Have you ever used your toaster oven for quick food other than just toasting bread? Did you clean your oven as often as you should? A thorough cleaning may not be necessary daily, it is essential to scrub down the accumulated burnt food occasionally. A clean oven always good to use the next time but also makes it last longer. Health experts also believe that a stinking toaster oven can pollute your home environment and cause health concerns.
What happens when you leave your used oven unclean? Even if you have an oven with an auto-cleaning device, it can go out of order if you let it go for over six hours. Because of overheating, this may lead to fumes in or burn the heating element or the heat sensor and go out of operation. That could mean a bit of a hassle in replacing the parts. A systematic task of cleaning may be easier than you thought!
Things you need for cleaning a toaster oven
- Clean cloth, towel, or sponge
- Two brushes, big and small
- A bowl of warm water
- Good quality oven detergent
- Homemade cleaning mixture-baking soda, lemon, or vinegar
- Minted mist spray
Systematic Cleaning Of Toaster Oven
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Unplug the Oven
Make sure that your oven is cold before you clean. Then switch it off and unplug all electrical connections. Put on the recommended rubber gloves so you do not hurt your hand because of accidental scratching.
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Soak the Oven Racks and Trays of the Toaster Oven
Take out the oven racks carefully out of the oven. Prepare a plastic bowl to fit in the oven racks and flat trays with detergent and warm water. If your detergent does not have lemonade, add a few drops of lemon juice. Instead of lemon juice, you may use a few drops of vinegar. Place the rack and the metal spoon if there are any on to the bowl of soapy water. Let it stay for 15 to 30 minutes. Stir occasionally. You will see greasy black crusts coming out due to the effect of warm water, lemon juice, and detergent. Use a cleaning brush and scrubber to remove the residual crumbs. Remove the items from the bowl and thoroughly wash them under tap water. Let them dry in a dripping tray or under the sun.
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Cleaning the Inside of the Toaster Oven
No matter how you brush off crumps every day, some remain hidden in the corners and around the door. You may initially use a vacuum cleaner with a proper nozzle to suck in those particles, but to disinfect you need to use some soluble agents. Many appliance-cleaning agents are available in the market that does a good job, but those contain chemicals and are not a healthy way to clean your toaster.
The best way to clean the interior of the oven is with a paste of baking soda. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, able to dissolve dirt and grease, it also disinfects by killing bacteria. Make a thick paste by mixing 1 part of baking soda with 2 parts of water. Apply gently to the inside walls, including the glass door. Use a soft towel or sponge to apply the paste. To remove the hard grimes, let it stand for 15 minutes. Wipe out the paste a few times with a damp towel.
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Cleaning the Outside
The outside of the oven is the easiest to clean. Make a mixture of water and vinegar, moisten a soft sponge or cloth and wipe it gently on all sides including the glass door. If you want to use commercial glass cleaners, do not spray directly, spray it with a cloth and wipe the glass. You may need to wipe it several times to make sure it looks crystal-clear. A minted mists spray will keep the oven and surrounding kitchen area fresh.
Toaster Oven Cleaning Hacks
Q: How often should I clean my toaster oven?
Ans: The best way to keep your oven running is to clean after every use. You do not want your oven to rust. So do wipe off the water if you used a wet cloth. If you use your toaster oven for making meals, we recommend you do a thorough cleaning every month.
Q: How long should I leave the detergent in the oven?
Ans: The detergents and other cleaning agents contain alkaline substances or chemicals. Even if you are using homemade cleaners, leaving it not over 15 to 30 minutes should remove all the dirt and grease.
Q: Can I use oven cleaners to clean my toaster oven?
Ans: Do not use strong oven cleaners for your toaster oven. It might harm the color and the metal make-up, as toaster ovens do not makeup from heavy-duty materials. Even nylon scrubs are hard for toasters.
Q: What is the procedure of using self-cleaning a toaster oven?
Ans: Most toaster ovens have a self-cleaning mechanism. Follow the instruction manual of the oven you purchased and set the time and intensity. We recommend you take out racks as the heat may discolor or de shape them.
Q: Is it likely that I can become sick if I use an oven cleaner?
Ans: Commercial oven cleaners usually contain chemicals. The chemical fumes act in different ways in different individuals. You could be allergic to any of the compounds used. The fumes may affect breathing if inhaled. Irritation may occur in the tongue and throat. Read the labels on the cans on the caution. If you have to buy the least harmful one.
Q: Can I use aluminum foils in a toaster oven?
Ans: Yes, you can use aluminum foils, but with care. Make sure that it does not touch the inner sides of the oven or too close to the heating coil.
Q: Can I stop the toaster in the middle of toasting?
Ans: On peeping through the glass window, if you see your toast has the desired color, you can stop the cycle and get your food out. If you turn, the timer anti-clockwise to ‘OFF’ the oven will stop with the ring of the bell.
Q: Is it possible to bake in a toaster oven?
Ans: Sure, you can make cookies and cakes. You may then need to use a proper metal pan. For the baking cake, the temperature may need to change.
Q: Can I use the toaster oven to prepare other food?
Ans: Yes, you can use the toaster oven to cook other items like chicken, roast, glazed salmon, sausage and pepper, lasagna, pizza, and similar dishes.
Q: What is the best place to keep a toaster oven?
Ans: There is no hard and fast rule that your toaster oven should be in the kitchen. All it needs is a stable position and enough work area to load and unload the trays. However, the electrical line must be in a convenient position so that it is not in the way of anyone. It is best to have space at the sides wherever the ventilation is.
Conclusion
Are you now confident now in cleaning your toaster oven? In the process of cleaning soaking is important, so you have to give a little time to soaking. This would mean you would require less time to scrub, which is also a hard part of the job. Your hand gloves should be comfortable and perfect for protecting your hands. A soft hand lotion in your hand should soothe you down.
A next time meal prepared in the toaster oven should be a celebration!
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