How Do You Clean a Waffle Maker? A Complete Guide

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Plus, how often do you need to clean your waffle maker?
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Eating waffles is always a pleasure, but cleaning up the waffle maker when you're done can be a big pain in the neck! The good news is we did some digging to find the best way to clean your waffle maker, even if it's covered in baked-on batter and grease. Come along with us to learn how to clean your waffle maker for everyday use, how to deep clean it , and the best ways to maintain it so it makes delicious, golden waffles for years to come!

Best Way to Clean a Waffle Maker

  1. Unplug the waffle iron and let it cool down.
  2. Sweep out loose food with a paper towel or a soft brush.
  3. Soak up excess oil with a paper towel.
  4. Run a toothpick through narrow crevices and gaps.
  5. Wipe the inside of the waffle maker out with a damp, soapy cloth.
  6. Clean up the soap residue with a clean, damp cloth.
  7. Let the waffle maker dry before putting it away.
Section 1 of 5:

How to Clean a Waffle Maker

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  1. 1
    Unplug the waffle iron and let it cool completely. Don't try to clean your waffle maker right after you've used it! The irons get extremely hot when the appliance is turned on and can burn you for several minutes after it's turned off. Unplug the waffle maker to protect yourself from the risk of electric shock during the cleaning process. [1]
  2. 2
    Sweep out loose food with a paper towel or a soft brush. A toothbrush with soft bristles is great for sweeping the crumbs that aren't stuck on out of the waffle iron grooves. But a paper towel works just as well if you don't have an extra toothbrush handy! [2]
    • To clean mini waffle irons or irons with narrow grooves, wrap a paper towel around the end of a chopstick or toothpick. Then use the chopstick or toothpick to push the paper towel through the grooves and scoop out pieces of food.
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  3. 3
    Soak up excess oil in the waffle irons with a paper towel. Get a new paper towel and wipe it across the tops of the waffle irons to soak up any remaining oil. Fold the towel in half or quarters and insert the edge of it between the waffle iron grid lines to break up any grease collecting in those areas, as well. [3]
  4. 4
    Run a toothpick through the small crevices and gaps in the waffle maker. Most waffle makers have tiny edges, crevices, or gaps where food and grease just love to collect. A toothpick is a common household item that's just the right size for scooping out those hard-to-reach areas. [4]
  5. 5
    Wipe the inside of the waffle maker out with a damp, soapy cloth. Dampen a microfiber or terry cloth with warm water and pour a drop of dish soap onto it (1 drop is enough!). Then, wipe down the waffle maker inside and out. [5] Take care to get the rag in and around the waffle iron grid.
    • If you have a waffle iron with removable plates : Take them out of the appliance and hand-wash them according to the manufacturer's instructions. When they're washed and fully dried, put them back in the waffle maker or store them separately.
  6. 6
    Rinse the rag with water, then clean up the soapy residue. Make sure no soap remains anywhere in the waffle iron, or your batch of waffles will taste gross! Rinse your rag out as often as needed to get the excess soap out of it, or just replace it with a new, clean rag.
  7. 7
    Wipe down the exterior of the waffle maker with a damp cloth. No need to use soap here (unless it's just really dirty on the outside). A soft, wet cloth should be all you need to clean up dried-up batter, grease, and fingerprints. [6]
  8. 8
    Let the waffle maker dry completely before putting it away. Leave the waffle maker open (overnight, if necessary), so that all the moisture from cleaning it can evaporate. Before you put it away, touch the iron grid and the exterior to make sure they're dry. [7]
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Section 2 of 5:

How to Deep Clean a Waffle Maker

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  1. 1
    Make baking soda paste and spread it over the waffle iron grid. Cleaning specialist Courtney Jacobs recommends this simple, fast trick for cleaning baked-on food off your waffle iron: start by pouring 2-3 tbsp of baking soda into a bowl, then slowly add just enough water to form a spreadable paste. Then, using a spoon or a soft toothbrush, spread the paste wherever you see stuck-on food or stains on the waffle iron grid.
    • Use this deep cleaning technique whether your waffle maker irons are removable or fixed inside the appliance!
  2. 2
    Let the paste sit for 10 minutes, then scrub it off. Use a soft tool, Jacobs says, like "a soft old toothbrush… or a soft sponge like a Scrub Daddy ." "Soft" is key because you'll want to avoid damaging the non-stick surface on the waffle irons.
  3. 3
    Clean up the paste with soap and water. Use a wet rag with a drop of dish soap on it to clean all the baking soda off the waffle iron. Afterward, rinse the soap out of the rag or get a new one to wipe up all the soap and water. Finally, leave the waffle maker open and let it air dry before you put it away.
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Section 3 of 5:

How often should you clean a waffle maker?

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  1. Clean the waffle maker every time you're done using it. After you finish making all the waffles in the batch, clean the waffle maker so it's ready for the next time you're ready to use it. Use the deep cleaning method only if the regular method doesn't get rid of all the baked-on debris.
    • You should also clean your new waffle maker before you use it for the first time. That way, you can ensure it's free of any germs and residues it might have collected during manufacturing.
Section 4 of 5:

How to Maintain Your Waffle Maker

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  1. 1
    Read the waffle maker instruction manual to learn how to clean it. Some waffle makers may come with specific steps on the safest way to keep them clean. Refer to that before cleaning it for the first time, in case the manufacturer wants you to use or avoid specific cleaning agents or tools.
  2. 2
    Avoid using abrasive or sharp tools to clean your waffle maker. Cleaning implements like plastic scrapers, steel wool, or coarse scrub brushes are big no-nos. They'll scratch the waffle iron's non-stick coating and ruin the appliance's finish. For the same reason, don't use metal utensils like forks or knives to pry cooked waffles out of the waffle maker. A spatula made out of silicone or rubber is a better choice. [8]
  3. 3
    Never submerge the waffle maker in water to clean it. In fact, don't submerge the waffle maker ever, for any reason! The water will seep inside the appliance and cause it not to work the next time you plug it in. [9] Plus, if any moisture remains inside the electrical components when you plug it in, you risk electrocuting yourself by accident.
  4. 4
    Avoid using harsh chemicals to clean your waffle maker. You can get your waffle maker squeaky clean using simple, household ingredients like water, dish soap, and baking soda. So don't be tempted to reach for something stronger like Comet or the PINK Stuff! Those types of products damage the waffle maker and would make cooking waffles more difficult.
  5. 5
    Oil the waffle maker irons to make them non-stick. If you use a waffle maker with cast-iron grids, coat the grids inside with your preferred cooking oil using a silicone brush or an oil sprayer . This will prevent the batter from sticking to it and make it easier to clean. Even if your waffle iron is non-stick, the "non-stick" surface doesn't always do its job properly. So go ahead and lightly oil it regardless. [10]
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Section 5 of 5:

Summing It Up

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  1. Clean your waffle maker after every use with a wet, soapy cloth. If the iron grids still have food or oil sticking to them, make a paste out of baking soda and water and let the paste sit on the food for 10 minutes. Then scrub it off with a soft toothbrush. Always wipe down the inside and outside of the waffle maker with a clean cloth to remove any lingering crumbs or soap residue.

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      Things You'll Need

      How to Clean a Waffle Maker

      How to Deep Clean a Waffle Maker

      • 1-2 soft microfiber or terry cloths
      • Soft-bristle toothbrush
      • Baking soda
      • Water

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-clean-waffle-maker-22942502
      2. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-clean-waffle-maker-22942502
      3. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-clean-waffle-maker-22942502
      4. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-clean-waffle-maker-22942502
      5. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-clean-waffle-maker-22942502
      6. ↑ https://www.oster.com/the-easiest-way-to-clean-a-waffle-maker.html
      7. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-clean-waffle-maker-22942502
      8. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/expert-advice/the-best-waffle-makers-article
      9. ↑ https://www.oster.com/the-easiest-way-to-clean-a-waffle-maker.html
      1. ↑ https://www.thegardenofeating.org/2014/07/how-to-grease-non-stick-waffle-iron.html

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