How To Clean A Waffle Iron in a Few Easy Steps

By Kitchenistic

20 Nov 2019

If you’re guilty of leaving your waffle iron to develop a nice, crusty layer of oil before even considering cleaning your appliance, you wouldn’t be alone. Many of us suffer from procrastinitis- a condition whereby we leave the jobs that are deemed too fiddly- or use too much of our energy- while telling ourselves that we’ll get around to it “later”.

Of course, later never comes and eventually we’re left looking at a filthy waffle iron and wondering if we should just throw the whole thing out and start again, with a promise to be better this time. Perhaps you’re reading this after getting yourself that exact new kitchen item and have decided to look into how to clean built-up grease on a waffle iron. Never fear, we’re here to tell you that you can break this habit, clean up (your waffle iron) and live a happier life, full of delicious waffles and none of the mess.

cleaning waffle iron

How To Clean An Electric Waffle Iron With Non-Removable Plates

There are a few different types of waffle makers, so we’ll begin with one of the most common- a waffle iron with non-removable plates, that works through the mains.

The first (and most important) step is to unplug your waffle iron and allow it to cool. Using water around electric appliances is a huge no-no- it can lead to your electrics blowing, damaging your appliance, burning you and, possibly, death. You might not be dousing the entire thing in water, but you’ll still need to keep yourself safe.
Remove excess oil across your plates with a dry towel. Little pockets of grease can end up in your iron through the cooking process, so even non-stick plates that don’t require oil can end up with a little excess dotted around the place.
Next, brush away any loose batter or crumbs that have decided to make your waffle iron their new home. You can use a small kitchen brush to do this, as they shouldn’t be too stubborn. The brush itself needs to be soft, so you don’t scrape away any of the non-stick coating.
Soak any stubborn areas. You’ll need to use a warm, damp cloth and close the waffle iron to let the water soak in to any parts that are stuck. This will loosen them up and allow them to come away cleanly during the next step
Use a rubber spatula to get in between the crevices of the waffle iron and shift those sticky bits, if you don’t have one, a soft cloth will do- as long as it’s not likely to remove your coating.
Once this has all been done, give your waffle maker one more wipe over with a slightly damp cloth to get rid of any debris or dirt that’s left over. Then wipe over the top and sides of your iron. Remember not to turn on your waffle iron again, until you’re sure the appliance itself is dry (see step 1).

How To Clean A Waffle Iron With Removable Plates

Some waffle makers come with removable plates and, although the cleaning process itself is very similar, there are some additional steps you can take to get your waffle iron looking as good as new. So, as an example, if you were wondering how to clean a Cuisinart waffle maker, you would need to follow these steps, instead.

After unplugging your waffle iron and allowing the appliance to cool, take out the plates and let them soak in some warm water. If your plates are coated with non-stick material, don’t use soap, as this can wear away your coating.
Clean away and dirt and debris in the waffle iron, while the plates are soaking. The danger with removable plates is that crumbs can sometimes get caught underneath the cooking section. If these were to burn and catch fire, it can cause some serious problems with the iron itself, as well as possibly being a fire risk if left for too long. Don’t use any water or soap inside the appliance, as this can cause a fire hazard.
Gently clean your waffle iron plates. Once soaked, any dirt, debris and crumbs should easily come away but if you find a few places are particularly stubborn, use a silicone or plastic spatula to get into the creases and dislodge the tougher areas.
Once dry, snap your plates back into your waffle iron. If you’d like to use the appliance earlier, then you can absolutely dry them using a dish towel or dry cloth- just be sure not to scrub too hard in case you remove some of the non-stick coating.
Be sure that every part of your waffle iron is dry before using your waffle iron or connecting it to the electricity again!

Voila! Now you know how to clean a waffle iron with no fuss- allowing you to enjoy your tasty snack without the headache.