Having an oven that’s clean isn’t just about aesthetics. Your food can taste awful and even pose a potential health risk if your oven is dirty. Nobody enjoys cleaning the oven, in fact it’s considered one of the most tedious chores around the house. But it doesn’t have to be! With the right techniques and cleaning solutions you can cut your oven cleaning time by half and make this chore much more manageable.
In this comprehensive guide we will share with you the most effective hacks, tips and tricks to help you keep your oven sparkling clean without needing to scrub for hours.
Why Regular Oven Cleaning is Essential
Before we dive into the cleaning hacks, let’s first understand why we need to clean our ovens regularly:
Enhances Safety: A dirty greasy oven is a huge fire hazard. Regular cleaning reduces any fuel buildup thus lowering your chances of starting a kitchen fire.
Improves Flavor: Burnt food remnants and grease will definitely affect the taste of all your dishes moving forward. Keeping your oven clean improves flavor.
Extends Lifespan: Allowing built up grease and spills in your oven will start to corrode its parts over time. By regularly cleaning it, you’re extending its lifespan.
Better Appearance: No one likes looking at a dirty grimy looking appliance. A shiny clean oven looks good anywhere.
Eliminates Odor: Grease and old food smells nasty! The more frequently you go about cleaning it, the better off you’ll be as far as smell goes!
The Right Way To Clean Different Parts Of Your Oven
Your oven has several parts that all require different methods of cleaning in order to have them looking new again. Here are some things for you to try:
Cleaning The Glass Window
Overtime dirt from inside your oven tends to accumulate on the window pane causing discoloration or even sticky grime build up that could become difficult to remove later down the line if not taken care of.
Here are a few steps you could take to remove this grime:
- Mix equal parts vinegar and water into a spray bottle. Spray generously on the glass window and let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
- Dip a damp microfiber cloth into baking soda then scrub the grime off.
- If there’s any hardened food that won’t come off with a cloth, try using either a razor blade or steel wool to scrape them away safely.
- Wipe clean with a soft cloth. The vinegar will dissolve deposits while baking soda cuts through grease!
Scrubbing The Oven Cavity
- This is where most of your oven’s grime will accumulate overtime so be sure to pay close attention when cleaning this part:
- Start by removing oven racks first and any detachable parts that are safe to soak in water.
- Mix 1/4 cup baking soda with just enough water to form a thick paste like consistency. Spread this evenly throughout the oven cavity coating the top, sides, bottom and door.
- Let it sit for at least 20 minutes so that the baking soda has time to break down all the grime.
- Then scrub with a damp non-abrasive sponge or brush and rinse thoroughly. Use warm water if needed in order to dissolve any grease build up you may see.
- For stubborn stains repeat the process as needed. Trust us when we say baking soda works like magic!
- Once done cleaning use either a spoon or spatula to scrape off any chunks or large food deposits left behind after your initial scrubbing session.
Deep Cleaning the Broiler Pan
The broiler pan takes a lot of abuse. Give it a deep clean using this method:
- Soak the broiler pan in hot, soapy water for an hour with a1⁄2 cup baking soda added. This will loosen burnt-on food.
- Use a steel wool pad and scrub every inch, paying close attention to the slats and underside.
- For stuck-on grime, sprinkle some baking soda directly onto the pan and use a damp brush to scrub.
- Rinse thoroughly and dry completely to prevent rusting.
Effective Oven Cleaners & Scrubbing Tools
Having the right cleaning solutions and tools makes oven cleaning much quicker and easier. Here are the best ones to use:
Baking Soda
Baking soda is mildly abrasive and reacts with grime and grease to dissolve stubborn buildup. Make baking soda paste for heavy duty oven cleaning.
White Vinegar
This pantry staple dissolves mineral deposits and cuts through grease. Use with baking soda for added cleaning power.
Dish Soap
Look for a degreasing dish soap. Apply onto a damp sponge and use for routine oven cleaning to cut through greasy residues.
Steel Wool
Great for scrubbing off cooked-on grease and food on oven racks, broiler pans and grates. Avoid using on surfaces like glass.
Oven-Safe Brush
A brush with sturdy, heat-safe bristles makes scrubbing the oven cavity walls and corners much easier.
Microfiber Cloths
These pick up grease easily without excessive scrubbing and are lint-free. Use damp for wiping down oven surfaces.
Oven Cleaning Spray
Commercial heavy-duty oven cleaners can be used for occasional deep cleaning of very greasy ovens. Use cautiously as these contain harsh chemicals.
Protective Gloves
Essential for protecting your hands when working with harsh oven cleaners. Heat-resistant gloves also help when cleaning hot oven surfaces.
Top Oven Cleaning Hacks & Tips
Beyond having the right tools and cleaners, there are also some helpful oven cleaning tips and tricks you can use to get the job done faster and with less hassle:
- Easy Grease Remover – Just sprinkle salt generously on greasy areas like oven vents before scrubbing. The salt absorbs and cuts through grease.
- Power of Lemon – Wipe down cooled oven surfaces with lemon juice mixed with baking soda to disinfect, deodorize and remove grime buildup.
- Steam Clean – Place a shallow oven-safe pan filled with water on the bottom rack. Heat oven to 250°F for 30 minutes. Steam helps loosen baked-on food for easier cleaning.
- Prevent Scratches – If using a razor to remove chunks or hard drips, tape the blade edges with duct tape first to prevent scratching the oven surface.
- Minimize Splatters – Line the bottom of your oven with aluminum foil before cooking anything prone to popping, splattering or overflowing. Then just swap out the foil after cooking.
- Remove Racks First – Always remove oven racks before starting to clean. This allows you to fully access and scrub all oven cavity surfaces.
- Soak it Off – Burnt-on food and grease on oven racks and pans will wipe off much easier after soaking in hot soapy water versus scrubbing cold.
- Freshen Air – Place a bowl of white vinegar on the top oven rack and heat at 200°F for an hour. It will absorb odors as the oven heats up.
- Cool Before Cleaning – Allow the oven to cool fully before wiping down any of the interior surfaces to avoid getting burned by hot surfaces.
Maintaining a Clean Oven In Between Deep Cleans
To save yourself from having to deep clean the oven repeatedly, follow these tips:
- Wipe up food drips and spills as soon as they happen before they have a chance to get baked on.
- Keep a damp microfiber cloth handy when cooking to quickly wipe up grease splatters on the oven window before they settle.
- Sprinkle some baking soda on messy spills or splatters in the oven cavity during cooking. It will help absorb and cut through grease.
- Use aluminum foil or oven liners when cooking greasy foods like bacon to catch drips. Replace after each use.
- Avoid using harsh abrasives when scrubbing the oven cavity to prevent scratching the surface over time.
- Remove oven racks before running the self-cleaning cycle so they don’t discolor or warp from the high heat.
- Use a refrigerator oven cleaner sheet over the bottom of the oven when cooking meat to reduce smoke stains and grease build up.
Top Oven Models From Haier India For You
Here are some of the best products to consider buying for best experience:
The standout feature of this convection microwave oven is the motorised rotisserie that allows for evenly roasted and browned food. The 123 auto cook menus provide versatility for Indian cooking. Oil free cooking is a health benefit that reduces fat and calories. The multi-stage cooking allows you to seamlessly cook an entire meal by pre-programming different stages. The preset functions add convenience by remembering frequently used settings.
The large 35L capacity of this OTG microwave allows for cooking multiple dishes or large quantities at once, perfect for family meals. The OTG function gives the flexibility of both microwave cooking for speed and convenience, and regular oven baking and grilling for more traditional cooking. The child lock provides safety and peace of mind when cooking around kids.
This 19L solo microwave is perfect for small households seeking energy efficiency and quiet operation. The inverter technology ensures uniform heating for cooking, reheating, and defrosting. It effectively reduces noise levels to just 57dB(A). The electronic transformer not only saves energy but also makes the microwave lightweight and easy to move. The defrost function brings frozen food to normal temperature quickly.
Key Features:
- Solo: Uniformly heats food while cooking, reheating, and defrosting
- Energy Saving: Intelligent operation system with electronic transformer for enhanced energy efficiency
- Less Noise: Noise reduction to 57dB(A) thanks to the electronic transformer
- Lightweight: Electronic transformer reduces product weight for easy handling
- Defrost: Quickly brings frozen food to normal temperature
This stylish 20L grill microwave features a sleek, curvaceous glass door that enhances any modern kitchen decor. With 3 combi cooking modes, you can simultaneously cook & brown, cook & bake, or brown & bake your dishes. The quartz grilling element in the oven ceiling adds the qualities of a regular oven to your microwaved meals. Five multi-power levels allow you to customize cooking for various food types. The 35-minute cooking timer provides ample time for most recipes.
Key Features:
- 3 Combi Cooking: Simultaneously cook & brown, cook & bake, or brown & bake
- Quartz Grilling: Ceiling heating element mimics regular oven qualities
- Multi Power Levels (5): Customize cooking for different food types
- 35-Minute Cooking Timer: Ample time for most microwave recipes
- Curvaceous Glass Door: Sleek design complements modern kitchens
Make Oven Cleaning Quick and Painless
While oven cleaning will never be the most enjoyable household task, armed with these handy cleaning hacks and tips you can tackle even the grimiest oven quickly and painlessly. Regular light cleaning also prevents your oven from ever reaching a disastrous state where hours of scrubbing are required.
Implement these shortcuts to save time and effort so you can spend less time on this chore and more time enjoying delicious home cooked meals with your family!