How to Maintain an Oven

Don't wait until the house is full of relatives and the Thanksgiving turkey is in the oven to discover that the thermostat is broken or the pie filling that spilled over last night has caught fire. Making sure your oven is clean and working properly can prevent embarrassing and expensive cooking disasters.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Check the accuracy of the oven's thermostat with an oven thermometer. If the difference is small, compensate by setting the dial higher or lower than called for by the recipe. A large difference means you need to have the thermostat replaced. A broken thermostat can cause the oven temperature to rise high enough to char food in a few minutes.
2. Check the oven door for food particles or spills. These can build up in the hinges or around the edges, preventing the door from sealing properly when closed.
3. Clean spills as soon as the oven cools. Don't continue to use the oven with an accumulation of spills in the bottom because it won't heat properly. Never pour water into the oven in an attempt to cool it quickly so you can clean a spill.
4. Use the self-cleaning feature first. Most spills will be turned to ash, which you can wipe clean with only a damp sponge. Make sure to turn the range hood fan on to remove any smoke or fumes created during the self-cleaning process.
5. Allow time for spray-on oven cleaners to do their job. If you start scrubbing right away, you will work much harder than you need to. Even if you use a cleaner that doesn't create noxious fumes, keep the range hood fan on.
6. Ensure that all oven cleaner has been rinsed away before cooking in the oven again.

Tips & Warnings

• Use glass cleaner to clean the oven's window after every use so food stains don't build up, making it difficult to see through the window.
• If you don't want to use harsh chemicals in your oven, clean it by dampening the interior with a spray bottle containing water. Sprinkle a layer of baking soda in the bottom and on the walls. Wait three hours and then replace the water in the spray bottle with distilled vinegar. Spray the inside of the oven again, wait three more hours and then wipe the oven clean.
• Never use any kind of oven cleaner in a continuous cleaning oven. The interior of this oven consists of a special material that will be ruined by cleaning products. Use only water and a sponge or paper towel to clean up any spills in the bottom.
• Never use the oven's self-cleaning feature in combination with a spray-on oven cleaner.
• Always remove the oven racks before using the self-cleaning feature. The high heat may cause the metal to expand, damaging the interior of your oven.
• Don't leave home while using your oven's self-cleaning feature.

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