Burning Smell Coming From Your Bread Maker? Read This

A burning smell coming from your bread maker will immediately make you feel concerned. Is there something seriously wrong with your bread machine? Take a look at why the burning smell occurs and what you should do about it in this article.

If you smell burning coming from your bread maker, do this:

1. Turn the bread machine off, unplug it, and allow it to cool
2. Clean any spilled ingredients
3. Clean the unit after each use
4. If it is brand new, use it a couple of times

Smelling burning in the kitchen is worrying. So, take a look at the 4 steps in this article that will help you to eliminate the problem and feel more at ease.

What You Should Do When There is a Burning Smell Coming From Your Bread Maker

A burning smell coming from your bread maker will make you feel on edge. What’s burning? Is it your bread, some bread crumbs, or is it something else? You can pinpoint the problem and fix it with the help of the following 4 steps.

Step #1 Turn the Bread Machine off, Unplug It, and Allow It to Cool

The very first thing you should do if you smell burning when using a bread maker is to turn it off. After turning it off, plug the machine out at the mains and allow it time to cool. Make sure that the machine has cooled down completely before you attempt to touch it.

The bread machine might be smoking because your bread has burned. This happens when the heating settings are too high or the bread is left cooking for too long.

Here are a few tips to stop this from happening again:

• Follow the recipe closely. Stick to the cooking time mentioned in the instructions.
• Set a timer if your bread machine doesn’t have an automatic shut-off. When the timer goes off, be sure to remove the bread from the machine.
• Stick to the temperature in the recipe. Some recipes are in Fahrenheit and others in Celsius. Make sure you convert the heating measurements correctly. Do not allow the bread to cook at a temperature hotter than recommended.
• Bake the right quantity of bread for the bread maker. Baking too little at a high temperature will cause the bread to burn.
• If the bread begins to burn, remove it from the breadmaker. Wipe the bread bin with a warm, *damp cloth to get the burned-on bread off of the unit.
• If the bread maker begins to smoke, turn it off. Allow the bread maker to cool before you touch it. Open a window before taking the lid off.

*NOTE: Never submerge the bread maker in water. After cleaning the bread pan with a damp cloth, dry it before returning it to the machine.

Step #2 Clean Spilled Ingredients

Let’s check out the next tip. Your bread maker might have a burning smell coming from it if ingredients from the bread pan spill into the main unit.  As the breadmaker gets hotter, these ingredients start to catch and burn.

It’s easy to spill ingredients into the middle of the appliance. This could happen while you are pouring the ingredients into the bread pan and making the dough. Ingredients such as flour are very fine. They could easily find their way onto the heating elements in your bread maker.

So, what can you do to stop this from happening in the future? Here are a couple of tips:

• Remove the bread pan from the bread maker when you are adding the ingredients. This will reduce the chance of them getting into the main part of the bread maker and smoking.
• Keep the bread maker closed while you are mixing your ingredients together for the dough
• Wipe the outside of the bread pan before inserting it into the bread maker
• If your bread maker begins to smell like burning do this:
  1. Turn it off, plug it out, and allow it to cool down
  2. Take the bread pan out of the bread maker and wipe around the outside of it
  3. Dry the bread pan
  4. Turn the bread maker upside down and give it a shake to remove any ingredients or crumbs from inside it
  5. Use a *dry cloth to wipe around the heating elements of the bread maker and to clean it on the inside
  6. Wipe the bread maker with a cloth on the outside
  7. Return the bread pan to the bread maker
  8. Plug the bread maker back in and turn it on

*NOTE: Never use a damp cloth to wipe over the heating elements in the bread maker.

Step #3 Clean the Unit After Each Use

Ok, so we’ve spoken a little about what you should do when there is a burning smell coming from your bread maker. But more often than not, prevention is better than cure. So what can you do to stop your bread maker from smelling like burning in the first place?

To prevent burning smells, you should clean your bread maker after every use. Here’s what you should do to keep yours in the best condition:

1. After you have finished using the bread maker, turn it off and unplug it. Wait for it to cool.
2. Remove the bread pan and the bread
3. Wipe the bread pan with a warm, damp, cloth and a little bit of detergent. Clean the pan inside and out removing any crumbs from it.
4. Turn the bread maker upside down and give it a shake to remove any ingredients or crumbs from inside it
5. Use a dry cloth to wipe around the heating elements of the bread maker and to clean it on the inside
6. Wipe the bread maker with a cloth on the outside
7. Dry the bread pan
8. Return the bread pan to the bread maker
9. Store the bread maker in a cupboard or cover it to prevent dust from building up on it

Step #4 If it is Brand New, Use it a Couple of Times

Is your bread maker brand new? Were you a little unnerved when you plugged it in for the first time and immediately smelled burning? There’s no need to panic as it is very normal for new bread makers to smell like burning. Allow me to explain:

• New bread makers have a layer of factory coating over the heating coils. This layer helps to protect the unit from wear while it is in storage. When you first turn your bread maker on, it will begin to burn off this layer. It will smell like smoke the first and maybe even the second time you use it.
• Once you have used your bread maker a couple of times, the burning smell should disappear. If it doesn’t, discontinue your use of the unit and contact the manufacturer. There could be a fault with the machine. The manufacturer should be able to offer you a repair or a replacement under the warranty.

Conclusion

Can you smell burning coming from your bread maker? The smell of burning when cooking is always alarming as you may be unsure of its source.

I am sure this article has helped you to decipher where the burning smell is coming from. It has also no doubt guided you on how to stop the smell from returning. And you know when it would be best for you to return it to the manufacturer if it is faulty.

Has this article been helpful to you? Then why not check out some of our other articles and free guides on our website? You could even sign up to our email list.

Have a great day!

-Craig