6 things you definitely shouldn’t put in your toaster

Caroline Westbrook Published December 2, 2025 2:57pm Updated December 2, 2025 2:57pm Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook Comment now Comments Click to see more Back Next

No matter what gadgets and gizmos you may have in your kitchen, one item which remains an essential is the humble toaster. Because, let's face it, everybody loves toast. Whether it's for a grab-and-go breakfast or a late night snack, topped with a can of beans or slathered in butter and Marmite, it's the ultimate comfort food. (Picture: Getty Images)

Your toaster's a versatile device, which is makes it useful when it comes to warming up crumpets, bagels, waffles and all manner of baked goods. But as with all kitchen appliances, you have to treat your toaster carefully and that means not putting anything in it that could cause mess, cause it to break or - even worse - start a fire. Read on for some of the things that should never go near your toaster — and what you should do with them instead... (Picture: Getty Images)

1. Cheese

The lunch of champions, there is arguably no finer use for two slices of toast than shoving a load of cheddar between them and cooking it until it's melted. You don't want to even think about making this one from start to finish in the toaster though. At best, cheese which is heated up in the toaster will melt all over the inside and be impossible to clean. At worst, you could even start a fire due. And don't even think about flipping the toaster on its side to do this either, as that's a separate fire risk all of its own. Stick to making cheese on toast under the grill instead. If it's toasties you're after, either invest in a sandwich maker or consider other methods such as pan frying or cooking in the airfryer (although make sure it's contained if you do this to prevent spills). (Picture: Getty Images)

2. Buttered bread

There's something rather wonderful about a plate of hot buttered toast and a mug of tea when the weather's a bit grim. Quick word of advice though — don't butter the bread before putting it in the toaster, no matter how much you might think it'll save time. Far from emerging from the toaster oozing golden buttery liquid, it'll just melt inside the toaster, make a big old mess in the process and potentially even spark. This one is simple. Toast the bread first and then butter it as soon as you've taken it out of the toaster, while it's still hot, and you'll get the melty butter you're after. (Picture: Getty Images)

3. Bacon

Are you a 'bacon sandwich for breakfast' sort of person? Whether it's a weekend treat, a hangover cure or your standard start to the day, they're a popular choice. But if you're thinking of cooking your bacon in the toaster to speed things along, we'll give you a bit of advice: don't. Once again there's a safety risk here, since the fat from the meat will drip into the toaster as it heats and (say it with us now) make it hard to clean or even catch fire. There's even a chance the hot oil could splash you when the bacon pops up, causing injury. The good news is there's plenty of other ways of cooking bacon which are far safer and will give you just as good an end result - frying, grilling etc. Aka the normal ways. So stick to one of those instead. (Picture: Getty Images)

4. Pastries

This one's a bit of a grey area. Strictly speaking you shouldn't put any pastries containing icing, jam or sugar into your standard toaster because - you guessed it - those ingredients can melt, drip into the toaster or onto the heating elements and generally cause havoc. However certain types of pastries - such as Pop-Tarts, for example - are specifically designed for the toaster and therefore perfectly safe, as long as you follow the instructions on the packaging. Oh, and just don't bite into it immediately like an impatient child or you'll know about it. As for those cinnamon buns, croissants and turnovers? Stick them in the oven or airfryer instead. (Picture: Getty Images)

5. Plastic

Okay, so no one is trying to shove a Tupperware container in their toaster. We hope. But there might be circumstances in which your tempted to put plastic in, such as using plastic cutlery from the work kitchen to try and retrieve a bit of stuck toast. The heat of the device is likely to melt the plastic, potentially releasing toxic fumes or even starting a fire. Your office won't love that. And while we're at it, the same applies to paper (so if you're toasting something in a sandwich bag make sure it's a toaster-approved one) and Styrofoam, both of which can have similar consequences. (Picture: Getty Images)

6. Forks and other metal

We've all been there. That moment when your breakfast bagel or slice of sourdough gets stuck in the toaster. It's tempting to get a knife or fork to retrieve the remains despite all the warnings we got as a kid but please, we beg you, don't do that. Sticking a fork, knife or other metal object into a toaster is incredibly dangerous as metal conducts electricity and if it comes into contact with the live heating elements, you could be given a nasty shock. Even sticking metal into an unplugged toaster is risky as you could damage the internal components, which lead to a fault. To remove any stuck toast unplug the device, wait for it to cool down, and use something like silicone-tipped tongs instead. (Picture: Getty Images) Back Back Start Start Next Next Next GalleryNext Gallery