in a cheesy afternoon pizza, or roast a savory chicken dinner. And with our toaster oven cleaning tips and tricks, you can ensure your toaster oven lasts for many more delicious delights to come.
For the best in toaster ovens and other kitchen appliances, choose Breville. Our range of ovens offer a variety of functions and are designed to deliver perfect results with precise and stable heat with the Element IQ system. Plus, features like non-stick coatings make cleaning even easier so that you can get back to focusing on what really matters: crafting mouth-watering dishes for all to enjoy.
Sources:
1. Consumer Reports. How to clean a toaster oven. https://www.consumerreports.org/toaster-oven/the-right-way-to-clean-a-toaster-oven-a6720712272/
2. The Washington Post. How to clean and care for a toaster oven. https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2022/04/11/how-to-clean-toaster-oven/
