Here’s the Right Way To Clean a Waffle Maker After a Big Holiday Brunch (2024)

FAQs

Here’s the Right Way To Clean a Waffle Maker After a Big Holiday Brunch? ›

Use a dry paper or damp cloth to wipe away crumbs and absorb grease. For batter drips, simply pour a few drops of cooking oil, let sit for a few minutes, and then wipe away with a damp cloth. The removable plates can be washed in warm, soapy water. Rinse clean and allow to dry.

Use a damp cloth to wipe down the exterior. To remove stubborn, baked-on batter drips, pour a few drops of cooking oil onto the batter. Let it sit a few minutes to soften, then wipe it away with a damp cloth or paper towel. Removable cooking plates can be gently washed in warm, soapy water, rinsed clean, and air-dried.

The solution: “Combine one part white vinegar or lemon juice with one part warm water, and about 1 Tbs. cream of tartar; rub it into the waffle maker using a clean cloth,” says Krueger. Both the vinegar and tartar are mildly acidic, so they will break down and lift residue.

Once you've removed any visible oil and food particles, clean the cooking surface of your machine with a damp sponge or dishcloth and a bit of dish detergent. If your waffle maker has a nonstick coating, skip the dish soap, as it can compromise the delicate cooking surface. Instead, opt for warm water.

Most waffle makers are nonstick, like my personal favorite shown above from Sur La Table, but sometimes a little extra “love” makes them release that much easier. To grease the pan, consider using a pastry brush and neutral oil like vegetable, canola or grapeseed oil to lightly grease the surface.

To clean the interior of your waffle maker, you will need to mix a solution of one part water and one part vinegar. Once you have mixed the solution, you will need to use a cloth or soft scrub brush to apply it to the interior of the waffle maker. Be sure to scrub all of the surfaces until they are clean.

The chrome finish on waffle bakers and toasters is best cleaned while it is warm. I spray some vinegar or household cleaner on the finish and wipe it with a paper towel or dish cloth. For stubborn grease and burned on food, you can use stainless steel scrub pads as this will not scratch chrome.

Take a slightly damp wash cloth and wipe away any oil residue or leftover waffle bits. Pro Tip 1: DO NOT use any harsh cleaning materials to scrub the iron clean. This could cause scratching and make your iron looked worn down and well-used. Pro Tip 2: DO NOT submerge your waffle iron in water.

Spray the inside of your waffle maker with a nonstick cooking spray. Pour in enough batter to fill the inside of the mold without overflowing, typically 1⁄4 to 3⁄4 cups. Use a palette knife or the back of a spoon to evenly spread the batter.

How do you get waffles out of a waffle maker? ›

Flip the metal plates of the waffle maker back over – if you have a rotating waffle maker – and carefully open the lid. Gently remove the waffle with a fork and knife and put it on a plate – be careful not to touch the hot waffle maker!

Fill a bowl with warm water and a few drops of dish soap. Dip a sponge or soft cloth into the mixture and wring well. Wipe down the waffle maker's exterior with the sponge or cloth, focusing on major messes. Once clean, dry with a microfiber cloth.

I usually clean my waffle maker after every use to keep it in good condition. If there's just a little mess, I give it a quick wipe-down with a damp cloth. But if there's a lot of batter stuck on the plates, I take them out and wash them with warm, soapy water. It's important to make sure it's dry before I put it away.

Because your waffle maker is an appliance, you can't just toss it into the sink to soak in soapy water. It isn't safe and it could damage your waffle maker. However, the grooves that make your tasty waffles can be tough to clea even with an easy clean wffle maker.