Trying new culinary skills is part of daily life. However, keeping your oven always clean is a bit burdensome. So, here we have a to-do list for regularly maintaining your oven whether you are a chef or a newly discovered bread baker.
Regularly maintaining your kitchen oven has many benefits to it:
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Increases oven lifespan
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Avoids frequent repair costs
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Keeps the kitchen hygienic & mess-free
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Keeps you excited for the next cooking time
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Prevents accidental slippage and injury
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Reduces electricity consumption by improving oven efficiency
Let's help you with a pro guide to keep your oven well-maintained and functional for a long time.
Half-Yearly Deep Cleaning
Deep cleaning of your oven is necessary every six months, to remove the rigid deposits and metal oxidation. Clean a cooled-off oven after completely unplugging it from the electric switchboard. It is better not to remove the knobs and as a chemical solution can cause damage to it. However, cleaning racks by scrubbing them thoroughly is essential. Using gentle vinegar, baking soda solution, or store-available cleansers can be helpful.
Utilising the Pyrolytic Self-Cleaning Option
Nowadays, modern ovens for homes come with self-cleaning settings, enhancing convenience. However, this method requires sudden heating up to 500-600 degrees, to effectively remove the rigid debris. Using hands for care and maintenance of the oven after daily meal preparation is advisable while self-cleaning is ideal for big overflows. You can check the user manual included with the oven purchase.
Check Gas Line Connection
While installing the electric cum gas ovens, sometimes, the gas lines get minor damage. For effective oven maintenance, the connection line should be checked to prevent gas leakage. It not only helps the oven but also prevents accidents.
Check for Defects
Regular troubleshooting is necessary to keep your oven functioning well. Nowadays, smart ovens are coming with troubleshooting features. There are separate troubleshooting processes for gas and electric ovens. You can check the lighting and working of different parts.
Setting Adjustments
Running your oven at optimum temperature is good for easy care and maintenance of the oven. Recalibrate the oven temperature by looking at the control panel and the oven's internal temperature.
Replace Damaged Spare Parts:
Most of the time we ignore minor damage in the spare parts of the oven though they require less repair/replacement cost. Check for red spots on the coil as they break over time due to dirt deposition and consistent use.
Check Your Oven Gasket
There is a rubber ring fitted inside the oven door, offering sealing. This is most likely to tear during the deep clean or self-cleaning process. It is important to check the gaskets for holes and wear and replace them in a timely manner.
Check Behind The Oven
Cleaning behind the oven range is required at least once a year. It helps protect the part from moulds, dirt, and insects. It helps ensure a hygienic oven for cooking. Taking precautions while cleaning the range is necessary.
Cook Responsibly
Though we tend to spill and mess while cooking, it can be minimised. Trying some clean cooking ways is essential for oven maintenance. Keep your oven clean by placing appliances in the right place. Also, keep recipes like pies and cakes on the baking sheet while cooking, it helps prevent overflow. However, it is better to avoid using aluminium foil or baking sheets on the oven's bottom or top vent.