How to clean a bread maker

Everyone was excited about the idea of ​​having freshly baked bread for dinner. People love the idea of ​​waking up to the smell of toast. However, most people don’t think that the bread maker will need to be cleaned after each use. The tricky part is finding out how to clean your bread machine properly.

It’s a bad idea if you try to clean your bread machine by placing the entire item in the dishwasher or soaking it in the sink. Doing so will damage your bread maker permanently and may even void its warranty. Instead, use a damp but water-proof cloth to gently wipe away dust, dirt, breadcrumbs, and flour from the outside of the bread machine. It is all it asks for.

In most cases, cleaning your bread maker won’t be too difficult. We’ll explain how to fully clean the average machine and, more importantly, how to do it safely.

Why should you clean your bread maker?

There are many reasons to answer this question. If you bought a used one, it should be cleaned before using it for the first time. You must wash it thoroughly after you are done with one item and ready to do another.

The dirtier your bread maker is, the harder it is to clean. Learn how to properly clean your bread machine will definitely help, and it’ll also keep your bread machine in good shape.

Like any equipment, quality bread machines will last you YEARS if they are correctly maintained. It is a kitchen appliance that will make your life easy.

When Should You Clean the Bread Maker?

You shouldn’t only clean the bread machine when it gets dirty. It would be best if you did it regularly after each use. It means cleaning it after you take out the loaf. The bread machine must be cleaned after you cook something undercooked. For example, uncooked dough containing eggs and butter will turn your device into a microbial factory if you do not clean it up right away.

It would be best if you cleaned a bread machine after you take it out of stock. After all, any dirt, dirt, and debris will get into your food. Always clean the used bread maker after purchasing. Just because they sell it in the box doesn’t mean they don’t touch it or try to make something in it.

Cleaning your bread machine regularly may seem a bit complicated, but it should make your appliance as shiny as it just came out of the box. So stay tuned and learn how to effectively clean your bread maker, along with do’s and don’ts.

How to Clean a Bread Machine

Unplug the bread maker

unplug the bread maker

First of all, you should not clean the machine while it is hot. Always clean it when it’s completely cooled. Always unplug the machine for safety reasons so that you do not get jerky when working with it.

Cleaning the inside of a Bread Maker

sweep the crumbs and flour of the bread machine

The first thing you’ll notice in an uncleaned bread machine is the crumbs. There may also be some flour. It may look like a mess, but it should be relatively easy to clean it up.

• Put the bread maker on its side, grab a small brush, such as a clean paintbrush and gently sweep out the crumbs. Do not try to wash the inside with water. You will burn electrical components. Don’t try to brush them off with your hands, as they can be hot enough to burn you.
• Use a clean brush to remove any residue and powder from the device. What if the dough is still damp? Don’t try to get rid of it. You can damage the machine by doing that. Let it dry. Then remove it.
• If there is liquid in the device, such as when your dough is too watery or spills liquid egg whites, use a clean cloth to wipe it. Please note that don’t use this cloth to clean the rest of the machine. Throw it in the washing machine.

Cleaning the Heating Element of Bread Machine

The next step is cleaning the heating elements. Many people forget the need to do this, though flour and other grime on the heating elements are fire hazards. Others are afraid to clean the heating elements since they’re the most sensitive part of the bread maker. You can clean them.

• Wipe them with a damp cloth.
• Do not spray water as you may miss something. It may require multiple passes to become clean.
• Do not press down or rub hard on heating elements. You can bend or disassemble them, although the heating elements are challenging to replace or repair. That is why many people are afraid to clean them.
• It might be a good time to clean the outside of the device. If you spill the baking mixture on the outside of the appliance, you can wipe it off with a towel.
• Please don’t get it on water or cleaning solution. You may want to clean the buttons with cleaning wipes. It will kill any germs left behind by your dirty hands when you push the buttons.

Cleaning the Bread Pan of Bread Maker

Clean the bread pan of Bread Maker

The third step is to clean the bread pan. It is the easiest part and the step most people do on their own. Most bread pans have a non-stick surface that you can clean by passing them through the dishwasher.

However, not all bread pans are dishwasher safe. Or sometimes, the non-stick coating doesn’t work well, and you may experience particles sticking to the inside of the bread pan from time to time.

• Use a warm soapy rag and wash it off. Rinse through clean water to wash off any soap residue.
•  If the bread pan is non-stick or the food is still sticky, use a sponge with a scrub surface.
• Do not use a steel scrubbing sponge or a bristle brush to scratch the surface, making food residue a hiding place and multiplying bacteria.
• Read the user manual. It will tell you how to remove the mixing paddles and clean them properly. These may or may not be dishwasher safe, but they need to be cleaned.
• After washing the mixing paddles, dough hook, and other accessories, allow them time to dry before you reassemble.
• Ideally, they should be allowed to dry in an upright position. Leaving things dry helps prevent rust from forming inside your bread machine. And know that there is nothing you can do once it starts to rust, which makes it harder to remove food residue over time.

Let it dry thoroughly.

Let everything dry before you put it back in the machine. It cleans away the food residue without creating a breeding ground for mold. However, you don’t want to use harsh chemicals like bleach inside the bread machine or baking span.

The most obvious reason is that this leaves toxic chemicals on a surface you use to make food. The other reason is that it will destroy the finish inside the bread machine, allowing you to remove the loaf and evenly bake the bread quickly. Spraying harsh chemicals inside the bread machine could be short things out, too, just like a jet of water would.

Read Your Manual

Read the bread maker manual

Every bread machine is different, and you can use various techniques to clean your bread maker. These are just some of the basics you should do. In some manuals, you will receive instructions on how to clean and maintain the bread machine properly.

Things You Shouldn’t Do When Cleaning a Bread Maker.

• Proper and regular maintenance and cleaning can extend the life of your bread machine. On the other hand, if you don’t clean it properly and don’t pay close attention to your appliance – you can break it.
• As mentioned earlier, you should never clean the inside of a toaster with water. There are sensitive elements, and you should be extra careful and attentive. After all, it is an electrical device that can lead to electric shock.
• Never clean the inside of the bread machine if it is still plugged in or hot. For example, even when the device is warm, you can still burn yourself on a bread pan. Make your safety a priority, and never clean the bread maker in a hurry.
• Do not clean the baking pan with an abrasive material such as a brush or steel wool. You can scratch the pan’s coating, and it will lead to more stickiness during the baking process.
• Never put too much pressure on the heating elements or any other part inside the bread machine. They are very sensitive and should only use gentle movements during cleaning. If not, you can easily bend or disassemble the heating elements, and in my experience, it is difficult to replace them!
• After washing the bread machine and all its exterior accessories, never immediately assemble them and never turn on the bread machine right after you have cleaned it. Let everything dry, then reassemble them together before using.
• The last but not the most important thing not to do is to use harsh chemicals inside a bread maker or baking pan. It will destroy the protective finish, the non-stick coating and might make your bread machine not work correctly again.

Conclusion

Cleaning the bread maker is not a difficult thing to do. Well, that might be the case if you haven’t cleaned it since you bought it! But it’s not that complicated.

I always recommend cleaning your bread machine regularly. How often is up to you, but at least once or twice a week should do.

Make sure you take great care, and you’ll be rewarded. A well-maintained bread machine will serve you well for many years to come.

Do you have any tips on how to clean the bread machine? Any suggestions or tricks you’d like to recommend? Please leave a comment and discuss it together!