We use it mechanically, sometimes still half asleep, without really paying attention to it. And this is precisely where the risk begins. “The toaster is one of the most underestimated household appliances when it comes to domestic danger”recalls Dr. Gérald Kierzek. Extreme heat, electricity, flammable residues: all the ingredients are there for the accident. Here are the 7 most frequent and dangerous errors to absolutely avoid with your device.
Insert a metal knife to recover a stuck piece of toast
This is undoubtedly the most well-known error… and yet still so common. Slipping a knife or fork into a toaster that is still plugged in can result in immediate electrocution. The internal resistances remain under electrical voltage.
“Good practice: always unplug the appliance, wait for it to cool, and only use plastic tongs or a wooden spoon”.
Place the toaster under a curtain or low piece of furniture
The heat produced by a toaster can reach 300°C and rises vertically. Installed under a curtain, a shelf or near fabrics, it can cause a house fire in a few minutes.
“The right place for your toaster is one that leaves 20 to 30 cm of free space above and around it, placed on a stable, non-flammable surface.”
Eating charred bread
Too toasted toast is not only less appetizing: it can be harmful. Indeed, excessive cooking of starch at more than 120°C produces acrylamide, a substance classified as potentially carcinogenic.
“Do you like toasted bread? Aim for a golden color, scrape off the burnt areas if necessary and limit the consumption of very blackened toast.”
Neglect accumulated crumbs
Crumbs aren’t just a cleanliness problem. By accumulating at the bottom of the toaster, they become highly flammable. On contact with the resistors, they may catch fire. Many house fires start this way.
“Empty the crumb drawer every 5 to 6 uses, appliance unplugged and completely cooled” advises the doctor.
Toast buttered or topped bread
Butter, cheese, garlic or oil melt and flow onto the heating elements. Result: toxic fumes, accelerated fouling and risk of fire, with compounds irritating to the respiratory tract.
It’s a matter of common sense “We butter our bread after toasting and we use a suitable appliance (croque-monsieur, oven) for the filled breads.”
Leave it plugged in all the time
Even when turned off, a plugged-in toaster remains a live electrical appliance. With accumulated crumbs or an internal fault, the risk of overheating or short circuiting exists. “A device plugged in without supervision is a device at risk”, calls back the doctor.
Good practice: always unplug after each use and never leave it running unsupervised.
Use near water or with wet hands
Water is an excellent conductor of electricity. Using a toaster near a sink or on a damp surface exposes you to serious electric shock.
“We always use it with dry hands, and of course we clean the device dry only, never run it under water or in the dishwasher” recalls Dr. Kierzek.
The toaster is not dangerous in itself, it is our careless use that is. As Dr. Gérald Kierzek reminds us, “the majority of domestic accidents are preventable with simple actions“.