Whether you keep your toaster on the bench or in the cupboard, you’re likely not cleaning it enough and should try to clean it every now and then. If you do like to put the toaster away it’s important to let the toaster cool down first to prevent moisture getting into the cupboard as it could lead to mould.
While it is of course a personal preference where your kitchen appliances live, Dualit, who make toasters and kettles, recommend they should be in ‘a ventilated area’, and putting your toasters in a kitchen cupboard could ‘build up the heat the toaster causes’ which can ‘get trapped and pose a potential fire risk’.
Where do you store a toaster when not in use?
Keep your toaster on a cutting board. Your toaster belongs on a cutting board. Here’s why: When you use your toaster, you want it to be out from underneath your cabinets (because, heat and steam!), but you also want to be able to tuck it back away when you’re finished with it.
There’s a simple solution, though: Just unplug the appliances when you aren’t using them. Unplugging them will stop energy from silently draining out. According to the US Department of Energy, unplugging these devices could save the average household up to $100 per year.
Does leaving a toaster plugged in use electricity?
The short answer is yes! A variety of different electronic devices and appliances, including televisions, toasters, lamps, and more, when plugged in, can consume electricity even when they’re turned off.
Should I turn my toaster off at the wall?
Turn your appliances off at the wall: The most effective way to reduce the amount of standby power you use is to turn your devices and appliances off at the wall when you’ve finished using them.
What not to do with a toaster?
Sticking silverware in your toaster: But please—don’t, and especially keep that knife away while the toaster is still warm or plugged in. Sticking silverware in a toaster allows the electricity in the toaster to flow through the knife and then to your hand, which can lead to shock (and disappointment).
What is the average life of a toaster?
Six to eight years: While toasters can range in price and features, most toasters have an average lifespan from six to eight years. You can extend the life of your appliance by cleaning it regularly to remove excess breadcrumbs and additional food particles.
How often should you empty your toaster?
How often you need to clean your toaster depends on how often you use it. If you’re a daily toaster, empty the crumb trays once a week. If you use it less frequently, opt for monthly cleaning. Frequency: Clean weekly or monthly, depending on use.
Try to remember to clean out the crumb try after every two or three uses. It’s easy to forget about your toaster when you’re scrubbing down the kitchen. Take a second to dump out the crumb tray or shake your toaster over the trash can after every few uses.
What to do with a new toaster before using it?
Before using your toaster for the first time, operate the toaster without bread. As with all new electric heating elements, your toaster will emit a ‘new’ smell when it is first switched on. This is quite normal and not a cause for concern.
Should you put aluminum foil in the toaster?
All toaster manufacturers recommend you do not put aluminum foil in their toasters. According to them, the only thing you should put in a toaster is bread, frozen waffles, or English muffins. This guide will help you to understand: The dangers of placing anything made of metal in a toaster.
Why do people cover their toaster?
Protect from Dust, Grime, and Grease: Dirty appliances are inconvenient, and dirt can get inside the electrical components of your appliances, damaging them. Appliance covers prevent dust from collecting on seldom used appliances, such as your juice, toaster oven, or slow cooker.
Should toaster be in or out of cupboard?
Toasters are often situated under kitchen cupboard, however the build up of heat the toaster causes can get trapped and pose a potential fire risk. Dualit recommends that toasters shouldn’t be kept under cupboards or shelves, or when in use, the should be placed away from the cupboard.
Is it safe to put a fork in a toaster when its off?
There is a small, but very real, chance that the heating elements are still connected to the “hot” wire of the plug. Thus, you could be shocked – possibly lethally – if your fork contacts the heating elements. Just don’t do it.
How do you store a toaster and kettle?
You should store them where you use them. Three rules of thumb are to put frequently used appliances on the countertop or the lowest shelf of an upper cabinet for easy reach; rarely used appliances should go to the top of the cabinets; and never-used items should be sold or donated.
Should you wash a toaster before use?
When you buy a new toaster, it’s always a good idea to clean it before putting food you will put in your body into it. Cleaning a new toaster isn’t nearly as intensive as a used one. Use a bit of warm water and dishwashing soap on a cloth. Wipe the whole toaster down.
When should you throw out your toaster?
However, just like every other appliance, they are also susceptible to wear and tear. The average lifespan of a toaster is 6 to 8 years, but if you get lucky, it may be longer. But you cannot get lucky forever; the time will eventually come for you to dispose of your old toaster.
Can leaving a toaster plugged in start a fire?
Toasters have electric elements inside that are used to brown your bread or bagel. If the toaster fails and doesn’t turn off, a fire can start. Never leave a toaster unsupervised and remove the crumbs on the bottom of the toaster regularly. In addition, inspect the electric elements for stuck crumbs.
