There is nothing quite as simple a breakfast food as toast. It is the favorite of children and adults alike and simple enough to make that even a 5-year-old can do it. Adding in the wide variety of toppings that can be used to flavor the toast, it makes toast one of the foods in general, but especially for breakfast. Though with limited space, it can make storage an issue.
Can you put a toaster on a shelf? Yes and no. For storage, yes, a shelf is fine, but should be moved to a counter, clear of obstructions, for use and returned to its place on the shelf after it has cooled down.
Storing a toaster on a shelf is usually ok, but the use of a toaster on a shelf does present some problems. Due to the fact that the outside of a toaster can heat up in addition to the inside, there is potential risk of a fire if it gets too hot on a shelf or anywhere near flammable materials, such as paper or plastic.
Is a Toaster Safe To Use on a Wooden Table?
Assuming that the wooden table is not cluttered with flammable material, using it on a wooden table should be just fine. The bottom of a toaster does not tend to get nearly as hot as the sides of the toaster, so the risk of a spontaneous fire starting out is minimal. This is assuming that the feet on a toaster are missing since they provide air circulation to keep the bottom cooler.
Most wooden tables that you find within a kitchen or dining area are relatively safe to cook on; there are certain instances when it is not, and I will cover that in the next section, though even butcher block tables or unfinished ones if properly cared for, are perfectly safe to use a toaster on due to the rubber feet typically placed on the feet of a toaster.
In all honesty, wood typically needs a temperature of 450F to catch fire, and the outside of a toaster really is not capable of getting that hot. While care should be taken when touching a toaster while in use or a few minutes after use, this is due to risk of burns to human skin.
So while human skin can be damaged at 160F, that is only ⅓ of the temp needed to start a fire.
If you are concerned that your table could catch fire, you can always use a ceramic tile or mat to place the toaster on during operation. Ceramic is fireproof, and since it is often used as an insulator, it would protect the wood from any heat damage.
When is it Not Safe to Use on a Wooden Table?
There are certain circumstances when using a toaster on a wooden table are not advisable, and I would like to address those here.
Clutter: If your table is cluttered, especially with a lot of flammable materials, which can include but are not limited to: paper, plastic, and fabric. If these materials touch the side of the toaster during or shortly after operation, there is a risk of the heat from the toaster being enough to start a fire or doing other heat-related damage.
Chemicals present: Various chemicals only need a little heat to start a fire, and some of them can be found in the kitchen. While the obvious ones like gasoline most people know about, certain cleaners can also be flammable as well. If you are a semi-serious cook and have a cooking torch, the butane is obviously also flammable as can some medical supplies.
Unfinished tables: In some circumstances, we may use something for a table that was not intended for that purpose. This can include both homemade tables or unfinished ones. While there is the obvious risk of splinters from an unfinished table, there is also the risk of certain woods being more likely to catch fire and burn faster than other woods.
Toaster Operation Safety Precautions
A few things that should be taken into account when using a toaster should also be addressed. Some of these may sound familiar, some may not, so reading through all of them is advised.
Read the Instructions
Brand new toasters do come with an instruction book. In addition to the directions on operation (more expensive toasters come with thicker booklets) inside, you will usually find a small section on precautions. These should be adhered to as it helps to reduce the risk of injury to the user.
While more expensive toasters (and toaster ovens), which have more functions rather than just a plunger and a dial (some even being digital with a timer), even the most basic toaster will come with instructions, even if it is just a single sheet of paper. Precautions will be on there and should be adhered to.
Moisture is not a friend
At least not when it comes to anything involving electricity and toasters are no exception. While many people are aware not to try to toast bread while bathing, don’t use it near a sink either or any other water source. Due to water being such an excellent conductor of electricity, using near any water source can carry the risk of electrical shock.
It is for this reason that using a toaster on a wooden table can be safer than a counter, especially if you live in a smaller space or you have more limited counter space. You want to avoid using near a sink, if at all possible.
Teach your kids
While many people have been using a toaster safely since childhood, it is not knowledge we are born with. Toasters are great starter tools for children to use to start learning to cook; they do need to be taught how to use them safely. This is not a step that should be ignored as common sense needs to be taught, and this includes when using appliances.
Children can get great joy from feeling like they are contributing to the family meals, even if it is just making toast, but only if they can do so in a safe manner. Taking the time to teach your kids about safe operation at a young age can save trips to the Emergency Room in the future.
Fire extinguishers
Regardless if a toaster is being used in a kitchen, every kitchen should have one. When taking into account a toaster, you should have a Class C or CO2 extinguisher in your kitchen, just in case. These are made primarily for electrical fires, and even if the fire is not electrical in nature, there is still an electrical component that should not be ignored.
Owning a fire extinguisher, however, is not enough. You and everyone in your family should be taught how to use it properly as well. If a child is old enough to start to learn to cook, then they are also old enough to learn about fire safety.
What You Stick Inside
For the most part, it is best not to put anything into the slots on a toaster other than the food products you plan to toast (bread, bagels, etc.). This is due to the risk of electrical shock, especially with metal items. If you need to get something out that isn’t coming up far enough, you can either lift the plunger higher or use potholders to pick it up and flip it over.