Why Is Your Toaster Oven Smoking (& How To Fix It)

A toaster oven is one of the most used appliances in most households. You can use this kitchen appliance for toasting bread, reheating leftovers, or baking in small batches. Seeing your toaster oven smoking while preparing bread for your family can be scary.

Even worse, if your appliance is new, you might think you bought a damaged machine. However, there are reasonable explanations for why your toaster oven might be smoking. Luckily, in most cases, there are some things you can do to remedy the situation and continue enjoying using your appliance.

This article discusses the reasons your toaster oven might be smoking. We’ll also discuss the risks of a smoking toaster oven and how to fix the appliance.

6 Reasons Your Toaster Oven Is Smoking

Ideally, your toaster oven should not produce smoke when in use. However, the reasons below can cause it to smoke.

1. Buildup of Food Debris/ Crumbs

You can do much with your toaster oven, including broiling, toasting, and baking. In the process, there are bound to be some crumbs/ food particles that fall on the racks, walls, or floor of the appliance. This is especially likely if you place the food directly onto the racks.

If you don’t clean the toaster oven, there’ll be a buildup of bread crumbs and food particles, which on subsequent use of the toaster oven, will burn, emit smoke, and may even catch fire.

2. Accumulation of Oil/Grease

The toaster oven’s roof, sidewalls, and floor will likely accumulate grease if you often broil high-fat foods like steaks directly on the appliance’s racks without a baking sheet underneath. The oil will eventually harden and burn, emitting smoke in the subsequent use of the appliance.

3. Burning Away of the Protective Coating

When your toaster oven is new, it is likely to emit smoke. This should not scare you because the heat is burning away the protective oil-based factory coating used by manufacturers to protect the appliance from damage when it is in storage or transportation. Consider running the toaster oven without anything to allow the coating to burn off completely.

After that, the smoke should dissipate. If the smoke doesn’t stop, it might indicate a severe technical issue that you should engage an expert to inspect and fix.

4. Dust Buildup

If you don’t use your toaster oven frequently, it is best to store it away and cover it when you’re not using it. This is because when the appliance sits on your counter, it collects dust, and a dusty toaster oven will emit smoke. To prevent smoking, wiping the machine before using it is best.

5. Appliance Malfunction

If your toaster oven’s electrical cord is damaged, it might emit smoke. This is risky because it can quickly start a fire.

Also, if its heating element is damaged, it might cause smoking. It’s best to disconnect the appliance immediately from the power source if you notice smoke from the toaster oven’s electrical cord.

6. Detergent Residue

You might notice smoke from your oven toaster if you recently cleaned it with detergent and didn’t rinse it off adequately. As the appliance heats up, you may see some smoke as the residue of the detergent burns off.

The Risks of a Smoking Toaster Oven

Not only is smoke from a toaster oven displeasing, but it has other effects. They include:

1. It Can Result in a Fire

If there’s too much buildup of grease/oil in the toaster oven, a fire can start as the grease melts. Also, a fire can start if the appliance malfunctions but you continue using it. This can be a hazard if the fire spreads to flammable items near the appliance.

2. It Changes Your Food’s Flavour

Smoke can alter the taste of food, making it less delicious. Also, if your appliance is smoking, you’ll likely have very low motivation to continue cooking.

How To Fix a Smoking Toaster Oven

To fix a smoking toaster oven, you must first establish the cause. Is it grease or debris buildup, dust accumulation, appliance malfunction, burning of the protective coating, or detergent residue? Afterward, you can use the following tips to stop and prevent the reoccurrence of smoking in your appliance.

1. Ensure Regular Cleaning

Cleaning your toaster oven regularly, depending on the frequency of use, is vital to prevent it from smoking. As discussed in the previous segment of this article, grease, and food particle buildup are some of the leading causes of a toaster oven smoking. It is best to clean the appliance weekly if you use it daily or at least monthly if you use it infrequently.

Also, wiping spills and removing large food particles immediately after using the toaster oven is vital. It is best to use safe cleaning products such as baking soda, vinegar, or dishwashing soap when cleaning your toaster oven.

How To Clean Your Toaster Oven

Consider the following steps when cleaning this kitchen appliance.

• Unplug the appliance from the power source to avoid electrocution and allow it to cool if you are using it.
• Remove the baking tray and wash it in a sink with warm water and dishwashing detergent to remove grease. Use a soft-bristled brush, baking soda, and water mixture to scrub any stubborn food from the baking tray.
• Rinse the baking tray and allow it to dry.
• Use water, vinegar solution, and a sponge to clean the inside of the toaster oven. Vinegar is vital in breaking off grease and grime. Use a soft-bristled brush to scrub off any stubborn patches. Alternatively, you can use baking soda instead of vinegar.
• Use a microfiber cloth dipped in clean water to rinse off the inside of the appliance and remove any traces of the cleaning solution.
• After that, let the appliance dry and then reassemble it.
• Also, clean the outside of the toaster oven using a microfiber cloth dipped in vinegar and water solution.
• Scrub stubborn stains using a soft-bristled brush.
• Afterward, wipe the appliance a final round and leave it to dry before using it.

2. Cover/Store Away When Not in Use

When not using your appliance, it is best to return it to its package and keep it in a pantry or a cupboard. This will protect it from collecting dust which can lead to smoking the next time you use it. It will also ensure that the toaster oven’s electrical cords remain intact.

3. Consult a Pro About Faulty Appliances

If you are sure that your appliance doesn’t have dust, food, or grease buildup and it’s not new, but it’s producing a lot of smoke, it is best to consult a professional. It could mean that some electrical component of the machine is faulty and needs repair.

4. Burn Off Factory Coating

When the toaster oven is new, it will emit smoke as the manufacturer’s coating burns. Before using the appliance, you must allow this plastic smell to wane off. Consider allowing the toaster oven to work with nothing in it for about 30 to 60 minutes.

After that, the smell should have dissipated.

Conclusion

Smoke emission from a toaster oven is not always a cause for alarm. In most cases, it results from the burning off the manufacturer’s coating or grease, food particles, or dust buildup.

Burning off the initial manufacturer’s coating, cleaning your appliance regularly, and storing it correctly when you’re not using it can prevent your toaster oven from smoking. Also, it is vital to consult a pro if you suspect your appliance is malfunctioning.