I’m addicted to shortcuts. As a busy mum, who has time to do things the long way? If there’s a quick alternative, then I’m all for it. BUT, there are some Kmart pie maker hacks that sound awesome but are downright dangerous.

I love experimenting with my pie maker and sausage roll maker. I’ve used wonton wrappers as pastry (a BIG healthy tick), made scrumptious Nutella doughnuts (the BEST!), concocted giant ooey-gooey cheesy mushroom cup pies (YUM!) and even whipped up some lemon delicious eclairs (WOW!).

I’m always keen to learn from other pie maker enthusiasts and have joined every group that I possibly can to learn new Kmart pie maker hacks and tricks. But I’ve also been burned (literally) and just because a shortcut sounds genius, doesn’t mean that it’s actually safe.

WARNING: This Kmart Pie Maker Hack Is Deadly!

The latest Kmart pie maker hack to be making the rounds seemed flipping amazing at first, but has gone on to spark a massive debate. To flip, or not to flip….well, now that is the question.

I’m talking about the suggestion to physically flip over your pie maker machine in an attempt to cook pies (or eggs) more evenly. One pie maker enthusiast recently shared her experience using this trick.

“You’ve changed my world with this 4-minute egg magic, thank you Pie Pals! I set the alarm for 3:50 to then flip the machine over. It felt weird but I get it,” the post read.

The comments were accompanied by pics of perfectly cooked runny eggs.

Perfectly Cooked Eggs

It’s not a new thing to cook eggs in the pie maker. You can poach them or cook the yolks runny or a little firmer. All you need to do is crack the egg into cold machine. Turn it on. Wait for three to five minutes depending on how runny you like your yolk and as long as you initially seasoned your pie maker, the eggs shouldn’t stick.

To Flip…Or Not To Flip?

But there are a number of pie maker lovers that swear by flipping their machine over to achieve perfectly all-over-cooked results. Trying to turn half-solidified eggs with a spatula can be a messy nightmare. So instead of fighting with flipping your eggs, instead, you just need to turn your pie maker upside down. Too easy!

“Once you flip, you’ll never go back. Really not dangerous or unsafe unless you’re juggling it or something? Up the mighty flippers,” wrote one supporter of the flip.

The original poster said she tried it without flipping and she struggled to get a consistent result.

“I didn’t flip this morning and gave them extra time. Even at 4:45 the white on top wasn’t quite cooked. I can see the merit of the flip,” she said.

No!! I’m Flipping Out Over The Flip!

BUT, expert users are absolutely horrified about this Kmart pie maker hack.

“This business of flipping the machine over is crazy & unsafe. I don’t have to flip eggs for them to cook perfectly nor do I use water. If you need to cook top more, then flip the egg… not the machine,” said one appalled group member.

“Flipping a pie maker to ‘cook the top’ is like turning a toaster upside down to get the toast out,” said another.

They Are Not Meant To Be Flipped

One member actually dedicated a post to the danger of this popular Kmart pie maker hack.

“Pm’s are not made to be flipped over, doing this has caused lights to pop out, tripped power switches and blown machines,” they warned.

“This advice of flipping machines has been given over and over basically for when food isn’t cooking properly or not browning in most cases this can be resolved by just cooking for longer or flipping the food over inside the machine,” read the cautionary post.

“Not only could it damage the machine, but could lead towards burns and burning of bench tops.”

So, whatever you do – do not flipping flip your pie maker, OK?

Crazy Kmart Pie Maker Hacks #2

Another crazy Kmart pie maker hack is the suggestion to put the pie maker in a sink of warm soapy water minus the cord, and then allow to dry upside down.

However, a number of posters have poo-pooed the idea saying that “this is so dangerous and could lead to serious electric shock and is a definite NO NO!”

The pie maker user manual explicitly warns users to never immerse the pie maker in any kind of liquids so I have no idea how someone actually thought this was a viable solution to cleaning their machine.

“My husband is an A class electrician and he has advised NOT to put ANYTHING into water as this is asking for trouble!! It’s not just about the cord not being immersed, it’s the whole unit INSIDE that can cause serious injury, even death so come on everyone, stay safe and do not under any circumstances do this!” warned a member.

Crazy Kmart Pie Maker Hacks #3

Another popular Kmart pie maker hack is the idea of using non-stick cooking spray to ensure that the pie maker contents doesn’t leave an icky sticky mess.

Well, the experts have weighed in and it is suggested that you should NOT use any non-stick cooking spray on your machine as it may ruin your pie maker’s non-stick coating over time.

No-stick sprays often contain lecithin, which is an emulsifier, dimethyl silicone, which is an anti-foaming agent, and a propellant such as propane or butane.

After a number of uses, the lecithin in the non-stick spray will build-up on the surface of your pie maker and eventually become almost impossible to remove. The propellant also degrades the non-stick surface so after a while all food will start sticking to your pie maker.

“The use of cooking sprays is not recommended for use on non-stick cookware as cooking sprays burn at lower temperatures and will damage the non-stick coating of your product. An invisible buildup will impair the nonstick release system causing food to stick,” cookware manufacturer Anolon confirmed.

Instead, it’s crucial to follow the instructions of seasoning your pie maker before use. This should keep the non-stick surface intact. Also, be sure to clean all food residue from the pie maker after use. I usually unplug the pie maker and then wipe the surface with some damp paper towel while it is still warm.

What are your favourite or craziest Kmart pie maker hacks? Tell us in the comments below.

Main image via: Kmart Pie Maker Recipes, Tips and Ideas Australia.