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In this article we will look at a few simple tips on how to keep your oven clean. It will cover the use an oven liner when possible, the use of baking soda and vinegar, the importance of cleaning up food residues, using a roasting bag and making use of the self-cleaning function. Finally, there is also a brief look at the cleaning of stainless steel appliances.
Using an oven liner
An oven liner is one of the easiest ways to keep your oven clean as it protects the bottom of the oven from drips and spills.
If using an oven liner it is though important that you follow the specific guidelines for use. First, ensure that it fits the dimensions of your oven and once you have the correct size, it is essential you should also follow any temperature limits for the liner. If you don't follow these two simple rules, you risk not only damaging the liner, but potentially even the oven itself. Although rare, an overheated oven liner can result in dangerous fumes, which is clearly something to be avoided.
The best oven liners are made of a durable, non-toxic material such as silicone, fiberglass or another non-stick material that is heat resistant and flexible. Although some oven liners are designed for a particular type of oven, most can fit almost any model.
Put simply, using an oven liner will make cleaning your oven much easier and save you time.
Using baking soda and vinegar
A technique decades old, using baking soda and vinegar to keep your oven clean is a simple way to remove baked-on grease and grime.
The process involves mixing the two substances together in a bowl and once thoroughly combined simply apply the mix liberally throughout the oven. Leave in place for a minimum of 20 minutes, but ideally for an hour or two, and then wipe down the oven with a damp cloth, rinsing throughout. If there are any really stubborn areas, just repeat the process as needed until the oven is as shiny as new.
If you don't have baking soda, vinegar alone will go someway to achieving a similar result. The advantage with vinegar alone is that you can decant it into a spray bottle to apply more easily and is easier to wipe down afterwards.
With vinegar you can also pour it into a shallow tray and leave the oven racks into soak, which takes much of the elbow grease out of the cleaning process.
Cleaning up food residues
This might sound like a simple option, but the best way to keep your oven clean, is to simply clean up after every drip and spill.
Thankfully, not every dish will overflow or splatter grease and fat about, but it does and will happen.
Of course, it is vitally important to let your oven cool down entirely before doing any cleaning up, which can be greatly speeded up by leaving the door open. Once done, think about wiping down your oven much as you would think about doing the washing up or loading the dishwasher after each meal. Do it regularly, and a damp cloth with a water/vinegar mix will be all that's required.
Using a roasting bag
Using a roasting bag when baking can keep your oven clean as it's these that bags keep spills and splatters to a minimum. They can even enrich the taste of your food by locking in natural moisture!
Whereas an oven liner is designed to protect the bottom of your oven from drips and spills, a roasting bag is actually placed around the item you are cooking, so prevents these from happening in the first place.
Before using a roasting bag, make sure to check the manufacturer's instructions to ensure you're using the right type and employing the right method. It is essential that you never place the bag directly on a hot rack or heating element since contacting hot surfaces may cause the bag to melt. Doing this will not only cause the bag to stop working, but could result in toxic fumes and the ruination of your food. To avoid this, simply use a deep oven-safe pan to place it on.
Although some models are microwave-safe, be aware that these bags are not suitable for toaster ovens, electric toasters, or slow cookers. In addition, they are not recommended for use with broiler heating elements.
Using a self-cleaning function
Self-cleaning ovens use high temperatures to clean the oven and using a self-cleaning function on your oven can make it cleaner than the result you can achieve with manual cleaning.
A self-cleaning function on your oven removes food debris and heavy particles from the oven, which in turn can help keep it clean and hygienic. However, you still need to clear the oven of any metal grates or pots before using it since if you do not remove them before cleaning, they could melt and burn the interior lining of your oven. Moreover, charred metal grates can catch fire during the self-cleaning cycle.
When using a self-cleaning oven, be sure to set a timer for at least thirty minutes and during the cleaning cycle the door should be locked so that the heat won't escape. Because the self-cleaning process is effectively burning away the residue, it is important to have a working carbon monoxide detector in the kitchen and because of the very high temperatures, make sure that your oven is out of reach of children and pets.
Cleaning stainless steel appliances
Stainless steel is a modern metal that looks great in any space, however it is important to remember that it will get dirty more quickly than other products such as ceramics. It's for this reason that you should be cleaning them regularly. Fortunately, cleaning stainless steel appliances is not as difficult as it may seem.
With stainless steel appliances, it is important to remember that different stainless steel reacts differently depending on the cleaning agents being used. Although convenient, using the same solution on all appliances can result in streaks and less-effective cleaning. The hard oxide coating on stainless steel protects the surface from corrosion and wear, however if your appliances become dirty, it can hinder the oxidation process and trap corrosive agents. This is especially true of abrasive cleaners.
The best thing then for stainless steel is to save your chemical cleaners for worktops and floor, and turn instead to trusty old vinegar, a spray bottle and a clean cloth. If you want to go one step further, you can actually improve the look and longevity of your stainless steel by buffing in a small amount of olive oil post-clean!
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