Just about everybody loves Sunday morning waffles for breakfast or brunch, but the sad fact is, just about everybody hates cleaning the waffle iron when the feast is over.
And with good reason! Round after round of golden crisp waffles makes for many cycles of baked on waffle leftover on the waffle machine. So, do you want to know how to clean a waffle iron?
Check out these methods and see if you can find one that works for you!
1. Get Steamed!
If you want to know how to clean your waffle machine, you should try getting steamed. No, not mad! Just steamed.
Use a wet or damp, but not dripping wet paper towel. While the iron is hot, but unplugged, place the damp paper towel over the cooking surface of the waffle maker. Close the lid and let it sizzle and steam.
Once the paper towel has done its thing and the iron has cooled enough so you can comfortably touch it, open the waffle iron and remove the paper towel. Use the damp paper towel to wipe away the softened waffle bits and grease.
2. Dry Clean
If you don’t want to get the surface of the iron wet, you can use the dry clean method. Wait until the iron has cooled, not completely, it works best if it is quite warm, but not so hot that you can’t touch it.
Use a paper towel on the warm grill surface and wipe up any drips or waffle crumbs. If there is a stubborn piece of waffle, sprinkle a small amount of cooking oil over it and let sit for a moment. Then use the paper towel to rub the gunk away.
3. Grease it up
If you used the aerosol cooking spray on your waffle iron you may have noticed a brown or yellow tacky residue. This is the reason you should not use cooking spray. The residue bakes on and becomes very difficult to remove.
If you want to try and remove it there is one method we know of, but it will take some work. Read on to find out how to clean a waffle machine without using harsh chemicals.
Spread a moderate layer of Crisco on the entire surface of the grill and let it sit for an hour or two. Once that has set for a while come back and sprinkle some baking soda onto the Crisco. Grab a dry paper towel and begin rubbing.
Here is where the work comes in. Cleaning between each crevice will not be easy, but it is the safest method for removing the residue because both Crisco and baking soda are food safe items that are not harmful if they come in contact with food.
4. BS&V
Also known as baking soda and vinegar. If you don’t have Crisco, or you want to try a different method, baking soda and vinegar can help you remove cooked on residue from your waffle iron. This method takes some time to work, but since it uses non-toxic ingredients, we want to share how to clean a waffle iron in a non toxic manner.
First, to start, mix some baking soda with just enough water to form a spreadable paste. Start with a small amount of water, you don’t want runny paste. Use a toothbrush of some type of soft bristle nylon brush to apply the baking soda paste to the surface of the grill.
Second, put some vinegar in a spray bottle. Carefully spray one section of the grill at a time. Be careful not to saturate the waffle iron or get too much vinegar on the surface. They are designed to be used with batter, which is wet, but not to be soaking wet.
Third, use the toothbrush or soft bristle (no metal!) and scrub the grill. Scrub, scrub and scrub some more. Don’t scrub so hard that you leave marks on the non-stick finish. Just hard enough to loosen the baked on crease and waffle residue.
Fourth, in sections, wipe clean with a dry paper towel.
Fifth, once the entire grill is scrubbed and you have wiped the whole thing down, grab a clean dish cloth, get it wet and wring it out. Wipe the surface of the grill one last time before storing it away.
NEVER Do This with Your Waffle Maker:
- Never give the waffle iron a bath. It is an electrical appliance and it can be ruined if submerged in water.
- Never use a metal utensil, spoon, knife, metal spatula, steel wool to scrape the grill. This will ruin the non-stick coating and it will begin to peel off. It is a hazard to your health and your waffles will stick the next time you use the waffle iron.
- Never use cooking spray on your waffle iron. I know it’s tempting, but cooking oil is a better choice. The aerosol spray leaves a residue on the iron. Yuck.
You can use oil in the batter to help the waffle release after cooking, or you can use a pastry brush to coat the grill with cooking oil or butter. - Never use harsh chemicals on your waffle maker. They can ruin the surface, plus if the grill is not removable it will be very difficult to clean and rinse the chemicals away from a surface that comes in direct contact with food. It is better to use food safe ingredients.
We hope you have learned some new and safe methods on how to clean a waffle iron. Happy waffling y’all!