Like other hardworking kitchen appliances, toaster ovens can fall victim to stuck-on food and grease buildup, creating fire and health risks.

As a safer alternative to a microwave—which is known for degrading nutrients in food and wreaking havoc on your health—a toaster oven requires regular cleanings to prevent hazards and keep it in tip-top shape.

To clean a toaster oven, we recommend using Branch Basics because it’s food- and human-safe and effective at cutting through grease and grime.

Unlike conventional cleaners, our products, like the Concentrate and Oxygen Boost, won’t leave behind harmful residues on surfaces that come into contact with your food.

Now let’s get started! Here’s how to clean a toaster oven with Branch Basics.

Materials and Tools Needed to Clean a Toaster Oven

Before you begin, gather the cleaning products and tools you’ll need to clean a toaster oven.

Here’s what you’ll need to clean a toaster oven with Branch Basics:

• Branch Basics Concentrate: You’ll need the All Purpose, Bathroom, and Streak Free dilutions to clean various parts of your toaster oven
  
• Branch Basics Oxygen Boost
  
• A non-scratch sponge or stiff bristle brush, like the Branch Basics Natural Scrub Brush
  
• A large sink for soaking grates and crumb tray
  
• Microfiber cloths
  
• Warm water

That’s it. Now let’s get started.

Cleaning The Interior Of Your Toaster Oven

Regular, thorough interior cleanings are key to maintaining your toaster oven. They help extend the appliances’ lifespan and prevent grease- or food debris-related fires.

For burnt-on food and tough cleaning jobs, try preheating the toaster oven to its lowest temperature for a few minutes, then turn it off. 

Spray All Purpose on the surface and let it cool. 

Preheating and wetting the surface with All Purpose will help loosen up baked-on grease and grime to prep the toaster oven for cleaning.

Note: Before cleaning, always unplug the toaster oven and make sure the interior is completely cool. This helps prevent burns. 

Be sure to consult your appliance’s manufacturer’s manual for proper cleaning instructions.

Clean The Grates And Crumb Tray

The first step is to remove and clean the grates and crumb tray. 

This step is important for preventing fire hazards, enhancing food safety and taste, and maintains the toaster oven’s performance.

This method is similar to our article on How to Clean Stove Top Grates Naturally, just on a smaller scale.

Here’s how to use Branch Basics Concentrate to clean your toaster oven’s grates and crumb tray:

1. Remove the grates and crumb tray from the toaster oven. Dust off any loose crumbs in the trash can or compost bin.
   
2. Spray grates and crumb tray with All Purpose. Let the spray dwell on the surface for about 5 minutes.
   
3. Fill your sink or basin with enough boiling or very hot water to cover the grates and crumb tray.
   
4. Add 1 teaspoon Concentrate or several sprays of Branch Basics All Purpose or Bathroom to the water. Agitate to create suds.
   
5. Soak for 30 minutes or several hours, depending on how grimey and greasy they are, to release burnt-on food, grease, and grime. (While the crumb tray and grates are soaking, move on to The Walls and Glass and Heating Elements sections)
   
6. Gently scrub with a natural scrub brush, non-scratch scouring pad, sponge, or microfiber cloth.
   
7. Rinse and dry.

For very stubborn, stuck-on food, grease, and grime, add Oxygen Boost. Here’s how:

• Follow the above procedure, adding half to 1 scoop of Branch Basics Oxygen Boost to the soapy water.
  
• Soak the grates and crumb tray for at least an hour, then scrub them clean, rinse, and dry.

Oxygen Boost combines the cleaning, degreasing, and scouring power of Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda) with Sodium Percarbonate (oxygen bleach or powdered peroxide).

Clean The Walls And Glass

While the grates and crumb tray soak, move on to clean the interior walls and glass, working inside-out.

• To clean the toaster oven walls, liberally spray them down with All Purpose. 
  • Note: Avoid spraying the heating elements, metal guards, and vents. More on that next!
  • If you’re concerned about spraying and harming the heating elements, spritz a microfiber cloth with All Purpose until it's wet.
• Wipe down the walls, floor, and ceiling until they are clean.

Next, clean the glass. Spray it with Streak Free or one of these natural glass cleaners and wipe with a microfiber cloth.

For tough, stuck-on food and grease splatters, add the power of Oxygen Boost:

1. Spray All Purpose directly on the messy areas.
   
2. Sprinkle Oxygen Boost on top of the spray.
   
3. Spray again to wet the Oxygen Boost. Let sit for at least 5-10 minutes.
   
4. Scrub clean with a natural scrub brush or non-scratch sponge.
   
5. Use a wet microfiber cloth to wipe away any crumbs and leftover Oxygen Boost.
   
6. Let dry.

Clean The Heating Elements

To safely clean the heating elements, spritz a microfiber cloth with All Purpose and gently wipe them down. Allow them to dry completely before turning the toaster oven back on.

If stubborn burnt-on grease or food won’t budge with a gentle clean, leave them alone. Over time, the high heat will burn most of it off.

Use caution! To avoid harming the heating elements, be sure to:

• Unplug the toaster oven before cleaning and ensure the heating element is completely cool.
  
• Never submerge the heating elements in water or put them in the dishwasher.
  
• Avoid spraying the heating elements, metal guards, and vents.
  
• Prevent buildup by regularly wiping down the interior of the toaster oven after each use.
  
• Always consult the manufacturer’s manual before cleaning.

By following the above, you can effectively clean your toaster oven’s heating elements and keep it in good working order.

Clean the Exterior Of Your Toaster Oven

Toaster ovens sit out on the kitchen countertop, making them prone to dust, debris, and grease splatters. Regular cleaning helps keep them looking like new.

Most toaster ovens have a stainless steel exterior, which responds very well to natural cleaners like Branch Basics. All Purpose, Bathroom, and Streak Free dilutions, along with Oxygen Boost, do a great job cleaning and shining stainless steel toaster ovens.

For more, check out Cleaning Stainless Steel Naturally: 7 Simple Methods.

Remove Grease

The powerful, natural, and human-safe ingredients found in our Branch Basics products easily break up cooked-on food, grease, and grime, making it an excellent and highly effective natural degreaser.

For general, everyday cleanings, we recommend using All Purpose, just spray on the toaster oven’s exterior and wipe clean.

For grease and grime buildup, we turn to Oxygen Boost for help. 

Here’s how to clean the exterior of a toaster oven using Branch Basics Oxygen Boost:

1. Spray with All Purpose, avoiding the vents and electrical components.
   
2. Sprinkle stains and greasy areas with Oxygen Boost and spray again to wet.
   
3. Let sit for at least 20 minutes.
   
4. Scrub clean with a natural scrub brush or non-scratch sponge.

Note: Don’t forget to clean the dials. 

• If they are removable, take the dials off and soak them in warm water with a few drops of Concentrate for 15-20 minutes. 
  
• Then, gently scrub with a microfiber cloth, rinse under cool water, and let them dry completely before reattaching. 
  
• If they are not removable, lightly spritz a microfiber cloth with All Purpose and wipe down.

How Often Should I Clean My Toaster Oven? 

It depends.

If you’re only using the toaster oven to make occasional toast, weekly cleanings should be sufficient.

But, if you’re using it to reheat or cook greasy foods like pizza, the oven, grates and crumb tray should be cleaned after each use. This will help prevent build-up of grease and grime, reducing the risk of a kitchen fire.

Other Natural Cleaning Methods For Toaster Ovens

If you don’t have Branch Basics products at home or you’ve run out, here are some other effective natural toaster oven cleaners.

Vinegar 

Distilled white vinegar contains natural acetic acid, which is tough enough to dissolve stuck-on food, grease, and grime, making it an essential natural cleaner in the kitchen. [1][2]

Here’s how to clean a toaster oven using distilled white vinegar*:

1. Mix warm water and a few drops of a human-safe, natural dish soap, like Branch Basics Concentrate, in a bowl or spray bottle. Use this solution to clean your toaster oven inside and out. Follow up by wiping with full-strength or diluted distilled white vinegar to shine up the surfaces.
   
2. Use straight, full-strength distilled white vinegar or mix it with water (50:50). Full-strength vinegar is especially useful for cleaning and shining the glass door. Wipe it directly on the glass and let it dwell for a few minutes. Wipe away with a clean microfiber cloth.
   
3. Distilled white vinegar is also excellent when paired with baking soda to clean a toaster oven. See more on that below.

Learn more about the many household uses for vinegar in 12 Ways To Use Vinegar In Your Home.

*Note: Although vinegar is safe and non-toxic, it is highly acidic and contains acetic acid, a lung irritant when sprayed. 

Therefore, it should be kept out of the reach of children and pets. If anyone in your home is sensitive to smells or has a respiratory issue, it’s best to not make vinegar or vinegar solutions airborne by spraying.

Baking Soda

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, contains mild abrasive properties that are ideal for cleaning most surfaces.

To use

• Make a paste with baking soda and water or baking soda and a few drops of liquid castile soap or Branch Basics Concentrate. 
  
• Apply to the exterior, interior, crumb tray, grates, and even the heating elements of the toaster oven. 
  
• Let dwell for 5-30 minutesl, then gently scrub with a natural scrub brush or soft sponge.

For extra cleaning power, spray the baking soda paste with straight distilled white vinegar to create a bubbly cleaning foam. The fizzing effect helps dislodge dirt and grime. 

Let dwell for 5-10 minutes then wipe clean.

Learn more about baking soda and its non-toxic cleaning powers in Cleaning With Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate): 12 Surprising Uses.

Toss The Toxins With Branch Basics

If you’ve been wondering how to clean a toaster oven, we hope this article has given you the steps to do so in a safe, sustainable, natural, and healthier way!

Keep your toaster oven and other kitchen appliances, such as your blender and air fryer, clean with Branch Basics. It is a MADE SAFE certified, plant-based, human-safe, multi-purpose cleaning solution that’s diluted with water and used for any cleaning job.

To get started, check out our Branch Basics Premium Starter Kits, which come with our all-in-one Concentrate, a full bag of Oxygen Boost, and five refillable spray bottles (choose from plastic or glass) to make All Purpose, Bathroom, Foaming Wash, Streak Free, Laundry, and custom dilutions.

And, if your toaster oven’s grates and crumb tray are dishwasher safe (check your manufacturer’s manual), we also offer pure, powerful, and plastic-free Dishwasher Tablets.

For more tips on natural cleaning to create a healthy home and kitchen, check out our Wellness Center. And be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube!

Sources:

1. https://journals.bcit.ca/index.php/ehj/article/view/103
   
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9713753/