i don't unplug my toaster, but I *have* walked up on a small fire in a toaster on a concrete counter. If that toaster lived in a wood, flammable cabinet, I wouldn't have noticed the fire until my house was on fire.

Do you all unplug your toaster ovens?

Anonymous wrote:Seriously do you people unplug all your lamps, TV sets, electric toothbrushes, Alexa, phone chargers, etc etc etc? Seems ridiculous to obsess over a small appliance.

No, no, yes, n/a, yes, probably.

Some things like most lamps, TVs, and large appliances are designed to stay plugged in.
I would definitely unplug something that is designed to be hot. So: Toaster, waffle iron, curling iron, hair dryer.


So I definitely would not up have a toaster plugged in under a counter.

Anonymous wrote:Seriously do you people unplug all your lamps, TV sets, electric toothbrushes, Alexa, phone chargers, etc etc etc? Seems ridiculous to obsess over a small appliance.

Not the same. This is a high voltage appliance

These items should always be unplugged after use. So maybe a power strip nailed to the cabinet drawer that you could easily plug into? I don’t trust cheap Chinese appliances anymore

Seriously do you people unplug all your lamps, TV sets, electric toothbrushes, Alexa, phone chargers, etc etc etc? Seems ridiculous to obsess over a small appliance.

Do it but maintain it unplugged. We don't leave any small appliances plugged in.

PS (pp with kitchen renovation): the electrician and code inspector had no issues with my outlet in the cabinet. No different than my Keurig that stay plugged in on top of the coffee bar counter.

I have this exact set up (added it during a kitchen renovation) —slide out shelf with toaster and vitamix. They both stay plugged in all the time though we are careful to completely cool the toaster before sliding the shelf back in. Love this set up and live having cleared counters.

I would worry someone would absent-mindedly slide the toaster back in before it has cooled or forget to unplug it. The idea sounds like an accident waiting to happen.

Yes. Unplug the toaster.

We have the slide out for the mixer and have an outlet in the island to plug into. We do not leave it plugged in while stored. It takes a whole 3 seconds to plug in for use.

Just unplug it when you are done.

Oh, in addition, I was thinking the same situation for a stand mixer....

We have slide out cabinet shelves. I was thinking how great it would be to keep a toaster on one of them, plugged in, and just slide it out when needed, then once the toaster cools down, slide it back in an close the door. Saves time and trouble, since I hate having cluttered counters and my husband loves his toasted morning waffles.

I didn't think it would be any different than having a disposal, or dishwasher, or range top fan plugged into their respective cabinets. But my husband said it's too dangerous. He also said he consulted with a handyman who agreed. Is this true, are toasters more dangerous to leave plugged in (and have under a counter, inside a cabinet) than other small appliances? I guess I could understand (maybe) if one didn't allow the toaster to cool down before closing the doors.