Many people have a habit of leaving household appliances plugged into the kitchen counter for convenience. However, according to the U.S. Fire Protection Agency (USFA), some common appliances can waste energy and pose a serious fire hazard if not unplugged after use.
Even when the switch is off, the device continues to consume a certain amount of electricity. This phenomenon is often referred to as "ghost electricity" or "energy-draining devices," and can account for 5% to 10% of your total monthly electricity bill. More dangerously, maintaining a continuous power connection can cause sparks or short circuits.
Here are three kitchen appliances that need to be completely unplugged after each use:
Air fryer
Air fryers are popular appliances and are often placed permanently on kitchen counters. Like many other household appliances, air fryers still consume electricity even when switched off.
Safety experts advise users to treat air fryers like any other high-heat appliance: unplug them immediately after cooking. Additionally, each outlet should only be used for one heat-generating appliance at a time to avoid electrical overload.
Toaster
Toaster ovens pose a high risk of fire and explosion due to exposed heating elements and the accumulation of bread crumbs inside. These dry crumbs can easily ignite in the event of a sudden voltage surge or electrical short circuit.
In addition, the basic switch of the toaster oven may wear out or malfunction after prolonged use. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has documented numerous cases where toaster ovens still had electricity flowing through them even when they appeared to be switched off. The Electrical Safety International (ESFI) also recommends that users always unplug the appliance when not in use.
Coffee maker
Many people have a habit of leaving their coffee maker plugged in overnight and setting a timer so they have a drink ready in the morning. However, leaving an electrical appliance running while the whole family is asleep is equivalent to "unsupervised cooking"—a leading cause of kitchen fires.
To ensure maximum safety, users should disable the overnight timer function and only plug in and start the device in the morning right before use.