Quick answer: Unplug the toaster and let it cool, then remove its crumb tray using the release method in the manual. Empty loose crumbs into the trash, wash the tray only as permitted, and dry it completely before putting it back. Wipe the toaster exterior with a soft damp cloth and keep water out of the slots. If burning continues after reachable crumbs are removed, stop using the toaster rather than probing around its heating elements.
The tray is the first place to look
A crumb tray can disappear into the base so neatly that it looks like fixed trim. Look for a small pull, handle, or release near the bottom. Some toasters have more than one tray. Others require a press-and-release motion before sliding the tray out. Check the model instructions rather than pulling on whatever looks removable.
The point of this job is to remove food that has already fallen to the bottom. It does not provide access to every internal surface. A clean tray can coexist with a stuck piece of bread or another fault higher in the appliance.
Before you touch the tray
Cancel any cycle, disconnect the plug, and wait for the toaster to cool. A lever in its raised position does not mean the appliance is disconnected. Keep the toaster on a dry, stable surface, with the cord away from the sink and hot cooking equipment.
Have a waste container and a clean towel ready. If you must move the toaster to reach its tray, make sure the cord is free and the appliance has cooled first. Keep children away from the work area. Do not balance the toaster on a narrow sink edge while cleaning.
Check for a frayed cord, melted plastic, loose housing, scorch marks near electrical parts, or a plug that looks damaged. Those are reasons to stop using the appliance and contact the manufacturer. Cleaning should not hide a problem that needs evaluation.
Empty, wash, dry, and seat the tray
- Release the tray as directed. Hold it level as it slides out so crumbs do not spill into the base or onto the floor. Do not force a jammed tray.
- Empty dry debris. Tip the tray into the trash. Avoid shaking the entire appliance or striking it against the counter.
- Inspect the tray. Look for loose food versus a permanent heat stain. A discolored tray does not need to be polished back to new metal.
- Use its approved washing method. For a hand-washable tray, use dish soap and a soft cloth or sponge. Do not assume that a metal appearance makes it dishwasher safe.
- Remove soap and moisture. Rinse as the manual permits and dry the corners, folded edges, and handle area. Set it on a clean towel while you wipe the exterior.
- Reinstall it correctly. Follow the original orientation and confirm the tray has seated. Do not use the toaster with the tray missing or partly inserted.
KitchenAid's general toaster support instructions describe a hand-wash-only crumb tray. If your own model manual lists a different approved method, follow that instruction rather than applying the general support page to every toaster.
Keep the inside dry
Use a soft damp cloth on the exterior, with only the moisture the manual permits, and dry afterward. Apply nothing directly into the slots. Do not immerse the toaster, hold it under a faucet, or spray cleaner through a vent.
If you can see food caught inside, unplugging is the first step but not permission to scrape around the elements. Consult the manual's jammed-food procedure. Do not insert a knife, fork, screwdriver, or improvised brush. Do not remove the base, bend the bread guides, or pull at heating wires.
Sticky fillings create a different mess from dry crumbs. A tray wash cannot remove cheese that has reached internal components. Stop using an appliance with inaccessible sticky deposits and ask support whether cleaning or replacement is appropriate.
How often should you empty it?
KitchenAid recommends emptying the crumb tray after each use, once cool. That routine is especially easy to forget when the toaster lives behind other counter items. Leave enough room to reach the release instead of hiding it behind a canister.
Use what you actually see as a prompt: loose crumbs on the counter below the toaster, crumbs spilling during tray removal, or repeated accumulation after a crumbly loaf all deserve attention. None of these observations measures how clean the interior is. They simply tell you the accessible tray needs care.
For a four-slot model with two trays, check both rather than assuming one pull empties the whole appliance. Clean and return one tray at a time if their shapes differ. Photograph the original arrangement so an identical-looking handle does not hide an incorrectly seated tray.
If the smell comes back
Do not repeatedly run empty heating cycles to burn residue away. If the tray is correctly installed and dry but unusual burning, smoke, sparking, or malfunction continues, disconnect the toaster when safe and contact support. Do not leave it running while you investigate another part of the kitchen.
A calm cleaning sequence helps keep separate jobs separate. Use the move-in kitchen checklist when resetting an unfamiliar appliance area. If the odor does not clearly come from the toaster, the household odor checklist can help you inspect other sources without adding fragrance.
Sources
- KitchenAid Product Help: Cleaning a Toaster
- U.S. Fire Administration: Appliance and Electrical Fire Safety
By Gohall Clean Team. Sources checked August 31, 2026. Tray releases and washing permissions vary by model. Featured image is an AI-generated editorial illustration.