Many modern-day appliances are built with safety features that allow them to remain plugged in all the time. However, this can have a negative drawback on your electric bill at the end of the month and many consumers opt to unplug their appliances after they’re done using them.
As a general rule of thumb, you should always be unplugging appliances while they’re not in use. Leaving appliances plugged into an outlet can use up energy, regardless of whether they’re in use or turned on. You shouldn’t leave a toaster plugged in all the time, as it drains energy and puts a kitchen at an increased risk of fire danger.
Unplugging your toaster saves you money at the end of the day and it can save you from disaster. Many people wander off in the house, leaving their appliances unattended while in use.
The key to being prepared in the instance of an emergency is to have a fire extinguisher nearby and be familiar with how to use it if the need ever arises.
Is It Safe to Leave a Toaster Plugged In All the Time?
While many consumers may get away with leaving a toaster plugged in all the time without any disaster occurring within the home, the recommended safety measure is to unplug the appliance when not in use.
Electrical components should not be left plugged into the outlet constantly, as this increases the risk of hazards and a potential fire outbreak in the kitchen.
The inconvenience of plugging in and unplugging a toaster is minimal and provides little in the way of an obstacle to the user. However, it can protect your home and kitchen and decrease the likelihood of a fire occurring while left unattended.
The same is true with other kitchen appliances, such as a toaster oven, a blender, and a coffee pot. These items should be unplugged while not being actively used to create a hot pot of coffee or a delicious protein smoothie.
Owners of toasters should ensure that they’re regularly cleaning out any crumbs and debris from the bottom of the appliance.
These stale, burnt pieces may ignite more easily and cause a fire in the kitchen. Not only does clearing out scraps from the toaster keep it functioning for many years, but it can also protect your home from fire damage and excess smoke.
Leaving a toaster plugged in can be increasingly dangerous if you have little ones or curious animals in the home. It’s not unheard of for a feline to jump up on the counter and play with cords and levers, which can potentially turn the toaster on.
Small hands may reach up on the counter and unexpectedly turn on the toaster before anyone has the chance to realize what’s happened. An unplugged toaster is less likely to be turned on by pets or children.
Can a Toaster Catch Fire? How?
Toasters can catch fire if food is left to overcook within the appliance. This can cause the item to ignite and anything around the toaster, such as a dishtowel, paper towel rack, or another flammable object to catch fire and spread the flames around the kitchen.
Toasters can also catch fire if the internal heating elements malfunction and cause a spark to ignite the appliance.
The best way to ensure toaster safety is to unplug the appliance when not in use. Consumers should also never leave the appliance unattended while their breakfast is cooking. Toasters generally only take a minute or two to fully heat the food being toasted.
After this point, the toaster should be unplugged and placed somewhere safe and open to cool down completely. Hot toasters shouldn’t be placed in a drawer or other confined space.
Fires can break out surprisingly fast in the kitchen. While it may seem safe to toast your sourdough bread while you finish your morning routine, it’s safest to wait in the kitchen.
This way, if a spark ejects from the appliance or something begins to burn, somebody is there to quickly de-escalate the situation before it becomes more serious.
Safety measures every homeowner should take include keeping a fire extinguisher nearby in the kitchen. Everybody in the home should know how to use it.
The worst time to learn how to operate an extinguisher is during an active fire, as mental capacities are stretched to their limit and human error is more likely to occur during times of fear and stress.
Functional smoke alarms are an important element in avoiding fire hazards in the kitchen. While they may seem like an annoyance when they go off if you accidentally overcook your meal, they can be a lifesaver if a fire breaks out and nobody is in the kitchen to notice it.
Once the toaster is unplugged from the socket, users should take a quick moment to inspect the wiring on the appliance every once in a while.
This ensures that exposed electrical elements are noticed and either repaired or safely disposed of before they pose a threat. If the cord has been damaged in any way, the unit should not be sold or given away.
Does a Toaster Use Electricity When Plugged In But Not In Use?
Appliances tend to use energy while they’re plugged in, even if they’re not currently in use. This phenomenon is referred to as phantom or shadow load. Shockingly, this standby power drain can account for between 5-10% of a household’s energy use.
Those looking to save money on their electricity bill can expect to save between $100-$165 annually if they become more diligent about their appliances, including the toaster.
Unplugging appliances when they’re not being actively used is a good rule of thumb for homeowners. This is true not only of toasters in the kitchen, but also of printers, coffee makers, and various household chargers.
While the energy drain may not result in significantly increased charges on the bill, there are still savings to be had if appliances are consistently unplugged.
Some devices have a “standby” mode. This insinuates that the device is off and not silently draining electricity from the outlet. This is not always the case and sometimes these offenders can be sneaky offenders.
According to the Department of Energy, those looking to save money on energy should keep their appliances unplugged while they’re not being actively used.
The same recommendation goes for turning off lights while nobody is using them, as this can slowly add up costs of the month and the year that can equate to hundreds of extra dollars in electricity costs that weren’t necessary.
How Many House Fires Are Caused by Toasters?
Human error is often the culprit of household fires related to kitchen appliances. However, some fires can be due to issues with the item itself and failure on the manufacturer’s part to ensure a safe product for consumers.
The cheaper the parts, the more disposable the appliance is considered to be. This can often lead to flammable and dangerous machines that pose a threat to a home.
When a toaster fails to turn off, the result can be a house fire that breaks out in the kitchen. Oftentimes, toasters are plugged in, used, and unplugged while left to cool. If they are left unattended, this can quickly escalate into a house fire waiting to happen.
Between the years of 2014-2018, there were over 170,000 house fires originating in the kitchen according to fire departments around the United States. While not all of these were due to a toaster, it’s safe to assume a fraction of them were due to this popular appliance.
Toasters generally fall under the fifth most common kitchen appliance to start a fire. This can happen when food items, such as toast and bagels become overcooked and ignite from the heat.
According to Consumer Reports, the most frequently cited issues with toasters and toaster ovens were linked to the toaster turning on by itself and the mechanism jamming while in use.
Unplugging the appliance can prevent the toaster from turning on while unattended and remaining in the kitchen while it’s in use can prevent ignition due to a jam.
The Pros and Cons of Unplugging Kitchen Appliances
The benefits of unplugging kitchen appliances are a safer home and saved expenses on energy costs. When a kitchen appliance, such as a toaster, is unplugged while it’s not being used, equates to a safer kitchen and home. Appliances that are left plugged in at all times can drain the outlets of energy while
There aren’t many cons when it comes to unplugging kitchen appliances, other than the extra step of plugging them back in the next time you want to use them.
This quickly becomes a habit and many home cooks don’t even realize they’re doing it. The benefits of unplugging kitchen appliances far outweigh any cons, as you can have the peace of mind that your home is safe from electrical fires that may occur from an overheated appliance.
While some appliances, such as toaster ovens, generally have a safety fuse feature that is meant to blow if the appliance becomes overheated — it’s not generally recommended to solely rely on this feature.
This method can be flawed and may result in smoke and a potential fire. The best rule of thumb is still to unplug the appliance while you’re not using it.