Can you use non-stick cooking spray on a waffle maker?

Author: Tosh Lubek Published: 1st April 2021

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Have you ever gone into the kitchen in the morning and wondered what to make for breakfast? Your taste buds are yearning for something tasty like eggs, bacon, and tomatoes but you really don’t want all the hassle. Then waffles might be just what you need! Waffles can be quick and easy, especially if you prepare the waffle batter the night before. However, if you’re a fan of non-stick cooking sprays, like PAM, this blog post is not for you. Here we’re going to talk about why it’s best not to use these types of non-stick cooking sprays on your waffle maker.

Cooking spray should not be used on a waffle maker with a non-stick coating since the spray will leave a residue on the cooking plates. The more often you use cooking spray on your waffle maker the less non-stick it will become. With continued application of the cooking spray, the non-stick surface will be ruined, and your waffles will stick.

So, let’s go over this point by point.

Can you use non-stick cooking sprays on a waffle iron?

Cooking spray is not recommended for use when making waffles in a non-stick waffle iron. The non-stick cooking spray will adhere to the surface and gradually form a hard and tacky layer.

Non-stick cooking sprays contain soy lecithin, which, when heated on the waffle irons grid plates, turns into a gummy residue that quickly builds up to form a hard and tacky layer.

With continued application of the spray, your waffles may start to stick more often than before, which is never a good thing for any kitchen appliance! The cooking spray residue will eventually ruin the waffle iron’s non-stick coating, rendering the waffle iron useless. You’ll either end up throwing the waffle iron away or resign yourself to doing some serious deep cleaning. You don’t want that to happen, so just avoid using these sprays altogether.

What can I use instead of non-stick cooking spray?

The best alternatives to using non-stick cooking spray on your waffle iron are vegetable oil or butter. You’ll still be able to make your favorite breakfast treat without the waffles sticking.

Butter is a natural fat that won’t leave a thin greasy layer on the waffle iron. Vegetable oil behaves in a comparable way to butter and can also be used as an alternative to grease your waffle iron.

Another option is to use olive oil, like this Pompeian Smooth Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Like vegetable oil and butter, it will leave no residue on the waffle iron and has been shown to be healthier than butter or vegetable oils in some studies!

If you’re not a fan of the taste or smell of olive oil, then try coconut oil. A good choice for cooking is Kirkland Organic Virgin Coconut Oil. It has been shown to have some health benefits and is also an excellent alternative for those who are allergic/intolerant to dairy products like butter!

Coconut oil also has a high smoke point, making it an excellent cooking oil. It’s one of the fats recommended by Dr. Steven Gundry MD for cooking and as a substitute for vegetable oils in baking in his New York Times bestseller, The Plant Paradox Cookbook.

How do I grease a waffle iron correctly?

As already mentioned, use vegetable oil, butter, or one of the other alternatives I talked about, for greasing your non-stick waffle maker, but not a non-stick cooking spray. In the correct situation, this type of product can be a wonderful way to cook but give it a miss when making waffles.

Use a basting brush to apply melted butter or vegetable oil to the waffle maker plates. You only need a light brushing before each use since your waffle batter recipe already contains fats in the oil, egg yolks, and milk.

If you don’t want to use melted butter, take a little solid butter between finger and thumb, and rub it over the waffle grid plates. However, be careful not to burn yourself since those plates are going to be hot.

Using a basting brush is my preferred method of greasing my waffle maker since I can get right into the grooves of the grids. But whether you’re using a basting brush or applying solid fat, it is also important that you don’t use too much. You don’t want excess oil or butter running off and dripping, causing additional cleaning.

How do I remove cooking spray from my waffle maker?

Method #1

If you have a light coating of cooking spray on your waffle maker, use a damp cloth to wipe it off. You might find it necessary to use a little warm water and soap if plain water isn’t enough to lift off the spray.

Method #2

When you need to deal with a more stubborn coating of cooking spray you can use baking soda to clean the waffle grids. Mix some baking soda and water together to make a paste, then cover a small portion of the grid plate with the paste. Lightly work the paste into the cooking spray layer, especially in the grooves, with a soft brush. Something like a soft toothbrush will do. The baking powder paste is lightly abrasive and will remove the baked-on spray without doing too much damage to the waffle maker.

When you’ve done that small portion of the grid plate, apply more of the baking soda paste to the next section, clean, and repeat until you’ve done the whole area. Once complete, rinse off the remaining paste and do a final clean with a warm damp microfiber cloth. Finally, allow the waffle maker to dry completely before you put it away.

Method #3 

Another method worth trying when the cooking spray is badly coated with non-stick cooking spray that now baked-on is to use an oil-free batter to absorb and lift the residue. The method beats all that brushing with baking soda and allows easy cleaning in those difficult to get into nooks and crannies. The downside is that it’s a little wasteful of food ingredients.

Using a bowl, mix ¼ cup of flour with 1 egg, 1 tablespoon of baking powder, and 3 tablespoons of water. When the batter is combined and smooth, ladle it over the heated cooking grids of your waffle maker. Then close the waffle maker lid and allow the batter to cook.

Upon heating in the waffle maker, the baking soda will expand the oil-free batter into any awkward to get to parts of the grid plates. It will envelop and absorb and cooking spray residue and other left-over bits from the last use of the waffle maker.

Once the batter is cooked remove it from the waffle maker and discard it. If necessary, repeat until the sticky residue has all been removed from the waffle maker grids.

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