Cleaning your oven for holiday roasting and baking is important since the aromas of old grease and spilled food can taint the flavor of what is being baked or roasted, according to Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Self Cleaning. If you have a self-cleaning oven, follow your owner’s manual for detailed instructions. Make sure to wipe up any spillovers or liquid grease to avoid excessive smoking during the cycle and setting off your smoke alarm. Remove any oven accessories and the racks before starting the cycle. The self-clean cycle takes about two hours during which the temperature reaches 800-1000 degrees F. The oven gives off a tremendous amount of heat during the cycle as well as some toxic fumes. You should stay at home while the oven is self-cleaning just in case anything goes awry, but you and your pets should stay out of the kitchen and vent the room as much as possible. When it’s over, you’ll see a white ash on the oven bottom that you’ll need to wipe out once the oven cools.
Chemical Oven Cleaners. This is the easiest, fastest process and will remove grease and grime but oven cleaners can be quite caustic. Carefully follow the directions on the product and be sure to protect the area around the oven with newspaper, paper towels, or old towels. Remove the racks as well as any other items in the oven. Spray the entire interior being careful to not get spray on the heating elements of an electric oven or the gas inlet of a gas oven. Lift the heating element and spray under it. Gloves and eye protection should be worn when using oven spray cleaners. Using an oven cleaner may leave white or grey discoloration of the surface. Also fumes may be detected the first time the oven is turned on.
“Do It Yourself”. While this may not be the fastest way to clean the oven, it is by far the safest and is appropriate for any oven type. Begin by removing everything from your oven and protecting the floor beneath your oven with newspapers, paper towels, or old towels. Mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with 2 to 3 tablespoons of water to make a spreadable paste. Spread the paste around the inside of the oven. Keep the paste away from the heating element of an electric oven and away from the gas inlet of a gas oven. It is also possible to lightly mist the paste with white vinegar in a spray bottle which will cause the paste to bubble and foam. Close the oven and allow the paste to sit for 30 minutes to 10 – 12 hours, or overnight depending upon the depth of cleaning needed. After time has elapsed, glove up and begin to rub the surfaces with a synthetic scrubbing pad dipped in vinegar or a plastic scraper to loosen baked on grime. Wipe down all surfaces with a damp cleaning cloth. If the paste is dry, spray with vinegar to soften and remove. After all of the paste and grime has been wiped away, spray the oven with vinegar and wipe dry.
Article released December 15, 2020
