For some, the waffle maker is a kitchen device of pure morning joy. However, the aftermath of cooked-on batter clinging stubbornly to your beloved appliance can be a breakfast buzzkill. If you’ve been wondering how to restore your waffle iron to its pristine, non-stick glory without resorting to aggressive scraping, there is some delightful news: Your kitchen already holds the solution, and it’s cooking oil.
At first glance, it might seem counterintuitive. Why add more to the mess? But the secret is that cooking oil has an incredible ability to break down and loosen the baked-on batter. The consistency of oil allows it to act as a lubricant, easing the removal of stuck-on bits by reducing the friction between the waffle debris and the surface of the waffle maker. Next, the fats in the oil interact with the hardened batter, helping to soften and dissolve those stubborn patches that refuse to budge. So once you have added a touch of oil to the messy exterior or interior of a waffle iron, it’s just a matter of time before the oil does the heavy lifting during clean-up.
How to use oil to clean a waffle maker
To clean your waffle maker using oil, start by ensuring the waffle maker is cooled down sufficiently. A hot surface could cause the oil to smoke, splatter, or even burn you. Drip a few drops of your chosen cooking oil (vegetable oil, canola oil, or even olive oil) onto the problematic patches of hardened batter. You don’t need much. Let the oil sit on the batter for about five to 10 minutes. This waiting period is crucial. It gives the oil ample time to penetrate the cooked-on waffle spots and begin to soften them.
After allowing the oil to work its magic, take a paper towel and gently wipe away the now-softened batter remnants. You’ll be surprised at how easily those once-stubborn bits slide off. Once you’ve removed the major build-up, dampen a cloth with warm water and wipe down the waffle iron to remove any leftover oil or tiny batter particles.
