The dirtier your bread machine gets, the harder it will be to clean it. Learning the proper way to clean your bread machine will definitely help, and it will also keep your bread machine in great working condition.
Like any appliance, quality bread machines will last you YEARS if they’re properly maintained. It’s definitely a kitchen appliance that will make your life easy.
You shouldn’t only clean the bread machine when it gets dirty. You should do it on a regular basis. But do you actually know how to clean a bread machine?
Cleaning your bread machine on a regular basis might seem like a bit of hassle, but it will make your bread machine shine like it just got out of the box.
So stay tuned and find out how to efficiently clean your bread machine, along with do’s and don’ts.
How to Clean a Bread Machine
Unplug the Machine
First things first, you should never clean a bread machine while it’s hot. Always clean it when it’s completely cool.
Also, always unplug the machine for safety reasons. Better to be safe than to regret it afterward.
Cleaning the Inside of a Bread Machine
The first thing you will notice in a bread machine that hasn’t been cleaned is crumbs. There might be some flour as well.
It might look like a mess, but it should be relatively easy to clean it up.
Simply get a small brush, for example, a clean paintbrush will do the job. And gently brush and sweep the crumbs and flour of the bread machine.
For this step, you should never use water.
If there is some dough that is still moist, you shouldn’t try to remove it immediately. Leave it to dry and then remove it. It will make your job way easier without making an additional mess.
However, in case there are some liquid spills inside the machine, get a clean cloth, preferably a microfiber one.
You should never use water inside of the bread machine since there are sensitive parts such as the heating elements.
What you can do is dip the clean cloth in warm, soapy water. And then use this damp cloth to gently clean the inside of a bread machine.
Cleaning the Heating Element
Most people forget about the heating element. However, if you leave any dirt on the heating elements, you could damage your appliance.
As you probably know by now, water inside of the bread machine isn’t a good idea. Heating elements are the most sensitive parts of the bread machine, and therefore they require very gentle cleaning.
Simply get another damp cloth, and wipe the heating element down along the entire length. Keep wiping them until there are no more food particles left on them.
Cleaning the Bread Pan
Cleaning a bread pan is a simple task to do. Get a warm soapy cloth or rag, give your bread pan a rinse and then leave it to dry.
Most bread pans come with a non-stick surface. Sometimes, the non-stick coating won’t work very well and you might get some occasional food particles sticking to the inside of the bread pan.
In case you can’t clean your bread pan by simply rinsing it, fill it with warm soapy water and let the stickiness get soaked up. If your bread pan is dishwasher safe, you can feel free to put it in a dishwasher and wash it that way.
It will save you some time and energy, but since most of the bread machines don’t come with bread pans that are dishwasher safe – you should check yours twice before you put them in a dishwasher.
After it’s been soaking for a while, you should get a sponge or a clean cloth and give cleaning a try.
Read Your Manual
Every bread machine is different, and there are many different techniques you can use to clean your bread machine.
These are just some of the basic things you should do. In some manuals, you will get instructions on how to properly clean your bread machine and maintain it.
Things You Shouldn’t Do When Cleaning a Bread Machine
Proper and regular maintenance and cleaning can prolong the lifespan of your bread machine. On the other hand, if you aren’t properly cleaning and paying close attention to your bread maker – you might break even break it.
As mentioned earlier you should never clean the inside bread machine with water. There are sensitive elements and you should pay attention and be extra careful. After all, it’s an electrical device that might lead to electrocuting.
Never clean inside the bread machine if it’s still plugged in or if it’s hot. Even if the machine is warm, you could still burn yourself on a bread pan, for example. Make your safety be the priority, and never clean a bread machine in a hurry.
Don’t clean the baking pan with abrasive materials such as a scrub brush or steel wool. You could scratch the coating of your pan and it will lead to a lot of sticking during the bread baking.
Never apply too much pressure on the heating elements or any other part that is located inside of a bread maker. They’re very sensitive and only gentle movements should be used during cleaning. Otherwise, you could easily bend or detach heating elements, and from personal experience, they’re hard to replace!
After washing the bread machine and all external attachments, never assemble them back together immediately, and never turn on the bread machine moment after you’ve cleaned it. Leave everything to dry, and then assemble it back together before using it.
The last yet but not the least important thing not to do is using harsh chemicals inside of the bread machine or baking pan. It will destroy the protective finish, non-stick coating, and might make your bread machine not work correctly again.
Conclusion
Cleaning a bread machine isn’t a hard thing to do. Well, it might be if you haven’t cleaned it since you’ve bought it! But it’s not complicated.
I’d always recommend you to clean your bread machine regularly. It’s up to you how often, but at least once or twice a week is fine.
Make sure that you’re extra careful, and you’ll be rewarded. A Bread machine that is well maintained will serve you well for many years to come.
Do you have any tips on how to clean a bread machine? Any tips or tricks you would recommend?
Feel free to leave a comment and let’s discuss!
