It’s so good to start your morning with a cup of fragrant black coffee and homemade crispy waffles. But washing the waffle maker after such breakfast looks like a torture. However, this is not really so.
Follow these useful tips outlined below for cleaning and maintaining waffle makers and you will have no problems cleaning your waffle maker. They are quite simple to follow and ensure that your waffle maker will function properly much longer.
It goes without saying that the way your waffle maker should be cleaned and maintained greatly depends on the kind of the appliance it is.
There are stovetop waffle makers and electric waffle makers. Besides, electric waffle makers can be of two types – waffle makers with removable plates and those with non-removable plates.
Below are instructions for cleaning and maintaining all three kinds, so use the tips that are relevant to the type of waffle maker you have.
How to clean a stovetop waffle maker
Notwithstanding the great diversity of modern electric appliances in sale, stovetop waffle makers still exist. Maybe nice memories and old recipes from mothers and grannies make people keep them, or it is just convenient enough not to want any changes, but this waffle maker type is still widely used and deserves its own attention.
Since it has a very simple construction and consists of two molded metals joint together with a hinge, the stovetop cast iron waffle maker can be cleaned the way we clean ordinary cooking utensils.
It is enough just to put it into warm water for a some minutes and then wash it with your sponge or cloth. If there are parts of old dried dough on it which won’t get off, you can try to take them off with a soft kitchen brush. Rinse the appliance well and let it dry out and then store it in a cool dry place.
Cleaning electric waffle makers
Since there are two types of electric waffle makers (those with removable plates and those with non-removable plates), we will look at how to clean both types separately. You should you should follow the instruction specific to the type you are using.
How to clean electric waffle makers with non-removable plates
1. Unplug your appliance and let it cool down. It is better to do it right after you have finished baking your waffles, so it will cool down while you enjoy your delicious meal.
2. Remove the left crumbs and remainders of oil with a paper towel or a damp cloth. If your waffle maker has a nonstick coating, you probably used no oil, but still the dough usually contain its own oil and there will be remains of this in the waffle iron. You can also fold the paper towel into a small point to move it between the ridges of the frying surface if there is something left.
3. In case there are dough dried to the surface of the waffle maker or even outside, you need to remove them gently. Doing it bit by bit can really be annoying. The easiest way to remove it all at once is to soften it with the help of a piece of cloth soaked with hot water so that it is only damp, not dripping. Just put this cloth into the waffle maker and leave it closed for a few minutes. The moisture with soften dough and make it easily removable.
4. Remove the softened dough with the help of a rubber spatula. This kitchen utensil doesn’t scratch the surface, and it’s flexible enough to get in between the ridges of the waffle maker. So scrape off the softened dough remainders with its help with no worries. For this purpose, you can also use a sponge meant specifically for non-stick surfaces.
5. Finally, wipe the outside surface of the waffle maker with a damp cloth or paper towel. Remember that the cloth should not be too wet as water can get into electrical parts of the waffle maker and damage it. Besides, it can lead to electric shock next time you use it.
How to clean a waffle maker with removable plates
1. Unplug the waffle maker and let it cool down and then remove the plates. Do it according to the use instructions. Usually it is quite easy.
2. Put the plates into a bowel with warm water and let it stay for some time. Do not add any soap or other washing substances to the water. Chemicals can destroy the non-stick coating of the waffle iron.
3. Clean the plates with soft dish brush or sponge. Remember that scratching is not something we need to keep the waffle maker serving longer.
4. Rinse the plates well with warm water.
5. Some kinds of plates can be washed in a dishwasher, but these are mostly those that have no non-stick coating. This coating can be damaged in a dishwasher. Consult the manufacturer’s instructions on this matter, but if you have none, do not use a dishwasher. Just in case.
6. Clean the outside surfaces with a damp cloth. Make sure no water gets into electric parts of the appliance.
7. Let everything dry out and put the plates back into the waffle maker and store in a cool dry place.
Useful advice and precautions
- Cleaning and maintaining instructions are often indicated in the instruction manual. You should check this manual for any special cleaning instruction specific to your waffle maker.
- Never immerse the electric waffle maker in water. This should be obvious, isn’t it?
- Never start cleaning the waffle maker while it is still hot. Cleaning is best done when it is a bit warm or cold. Don’t allow it to stay for long before cleaning because this can make the cleaning a bit harder.
- Do not use any sharp or metallic object to scrap off stuck waffles or to clean your waffle maker.
- Try not to use any abrasives and chemicals for washing, as this can damage non-stick coating on the waffle maker.
- Do not grease waffle makers with non-stick plates. If waffles keep sticking to the surface, you can solve this problem by adding more oil in the dough.
As you see, there is nothing difficult and extraordinary about properly cleaning and maintaining your waffle maker regardless of the type you are using.
Now you know all there is to be known about cleaning a waffle maker, the job shouldn’t be a problem to you anymore. Just follow the tips mentioned here as accurately as you can and your waffle maker will treat you and your family with tasty waffles for many years to come.
The hidden objects between the ridges of the frying surface are the most difficult to handle. Thanks for the help.
I’m glad the article was useful to you.
Never knew I could get it cleaned with the use of warm water, that should be a better alternative rather than the use of sharp objects.
Sure Rachel. Using sharp objects to scrap off baked-on waffles from the waffle maker is never a good idea.
It is obvious that the waffle maker shouldn’t be immersed in water, notwithstanding any water resistant notice that is attached to the product.
Nice point Luisa. You can never be too careful.
There’s really nothing difficult about cleaning the waffle maker, but until now I thought it was a herculean task. Thanks for the post.
I’m glad the post was useful to you Cindy.
Interesting read! I’m looking forward to get a new Waffle Maker, I’ll really make use of these tips. Could you also recommend a good waffle maker? I need to be sure of a good one. And could these tips also work for all models out there? I’ll appreciate a quick response. Thanks.
Hi Mia, check out our review of the best waffle makers you can buy at the moment here.