Want always to get optimum performance from your waffle maker? Then, maintaining a strict cleaning routine is the fastest way to ensure you’re never stuck with mediocre performance and have your waffle maker on your shelf for a long time.
But! Cleaning a waffle maker is not as easy as it seems, and maneuvering your way skillfully through the complicated grids that are unrepentant batter magnets can be a chore, especially when you’re in a rush after breakfast or want to sleep in on a Saturday morning.
The entire process, however, begins with procuring quality and durable waffle makers. VEVOR waffle maker is your best bet at achieving peak functionality, speed, and aesthetically pleasing waffles with ease of cleaning, maintenance, and premium customer support in case of technical hassles.
In this article, we’ll help you learn how to clean waffle makers properly so food residue never complicates your waffle-making process.
Cleaning a waffle maker stops being a pain if you have these tips at your beck and call and commit them to memory.
Table of contents
Why Cleaning A Waffle Maker is Essential
Sit back and relax, but don’t ditch the idea of cleaning just yet! Here’re the reasons why you must learn how to clean a waffle maker.
Ensures Better Tasting Waffles
A clean waffle maker equals better-tasting waffles. It’s not rocket science—it’s simply a garbage in, garbage out situation.
If you leave batter residue in your waffle without getting it out, the buildup can affect the taste of your waffle. You can literally feel the staleness at the tip of your tongue and foulness at the tip of your nose.
Ensure proper hygiene at all times to prevent the transfer of flavors and contaminants between your old waffles and new ones.
Extends the Lifespan of Your Waffle Maker
Regular cleaning prevents damage and maintains the performance of your waffle maker for an extended period.
Cleaning the built-up food residue can prevent clogging and corrosion of sensitive parts and preserve the coating, hence preventing rust and extending the lifespan.
Promotes Health and Hygiene
Cleanliness, they say, is next to godliness, and this practice applies to what goes inside your mouth. Cleaning a waffle iron will help avoid bacteria and mold that could contaminate your batter and affect your oral and digestive health.
The rusty parts can also leave loose particles in your food, releasing toxins and harmful chemicals that are dangerous to your health.
Tools and Materials You Will Need
Cleaning a waffle maker takes a village, and you need to assemble the necessary tools to ensure you get the desired result. Keep reading for all the deets.
Gather Your Supplies
- Soft Brush
- Sponge
- Dish Soap
- Microfiber cloth
- Toothpicks
- Baking soda
Preparing the Cleaning Solution
Make a mild cleaning solution by adding baking soda and dish soap to a bowl of water. Use a soft brush or sponge to apply this solution to your waffle maker to help clean food residue.
You can also utilize toothpicks to help you reach between the grid and remove stubborn batter. A microfiber cloth is the best for waffle maker cleaning because it does not leave behind loose particles that may further clog the grid.
How To Clean a Waffle Maker
1, 2, go, let’s get into the order of the day and learn how to really clean that waffle maker on your shelf!
Step 1- Unplug and Cool Down
First things first, unplug your waffle from the power source and let it cool down. Maintaining electrical safety is very essential, and you must fulfill this point to prevent serious injury and electrical shock.
Step 2- Remove Excess Crumbs and Oil
Use a soft brush to remove excess waffle crumbs stuck in the grid lines gently. Also, dab the excess oil away with a tissue or cleaning solution. The importance of always starting your waffle-making exercise on a clean slate reflects in the final taste of the waffle.
Stray crumbs and oil can also cause long-term damage to your waffle maker, and you don’t want to make purchasing a waffle maker every six months a habit for your finances.
Step 3- Wipe Down the Exterior
How to clean a waffle maker?
Cleaning the insides of your waffle maker is not enough; you must maintain the same level of hygiene on the outside. The usually glossy exterior of a waffle maker traps dirt and loose particles, which may find their way into the batter and contaminate the waffle.
Use a microfiber cloth to wipe down, and you can also use the baking soda and dish soap mixture with a toothbrush to remove any batter stain on your waffle maker’s body.
Step 4- Clean the Plates
Oil or batter residue is the usual trouble for waffle makers with non-removable plates. You can curb this by folding a paper towel in half to soak up any oil buildup.
For deep cleaning, which is the best way to clean a waffle maker, use an old toothbrush to work the soap and baking soda mixture into the groove of the plate.
Wipe down the plate with a damp cloth to remove the soapy residue. Finish with a microfiber cloth to restore dryness and prevent rust or corrosion caused by long-term contact with liquid.
How to Clean a Waffle Iron
For this one, focus on the stubborn spots from burnt batter and batter residue. Again, a toothbrush is perfect for getting that light scrub in and throwing the buildup right out the door!
Step 5- Rinse and Dry
By rinse, we don’t mean submerge in water to clear up soap residue. Instead, get a clean, damp napkin, wipe down the soapy surface, and thoroughly dry the waffle maker plates with a microfibre cloth, Voila, you’re done!
Recommended For Your Project
Deep Cleaning Your Waffle Maker
Everyone and everything needs a deep clean once in a while. Unlike regular cleaning after use, deep cleaning a waffle iron deals with serious debris build-up and tackles complex hygiene problems, ensuring continued use and optimum performance.
When to Deep Clean
How do you clean a waffle maker?
- When the surface of your waffle maker becomes sticky
- When your waffle comes out unevenly cooked
- When you notice any funky taste or rancid smell after making your waffles
Using Baking Soda for Tough Stains
Best way to clean a waffle maker?
Baking soda cuts through the worst stains on your waffle maker by literally lifting the stain from the surface and making it easier to wipe off.
- Mix a paste of baking soda and a few drops of hydrogen peroxide (watch out for a gentle bubble). With the aid of a paper towel or pastry brush, coat the grid surface up to the exterior of the waffle maker that feels oily or sticky.
- Leave the paste on the surfaces for an hour or more and wait for it to turn brown (an indicator that it has absorbed the excess oil).
- Proceed to wipe off the paste and gunk with a damp microfiber cloth and use toothpicks to remove any build-up stuck in the grids or crevices.
Now that’s how to clean a waffle maker.
Cleaning Removable Plates
How to wash a waffle maker?
- Make sure the plates are cool enough for contact and to also prevent quick evaporation of your cleaning solution.
- Leave your waffle maker plates in warm, soapy water for 25-45 minutes to lift the food residue, then scrub gently with a sponge to remove any remaining batter permanently.
- Rinse with warm water to eliminate soap residue and dry with microfibre fabric.
How Do You Clean a Waffle Maker Thoroughly?
Try a hot towel hack on your waffle maker’s surface to soften stubborn batter residue. If your waffle machine is made of stainless steel, apply a stainless steel cleaner to a cloth to wipe down your machine’s surface.
Take out the removable parts and wash them in a container filled with soap and warm water. Ensure they are completely dry before fitting them back in. Now, that’s the easiest way to clean a waffle iron.
Maintenance Tips For Your Waffle Maker
Maintenance is the sum total of all the measures you take to keep your waffle maker in good shape for continued function and assured quality. So here’s a rundown of all the helpful maintenance tips you need to get A++ waffles 365 days a year, 24/7, seven days a week!
Regular Cleaning Routine
How often should you clean after use? As often as you use it, actually, this is not debatable. Cultivating a regular cleaning routine void of abrasive and harsh chemical compounds preserves the state of your waffle and protects your consumption.
Cleaning a waffle iron thoroughly inside and extending the same grace to the exterior of your favorite waffle machine (trust us, we know how people get attached to their waffle makers) is very important.
Proper Storage
As much as waffle makers are counter-friendly for easy reach, the cupboard is the ideal final resting place to store your beloved kitchen electronics. This will save you the stress of unwanted contact, trapped dirt, contact with liquid that could cause rust or corrosion, and, ultimately, theft.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
How to clean an electric waffle maker? Check this.
- Do not begin cleaning without unplugging your waffle maker
- Avoid harsh cleaning chemicals like a plague (hello, non-stick plates!)
- Do not clean your waffle maker parts in the dishwasher
- Store properly in a cool, dry place
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Put My Waffle Maker in the Dishwasher
We won’t advise you to put your waffle maker in the dishwasher, as the non-stick coating may be damaged, and the electrical component WILL be affected by water and detergent. If your waffle maker has metal parts, you risk rust and corrosion.
Instead, wipe down the exterior and interior with a damp cloth, clean the plates with an old toothbrush, and dry them afterward to prevent water buildup and rust. This is the best way to clean a waffle maker.
What Should I Do If Batter Sticks to the Plates
The first step is to wait until your waffle maker cools off to determine the level of stickiness. Then, use a fiber/non-metal spatula to lift your waffle and sort the sticky residue between grids with a toothpick or old toothbrush.
You can apply a little oil to your waffle maker plates or extra flour/cornstarch to prevent stickiness at all- easiest way to clean a waffle iron.
How Do I Remove Burnt-On Batter
Burnt-on batter is quite the headache during removal, but with some baking soda and water paste applied to the affected area for half an hour, you can get the stubborn batter to come off with a good scrub and rinse.
You can also dab on a few drops of cooking oil to soften the hard batter and then wipe it away after a few minutes. This is one of best way to clean a waffle maker.
However, if the plates are removable, try soaking them in warm, soapy water for a few hours, and you can loosen up the batter.
Conclusion
Learning how to clean a waffle maker just gets easier if you follow the steps provided in this guide religiously and engage in regular maintenance practices.
Prioritizing proper cleaning and maintenance will ensure proper function and save you the cost of indiscriminately purchasing waffle makers—you get to save money and get better-tasting waffles as a side bonus.
Learning how to clean the waffle maker also curbs unnecessary mess that’ll appear on the grid and prevents unevenly cooked waffles, which can ruin your dessert/breakfast experience.
VEVOR waffle maker is the epitome of easy and superior cleaning. Its nonstick properties ensure minimal effort during maintenance and even repairs, as long as you follow the provisions in the user’s manual. Explore the swift and toasty side of life by purchasing the VEVOR waffle maker via our website for a superior experience. Again, combine our tested and tried pro tips in this section with the guidelines in the user’s manual, and you have the next best waffle powerhouse on your kitchen counter!
