Find the easiest, most efficient way to clean your self-cleaning or conventional oven using products that are safe for you and your family.
Cleaning your oven is never much fun, but it is necessary for efficient cooking and healthy eating. The amount of time you spend depends on the type of oven you have, and the cleaning materials you have available.
If you have a self-cleaning oven, follow the directions in your owner's manual exactly. Some models produce smoke or fumes during the cleaning mode, so be sure to ventilate the room well, remove all plants and pets, and protect countertops and other surfaces in close proximity to the oven with newspapers or tarps. After the oven has completely cooled, with the gray, ashy residue out with a damp sponge. Never use commercial oven cleaners on a self-cleaning oven. Residue left behind can be changed into unsafe compounds by the high heat used in the cleaning mode.
Cleaning a conventional oven affords you several options. The quickest way to clean is to use a commercial, spray-on cleaner. Spray the cleaner on the interior surfaces of a cool oven, being careful not to spray the light or the heating element directly. Heat the oven as directed in cleaning instructions. Allow oven to cool completely before wiping all surfaces with a damp cloth or sponge. Wear rubber gloves throughout this procedure to protect your hands from the harsh chemicals contained in commercial cleaners.
Using ammonia to clean the oven is an even simpler way to clean, though it is more time consuming and requires many of the same precautions. Place a small bowl in the oven filled with a half cup of full-strength ammonia and close the oven door. Let stand overnight. Fumes from the ammonia will help break down food stains and spills. In the morning, wipe loosened dirt with newspapers or paper towels. Next, scrub remaining food residue with fine steel wool and soap. Wipe off suds with paper towels. Then wash all interior surfaces with warm, soapy water and rinse thoroughly.
One last option remains for cleaning conventional ovens. Baking soda is not only the safest option, being ecologically sound, but it is also the most efficient and cost effective method available. Mix three tablespoons of baking soda into a one quart plastic spray bottle full of water. Shake lightly until the baking soda is completely dissolved in the water. Spray the mixture on all interior surfaces of a cool oven. Heat oven thoroughly for roughly thirty minutes or an hour. The baking soda helps to break down food stains and spills when heated. Wipe all interior surfaces of the cooled oven with a damp cloth or sponge. Repeat this method as often and as many times as necessary to thoroughly clean your oven. This method can also be used during regular cooking and baking cycles since baking soda will not taint or poison food.
There are a few things you can do between cleanings to keep your oven cleaner and your cooking more efficient. First, carefully wipe up spills in your oven right when they happen, before they have a chance to bake and stick on the porcelain surfaces. When cooking something that could overflow, line a cookie sheet with foil and place it underneath the rack you are cooking on. Using the baking soda solution for minor spills between major cleaning will keep stains, odors, and smoke to a minimum. Racks should be removed during cleaning and scrubbed by hand frequently to prevent a build-up of food soil.
Cleaning your oven may not be much fun, but it is necessary. A dirty oven can cause smoke and unpleasant odors. But a clean oven is a healthy oven.
