How to Clean the Oven
I usually don’t think about cleaning my oven if I don’t have to go through the check-out inspection, or the burnt food bits lurking in it start to go off my smoke alarm. But the longer you put it off, the dirtier your oven gets, so get down to business now.
There are commercial oven cleaners – I like Bar Keeper’s Friend for stainless steel surfaces like my sink and kitchen utensils; just put the powder in the oven and rub with a damp sponge. However, store-bought foods can be tough and tend to smell like the chemicals they are made from, and are easy to DIY with the ingredients and materials you already have on hand.
Here’s what you need:
- Baking soda
- Rubber gloves for cleaning
- Soft cloth
- Dishwashing liquid
- white vinegar
- Aerosol can
- Sponge or dish brush (for very dirty ovens)
Warning: do not start this process if you need to use the oven within the next 12 hours. It’s best to wait until you’ve finished cooking during the day so that the cleaning solution will solidify overnight.
How to clean the oven
Removing the racks
First, take out grates, thermometers, steel plates, and any other accessories or items that you store in the oven. You will be cleaning the racks separately – we’ll talk about that below.
Mix the cleaning solution
Then, make a paste with baking soda and water, which you spread all over the oven. Start with 1/2 cup baking soda and a few tablespoons of water (I used 3, but you can appreciate it), adding more as needed.
If you have a large oven, you may need to scale up this recipe.
Spread the paste
Wear gloves and apply the baking soda solution to all interior surfaces except the heating element, fans, and gas valves. You can use a paintbrush or an old toothbrush for this, but I didn’t have one, so I used my fingers. Really apply the paste on very oily stains.
Wait 12 hours
Now is the time to hurry up and wait. Let the paste dry for 12 hours or overnight.
Clean your racks
While you wait, fill your sink, tub, or plastic container with dish soap and hot water to soak your oven grates. If you have large shelving units, you may need to rearrange them during cleaning to keep all parts submerged in the water. Leave it on for a few hours, then wipe off the dirt with a sponge or cloth.
If your oven racks are particularly dirty or have grease or dirt on them after the initial cleaning, sprinkle with baking soda, top with white vinegar, and wipe off the foam.
Wipe off the dried paste.
Take a clean, damp cloth and wipe off the baking soda mixture. Rinse the fabric if necessary. You can also use a sponge or abrasive brush to clean stubborn stains.
Sprinkle with vinegar
Spray (or spray if you don’t have a spray bottle) the remaining baking soda paste with vinegar and wipe off the lather.
Return racks
When the grates are dry, put them back in the oven along with everything you removed. That’s all.
What about self-cleaning ovens?
Many ovens offer a self-cleaning feature that basically just heats the oven to around 900 degrees Fahrenheit, much higher than you can set for cooking to burn off the dirt. All you have to do is scrape off the ash after completing the cleaning cycle.
This works well for moderately dirty ovens, so if you have a really fancy appliance or don’t want to get your hands dirty, you can certainly go the self-cleaning route. (Just make sure you remove the racks, etc., before starting the cycle.)
However, the process can produce a rather unpleasant odor, and ultra-high temperatures can trigger sensitive smoke alarms or even blow off fuses. And if your oven is covered in grease and burnt food, you still need to clean it by hand.