How To Maintain An Oven?

An oven is synonymous with convenient cooking. From pizzas to cakes, you can cook just about anything in it. But more often than not, we fail to maintain it and gradually, it loses its efficiency. Breakdown of ovens is way too common and you should take necessary steps to prevent it because, as we all know, prevention is better than cure. Also, incorrect handling can lead to serious risks to life. Here, we have compiled a list of tips that you should keep in mind to get the best out of your appliance.

Know what type of oven you own

You should know what kind of oven you have- whether it's a self-cleaning model, a traditional model, what are its features, which brand does it belong to, etc. Only when you know the specifications properly, you can avoid damaging it. You should carefully read the manufacturer’s manual provided with the oven, which is also available online.

• Give space to your oven

  A rule of thumb is to leave some space from all sides of a heat-generating appliance. You need to let your appliances breathe. An oven requires airflow, which can get blocked due to accumulated debris. The dirt should be cleaned up. You should vacuum the motor installed at the backside, if possible.

• Wipe it down regularly

  This might seem like a basic tip, but it is often missed. You should wipe both the interiors as well as the exteriors of your oven with a clean cloth. It’s advisable to thoroughly clean your oven around 4 times a year. Don’t make it a habit to leave the food spills just as they are. Ideally, you shouldn’t fiddle with the knobs and you should not scrub the rubber seal of the door gasket

• Unplug oven when cleaning with water

  You can use cleaning solutions specifically made for ovens. But, you should avoid using abrasive cleaners in the interiors. You can make your own solution by mixing water and vinegar that kills germs. However, you decide to clean your oven, make sure that you unplug the oven so that you don’t face the risk of electrocution.

• Use oven’s self-cleaning feature

  You should use the oven’s self-cleaning feature correctly if it has one. Follow the manufacturer’s manual word by word, as the process should be safe. Remove the plastic components as they could melt due to applied heat. Open a window to allow the built-up heat to escape and don’t use your oven immediately after the self-cleaning cycle. While cleaning the residue after the cycle is over, use a microfiber cloth.

• Be gentle with the glassdoor and check gaskets

  You should take care that the glassdoor doesn’t hit the wall or the utensils. Continuous force can lead to cracks in the door, causing the heat generated in the oven to escape. The glassdoor will eventually break and your oven will malfunction. Also, inspect the gaskets for any leakage.

• Handle oven knobs with care

  Don’t pry away at the knobs. You may be tempted to do so for proper cleaning, but doing this can short the system. However, if you are using the self-cleaning mode, check your manual. You may have to remove the plastic knobs, but you should do so correctly else they can get damaged.

• Use spill barrier

  If you are cooking something in the oven, it definitely becomes more prone to spills. The best practice is to clean the spills as soon as possible as the longer they sit, the tougher it becomes to clean them. A good trick to catch spillage is to insert a baking tray with a cookie sheet, cover it with foil and then place it under oven racks without blocking vents and openings and without letting it come in contact with heating elements that could melt.

• Loosen grease

  You may have forgotten to clean your microwave and suddenly, after a long period, you realize that there's a lot of grease that has built up. Place a bowl of hot water and run your microwave for 20-30 minutes at a high temperature. The steam will dissolve the dirt and will make it easy for you to wipe it off.

• Don’t forget the racks

  Give the racks a quick wash by placing them in the dishwasher, or you can also rub them using a pad and a cleaning solution.

• Calibrate your oven

  Your temperature gauge should be accurate; else, it can impact your cooking. To check whether the oven's temperature matches the temperature you have set on the panel, you can use an internal thermometer. Measure the heat after every 15 minutes. If the temperature difference is drastic, you can check the manufacturer's manual for recalibration.

• Use the correct power supply

  Voltage matters. Using a heavy-duty oven on a lower voltage electrical outlet can result in underperformance.

Maintenance is important for ensuring that your appliance gives you the best returns. Now that you know how to maintain your oven, it’s sure to last you in the long run. To buy the best ovens, visit our premium retail outlets near you. You can also call our experts at 8001279999 for assistance.