How to clean a toastie maker?

[clairelb]

I have just re-discovered the joys of my toastie maker, however I seem to have lost the skill in making them and the toasties fall apart while cooking.  I wouldn’t mind too much but the burnt-on food is a nightmare to clean off.  Obviously as it’s an electrical appliance I can’t put it in with the washing up, so do any of you know the best way to get the plates really clean without causing any damage?

Thanks

Claire

[scubadiver]

I always just use a damp cloth & some kitchen roll. However, the secret is to clean the toastie maker while it is still hot/warm - don't let the burnt on stuff harden! 

[ursula62]

Dampen some kitchen towels and put them inside the machine while it warms up. The steam will loosen the burned on cheese and it scrapes off easier. Always use a non stick scraper though or things will stick even more if you damage the non stick coating.

[morg_monster]

i never clean them with detergent either just use a damp cloth... having the plates a bit oily stops the bread sticking next time... is that disgusting?

[cheyenne]

Turn it upside down and shake it!! job done.

[thikasabrik]

One gadget I wouldnt be without is a small black bag thingy ( cant remember its name) which you put your toastie into BEFORE you put it into the toastie maker. It cooks the same but your toastie maker stays spotless. The bag can be washed & reused over and over again. (It's the same material as those washable grill pan liners). I bought mine from Lakeland Plastics.

www.lakelandlimited.co.uk

[stellaqueen]

when the toastie maker is warming up i put butter on it then the bread / toast doesnt stick to the maker. cleaning it with a cloth is so much easier.

[Gef]

I always butter the outside of the toastie. Any leakages just wipe off with kitchen roll.

[tomd]

I work in a community centre where the only food the kitchen serves is toasted sandwiches - use the cheapest bread possible (the lower moisture makes it crispy), butter the outside only, grate the cheese and use less than you think you need. We have Morphy Richards 4 sandwich toasters and the best bit is the plates come out - there's clips and just the metal plates with the sandwich indentations fall out, so you can put them in the dishwasher. The toasters are only around �20 a piece, and I'm sure the two sandwich ones are less than 15. They came with some plates to make a George Formby style grill thing, but we never use them. Super!

Before we had these toasters we just used to wipe them while they were still warm (once it'd baked on it was a scrubbing job) but using less cheese stops it spilling out.

[cook1254]

Like thickasabrick I also use black bags but I bought them from a stall in Romford market. They are also sold at www.toastabags.com. They also fit inside normal toasters doing away with the sandwich toaster.

[shannonmcken]

you could use a hard (new) shoe brush (that has not been used or there will be sick family and friends)