Preventing a build-up of baked-on food is the best way to keep the oven clean. But this is easier said than done.
If I remember about the spill after the oven has cooled I spray the area with my all-purpose cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes before wiping it up.
But what usually happens is I notice the food spill when I take something out of the oven and say to myself, “I have to wipe that up when the oven cools.” And when the oven is preheated and I open the door to put the next item I’m baking in, I see the spill I was supposed to wipe up. Before I know it, there’s a stubborn baked on mess to deal with!
So, how do you clean an oven? Here are your options:
Commercial Oven Cleaner
This is a very effective way to clean an oven. The product typically cleans the oven beautifully, but it is a powerful cleaner and it’s important to follow the directions to prevent injury. Whenever I used an oven cleaner, I wore gloves and laid newspaper on the floor in front of the oven to prevent any chemical from getting on the floor.
Never use a commercial oven cleaner on self-cleaning or continuous cleaning ovens.
Baking Soda Paste
This is a good option if the spills are fresh. Sprinkle a thick layer of baking soda onto the soiled areas and add enough water to make a paste. Let it sit overnight. Scrape up remaining material with a plastic spatula and wipe clean. I found the results satisfactory and delayed the need for a thorough cleaning.
Self-cleaning or continuous-cleaning ovens
I was very nervous to try the self-cleaning function on my oven because of the high heat it uses to turn the food spills into ash.
However, I was very impressed with the results!
The heat was contained in the oven and there was no heat transfer to the kitchen cabinets.
At the end of the cycle there was a little bit of ash to wipe up and the oven was sparkling again.
Remember to remove the oven racks for the process as the high heat can damage the finish on them.
I have not used a continuous-cleaning oven, but the concept behind it is to dissolve food spills while baking or roasting.
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