First of all, you should understand that it is not a backbreaking chore to clean a waffle iron without removable plates. Waffle irons do become dirty after countless uses. The muck you see on the iron plates is caused by cooking oil spray and the waffle batter.
My sister has purchased a waffle maker without removable plates, and she keeps it spotless. Whenever she cooks a batch of those deliciously crisp and fluffy waffles, she lets the waffle maker cool down. After breakfast, she grabs a paper towel and lightly wipes the irons plates, removing the oil she applied as grease and any waffle batter residue. If you don’t clean the waffle maker after every use, you may need to perform a deep clean.
Precautions to follow when cleaning a waffle iron
Before cleaning a waffle iron, make sure that it is unplugged. The waffle maker should also be cool to the touch. If you made a fresh batch of waffles for breakfast, leave the lid of the waffle maker open to let it cool down.
Since these are nonremovable plates, don’t put the waffle maker in the sink. You can’t put a kitchen appliance with wires underwater, as it may cause your waffle maker to malfunction. Be attentive when handling electrical devices.
Make sure you have the necessary tools at hand such as a clean cloth, pastry brush, paper towels, etc.
Things you need before you start cleaning
You require several things before you begin to clean your waffle maker. These are the tools you probably have lying around in your kitchen. Here is a list of things you will need.
- A clean cloth
- Paper towels
- Brush with soft bristles
- Sponge
Baking soda is used to deep clean a waffle iron to remove any caked-up batter, but I will show you how to do it using the steaming technique. You would require a damp cloth or glass of water, nothing more, nothing less.
How to clean a waffle iron without removable plates
If the waffle maker plates were detachable, you could run them underwater and wash them using a soapy liquid. However, as this is not the case, you can’t run it underwater.
Here is a step-by-step guide to help you to clean a waffle iron without removable plates.
Step 1: Unplug the waffle maker
The first and most important thing to do is unplug your waffle maker. Many people skip this step probably because they are careless or forget to do it. Waffle makers get extremely hot, and if you don’t let it cool, you may accidentally burn your hand. So it is best to unplug it.
Step 2: Use a paper towel to wipe off batter and grease.
A paper towel is a great way to wipe any residual grease and batter. The grease is the cooking oil applied to stop the waffle batter from sticking to the iron plate. If you don’t clean the built-up grease on the waffle iron, it will accumulate into a sticky substance and mix into the waffle batter.
If the waffle batter is between the tight spaces, fold the paper towel and run through those nooks and crannies. You can’t use a metal or sharp utensil to scrape the plate because this will ruin the non-stick coating. If possible, you can use your fingers to peel off any batter stuck to the waffle iron plate.
Step 3: Clean the surface with a brush
After cleaning it with a paper towel, use a brush with soft bristles. A pastry brush is a preferred choice to wipe away any crumbs.
Step 4: Remove the batter by steaming the waffle iron
If a waffle batter residual is stuck to the iron plates, it will be difficult to remove it using a paper towel. You can try to peel it out using your fingers but it might not work, and using a sharp utensil is not a choice.
So, you are probably wondering how to remove the caked-up batter. You get no option but to steam clean it. Preheat your waffle maker, and using a damp cloth, spread it on the iron plate and close the lid. The moisture will help loosen up the dried waffle batter that you can wipe off.
Instead of using a cloth, you can pour water into the waffle maker. Be very careful when doing this, the waffle maker will be hot, and when you pour the water onto the plates, it will sputter. Close the lid and allow the steam to remove any residues grip on the iron plate. Tilt the waffle maker to throw the water out and wipe it with a clean cloth.
Conclusion
Here is how you can safely clean a waffle iron without removable plates. It is best to wipe it after every use so that the batter and oil residue does not accumulate into a hard and sticky substance. With a deep clean, your waffle maker will sparkle and look good as new, but it is a hectic process that I like to dodge. If you need a waffle maker with removal plates, check my review article
