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Are Waffle Irons Waterproof?

By: Author Jeff Campbell

Posted on  - Last updated:

Categories Appliances

There is a big difference between being waterproof and water-resistant. And waffle-makers get messy and it would be great to give them a quick rinse in the sink. But are waffle irons waterproof?

Waffle irons can be classified as water-resistant as you can wash them and get them a little wet, but they are not waterproof. You should never submerge your appliance in water as it’s not safe, and it can damage your waffle iron.

There’s more to learn than just the fact that a waffle iron isn’t waterproof. We’ll go over how to best clean your waffle iron and what the best waffle iron is in general.

Let’s stop wasting time and jump into it!

Can you wash a waffle iron in the sink?

The entire waffle iron should not be placed in the sink with water. Only the plates of removable waffle irons can be soaked in the sink. If yours does not have removable plates, simply scrub them with a wet sponge and lightly rinse, and never do this while hot or plugged in.

You generally have two types of waffle irons.

One has removable plates, and the other doesn’t. Even if your waffle iron doesn’t have removable plates, do not put it in the sink!

If your waffle iron does have removable plates, then it makes this entire process much easier! The plates can be submerged in water and cleaned thoroughly with water.

After you use your waffle iron, you want to make sure the plates are cold.

Unplug your waffle iron right after you finish making waffles, and it should be cool by the time you are done eating. Your plates should snap out easily. After that, you want to place just the plates into the sink filled with warm water and let them soak.

Do not add soap to this mixture as soap can affect your nonstick coating.

After you let them soak for a bit simple, use a soft sponge or brush to get rid of any batter or oil left behind. It’s essential that you use a soft brush or sponge because you want to leave as little impact on your nonstick coating as possible.

After this, you should rinse off your plates and dry them completely before putting back into your waffle iron.

Some plates are dishwasher safe, so check with manufacturer instructions, and if you don’t have that anymore, stay on the safe side and hand wash them.

The plates should easily click back into places. The rest of the waffle iron can be cleaned with a damp washcloth. I’ll show you how to clean a waffle iron that doesn’t have removable plates later in this article.

How do you clean a sticky waffle iron?

The best way to clean a sticky waffle iron is to use a hot, damp rag. Run the rag under hot water and squeeze the water out until the rag is just damp and has no excess water dripping off of it. Then, place the hot rag in between the plates and close the lid.

You can also use paper towels, but a rag tends to be best. Let this sit for a few minutes and take the rag off.

The next step is to use a soft-bristled brush or even just an old toothbrush and get rid of any stickiness.

Don’t use soap or any metal object to get rid of leftover food or grease.

If the grease is really nasty, use any cleaner designed as a degreaser, such as 409, and use a soft brush or sponge. If you use a sponge, dip it in hot water to clean your waffle iron. Towel dry afterward.

If nothing else works, you can always use a nylon scrubbing sponge to get rid of any rough spots.

How do you clean a waffle iron without removable plates?

Do not submerge a waffle maker without removable plates. Allow the plates to cool before attempting to clean it. Then remove any excess oil with a paper towel. A dry-bristled brush works to remove any stuck-on dry batter. Wipe with a damp sponge once the oil and batter has been removed.

If any pieces of the batter don’t come off, soak a rag in hot water and ring out any excess water, so it’s not dripping, just damp.

Place the rag on top of the plate and close the waffle iron. You’re going to let this sit for a few minutes to loosen everything that was left behind.

If you can’t get the rest of the batter with the brush after letting it sit with the damp rag, simply take a rubber spatula and go for it.

That all there is to it!

Just take a damp rag and go over the outside of the waffle iron. Ensure your rag isn’t wet. It should only be slightly damp as cleaning the outside can mean the water can get into electrical parts.

If you clean your waffle iron after every use, it won’t be hard to clean off any mess, whether you have removable plates or not.

If I unplug my waffle maker, can I use water to clean it?

Using running water or submerging your waffle iron in water is not advisable even if unplugged. If you get water in any portion of the waffle maker it could spark or short out the next time you plug it in.

As I mentioned, most waffle makers are not waterproof. This means even if you unplug your waffle maker, you still shouldn’t put it in the sink.

It would be best to unplug your waffle iron anytime you wish to clean it. This way, you have no way of burning yourself.

You don’t really need to submerge your waffle iron to clean it. For the most part, you should only be cleaning the plates and occasionally the waffle iron’s top or sides.

You can use water to clean your waffle iron but only in small amounts unless you are just cleaning the plates.

If you are cleaning the outside, be careful, and only use a damp cloth to get rid of any mess that may have slipped out.

Remember never to get the cord wet and always have the waffle iron off and fully cooled down.

What is the best waffle iron with removable plates?

The Cuisinart Belgian Waffle Iron with Pancake Plates is the top-rated waffle iron with removable plates. It has thousands of reviews and most are 4 or 5-star.

CLICK HERE to see it on Amazon.

Picking your waffle iron is just as important as cleaning it.

And Cuisinart’s Waffle Maker is perfect for people looking for a waffle iron with removable plates.

This waffle maker comes with both waffle plates and pancake plates. This means you can make both waffles and pancakes and everything in between for breakfast.

It also comes with tongs and a recipe book!

It has a nonstick coating, and while it says it’s dishwasher safe, you should air on the side of caution and hand wash the plates.

It has six temperature control settings with lights that tell you when you can cook and when your food is done. The temperature control means you can make light and fluffy waffles or crispy waffles.

It even has an audible noise that is pretty loud, so no matter how much noise your household makes, you’ll never burn your waffles.

Reviews show great potential with this iron maker. One review says that the bottom of the waffle maker is angled inward. Meaning the mess that comes out of the waffle iron goes right off the sides.

CLICK HERE to see it on Amazon.

If you like this appliance, you should check out one of my recent articles on small kitchen appliances for your first home.

It’ll give you a great list of appliances like this one that you should consider getting. Simply click the link to read about it on my site.

Final Thoughts

Waffle irons are fantastic for making waffles and much more at home. Keeping your waffle iron clean will keep your appliance happy and running for years on end. And they beat the heck out of frozen waffles you throw in the microwave or toaster.

While they are hard to clean, it’s not impossible.

Waffle irons are not waterproof and should be cleaned carefully. Clean just the plates with little water and soft brushes. Don’t use soap, and your waffle iron will be mess-free. Try to clean your waffle iron after every use.

Just like any appliance, it takes just a little bit of effort to make sure you don’t have to clean more, and you keep your appliance running like new.

As an Amazon Associate I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases if you click to Amazon from my site and choose to make a purchase. You can read my complete affiliate disclosure for more details.

Jeff Campbell
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By Author Jeff Campbell

Posted on  - Last updated:

Categories Appliances