{"id":609824,"date":"2023-02-19T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-19T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.sellorbuyhomefast.com\/index.php\/2023\/02\/19\/how-to-clean-an-oven-3-different-ways\/"},"modified":"2023-02-19T11:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-02-19T17:00:00","slug":"how-to-clean-an-oven-3-different-ways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2023\/02\/19\/how-to-clean-an-oven-3-different-ways\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Clean an Oven, 3 Different Ways"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cleaning your kitchen doesn\u2019t have to be a nightmare. Dare we say it could be fun?<\/em>\u00a0Welcome to BA\u2019s Cleaning Week<\/strong><\/em><\/a>: Consider this your trusty guide to the nooks and crannies that you definitely are not scrubbing often enough, plus the pro-approved tools and products to get the job done.<\/em><\/p>\n

When was the last time you took a good look inside your oven? You\u2019re probably used to opening the door and sliding in a\u00a0sheet pan<\/a> without a second thought, blissfully unaware of the brownish splatters crusting the walls. Please, for the love of casserole: Ignore the grease and grime no longer. Buildup over time can tinge all your food with a burnt flavor, emit an unpleasant odor, and increase the risk of a\u00a0kitchen fire<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cleaning the oven may seem like a daunting task, especially if you\u2019ve never tackled it before. What cleaning products are safe to use inside that hot box? Do those racks even come out? How often should I be cleaning my oven, anyways?\u00a0<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t worry: If you\u2019ve never cleaned an oven before\u2014or if it\u2019s been a while since the last good scrub-down\u2014you\u2019ve got options. We\u2019re breaking down how to clean an oven three different ways, so you can bake with the confidence that no mysterious brown crispies find their way into your\u00a0cheesecake<\/a>. Now, onto the good stuff.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Method 1: The Easy Route<\/h2>\n

The easiest way to clean an oven is to let it clean itself. Some ovens come with a self-cleaning function, which cranks the temperature up to a high heat (upwards of 800\u00b0F) for 3\u20135 hours, incinerating all the grease splatters and rogue crumbs to a neat pile of white ash. Think of it like an intense steam clean for your oven.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve read horror stories about self-clean settings malfunctioning, here\u2019s some reassurance: In a reliability survey,\u00a0Consumer Reports<\/a> found that self-cleaning issues are \u201cfew and far between.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

If you have a self-cleaning oven, simply\u00a0switch on the self-cleaning function<\/strong> and let the oven do its thing. A few notes: You can leave the oven racks in, but make sure to clear anything else (pots, sheet pans, the frozen pizza you forgot about) from the inside of the oven or the range. Turn on the range hood to absorb smoke or fumes. And plan ahead: Since the self-cleaning cycle takes a few hours, don\u2019t start it up right before dinnertime. Once the cycle ends, allow the oven to cool fully and wash the ash out with soap and warm water. Your oven will be squeaky-clean\u2014no elbow grease required.<\/p>\n

But if your oven doesn\u2019t have this coveted self-cleaning feature, don\u2019t fret. You can do a pretty bang-up job by hand\u2014it\u2019ll just take a little more TLC.<\/p>\n

Method 2: Chemistry Class<\/h2>\n

Cleaning your oven by hand may not be glamorous, but it\u2019s not as tedious as you might expect\u2014especially if you have the right supplies. To get a deep clean on your oven, we recommend purchasing a commercial oven cleaner like\u00a0Easy-Off Heavy Duty Oven Cleaner<\/a> or\u00a0Member’s Mark Oven, Grill & Fryer Cleaner<\/a>. These sprays are safe to use on stainless steel and glass and specifically formatted to target tough, caked-on grease stains.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Keep in mind that most store-bought oven-cleaning products are made with harsh chemicals, so keep them away from permeable surfaces like wood or marble. Always wear rubber gloves to protect your skin; we also recommend wearing protective glasses and a mask to avoid inhaling fumes. Opening a window helps too.<\/p>\n

To clean your oven with a commercial oven cleaning solution, start by laying out newspaper on the floor to catch any drips. Ensure the oven is turned off, then remove all the racks (keep them off to the side\u2014you\u2019ll clean these separately) and sweep out any large pieces of food. Following the instructions on the spray bottle,\u00a0thoroughly spray the inside of the oven with the cleaning solution<\/strong>, avoiding any heating elements or vents.\u00a0Allow the solution to sit for at least 30 minutes<\/strong>\u2014this powerful cleaner breaks up and dissolves any tough stains, so you can simply wipe away the grime with a damp cloth or sponge (read: no scrubbing required). Dry the inside of the oven with a\u00a0kitchen cloth<\/a> or paper towel.<\/p>\n

You can also treat the oven racks with oven-cleaning solution, just be sure to do the spraying outside. Follow the same protocol and wipe them down after 30 minutes, then slide the clean oven racks back into the scrubbed oven.<\/p>\n

Method 3: Tough Love<\/h2>\n

No commercial oven-cleaning solution on hand? That\u2019s okay: You can make your own from a few pantry ingredients. This method might take a little longer, but you won\u2019t have to mess around with any harsh chemicals. A paste made from baking soda and water tackles the stubborn, baked-on bits clinging to the interior of the oven, distilled white vinegar acts as a spot-treatment, and a long soak in soapy water helps the oven racks look as good as new. This DIY cleaning solution doesn\u2019t have the same potency as the commercial sprays, but you\u2019ll still want to wear gloves\u2014it might get messy.<\/p>\n

Again, start by laying out newspaper to protect your kitchen floor; remove the oven racks and set them off to the side. Combine\u00a01 cup baking soda<\/strong> with about\u00a0\u00bc cup water<\/strong> until it forms a thick paste. Using your gloved hands, a rag, or a large paintbrush, spread the baking soda paste liberally on the inside of the dirty oven, including the bottom of the oven, the sides, and the inside of the oven door (again, avoiding any heating elements or vents). Close the door and\u00a0let it sit for a couple of hours,<\/strong> or ideally\u00a0overnight<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While the baking soda works its magic, turn your attention to the oven racks. Fill the sink or bathtub with\u00a0boiling water<\/strong>, add\u00a0a squeeze of dish soap<\/strong> or\u00a0dishwasher detergent<\/strong>, and\u00a0let the oven racks soak for at least 2 hours<\/strong>. Once the racks are done soaking, scrub them with a non-abrasive or non-scratch scour pad (like\u00a0Scotch-Brite<\/a> or\u00a0Mr. Clean\u2019s Magic Eraser<\/a>) and spot-treat any stubborn burnt bits with the same baking soda paste you used inside the oven.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Once the baking soda paste has hardened over all the burnt bits of food inside your oven, use a non-abrasive scour pad to scrub it clean. Spritz any unrelenting spots with\u00a0distilled white vinegar<\/strong>, which will cause the baking soda solution to fizz. Once you\u2019ve scrubbed out all the grime, wipe down the entire oven (including the inside walls and the glass door) with a microfiber cloth. Let the racks dry fully before returning them to the oven.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s on the Outside Counts Too<\/h2>\n

Now that the inside of your oven looks shiny and new, it\u2019s time to tackle the exterior. Luckily, cleaning the outside of the oven is quick and simple:\u00a0Spray the oven\u2019s glass door and handle with standard glass cleaner<\/strong>\u00a0and wipe it down with a microfiber cloth.<\/strong> For a really shiny finish, use a powerful cleaner like\u00a0Bar Keeper\u2019s Friend<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How Often Should I Clean My Oven?<\/h2>\n

If you use the oven frequently, a gentle clean\u00a0every<\/strong>\u00a01 to 3 months<\/strong> will discourage buildup. No matter which cleaning method you choose, we recommend deep-cleaning your oven\u00a0every 6 months.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now that your oven is nice and clean, it\u2019s time to get baking\u2014cheesecake<\/a>, perhaps?<\/p>\n

Messy kitchen? More sparkling stories from Bon App\u00e9tit’s Cleaning Week:<\/h2>\n