How to clean the oven from grease and soot at home?
No modern kitchen can do without a quality and reliable oven. Thanks to this device, you can cook delicious and varied dishes: from meat casseroles to various pies and muffins. After cooking a particular dish, the oven needs to be cleaned. How and what is the best way to clean the oven in order to return it to its former appearance and cleanliness? All the secrets and recommendations are in our material.
Peculiarities
Modern manufacturers of household appliances every year surprise consumers with new products. If earlier there was not a lot of choice and everyone bought only those ovens that are in hardware stores, today a wide choice pleasantly surprises and pleases.
Modern housewives have many requirements for these devices. The oven must be of high quality, reliable and spacious. If we are talking about an electrical device, then it should be economical. All dishes in it should be exceptionally tasty and appetizing.
If you are a real culinary specialist and like to experiment in the kitchen, trying new recipes every time, then you should pay attention to the versatility of the device.
Be sure to choose an oven with convection, thanks to which all dishes, without exception, will be evenly baked on all sides. In particular, this cooking mode is necessary during baking. With it, pies and muffins are lush, ruddy and never burn on one side.
For those who like various meat dishes, you should choose a device with a grill mode. Ideally, you need to choose an oven with grill and spit. This will allow you to cook chicken or meat especially tasty. With this mode, it turns out to be juicy inside, and on the outside it acquires a magnificent crispy crust that is impossible to resist.
In addition, a modern appliance should be equipped with a backlight so that you do not have to constantly open the door and monitor the cooking process. You also need an oven with a timer, which will make cooking much more comfortable.
Perhaps these are the basic features that you should consider when choosing an oven. Also, there are ovens that defrost food and reheat cooked meals, thereby replacing the microwave oven.
As far as security is concerned, it is worth considering such features as gas control for gas appliances and automatic shutdown when heated for electric ones. The oven door should have at least double glazing, which will not only retain heat as much as possible during cooking, but also significantly reduce the risk of burns.
Types of ovens
The oven can be gas or electric.You can also choose a built-in option, which saves space in the kitchen.
If you decide to opt for a device that works with gas, then you should take into account its features. Gas ovens are economical models. In addition, many housewives claim that gas-fired dishes are much tastier than those in an electric oven. But this is a matter of taste.
Choosing a gas appliance be sure to pay attention to its versatility, practicality and safety. It is good when the device has automatic electric ignition. This means that you can fire up the oven without using matches or lighters.
In addition, before purchasing a gas oven, ask if it has a grill mode, gas control, which will protect against possible gas leakage, and a timer. You should also pay attention to the accessories that come with the oven. This is the presence of a baking sheet, grate, etc.
For those who decide to choose an electric oven for their kitchen, it is recommended to pay attention for the energy efficiency class. Ideally, if it is class A or A +. The more pluses, the more economical the model will consume electricity.
As a rule, such ovens are equipped with electronic, touch or mechanical controls. Here, only you can decide which control you like best.
The next thing to consider is functionality. Many models are equipped with automatic programs, thanks to which you can easily and quickly prepare a particular dish, since cooking recipes are already stored in the device's memory. It is also worth paying attention to the presence of such functions as fast heating, defrosting and self-cleaning.
Many modern models have self-cleaning systemso you don't have to clean the oven after cooking. But if you purchased an oven without such a function, then be prepared for the fact that after cooking, especially meat, you will have to thoroughly wash the appliance inside.
Care rules: frequency and order
The main rule for caring for any appliance, whether it's a washing machine or an oven, sounds like this - the more often you clean the appliance, the easier it is to keep it clean. If you make it your rule daily, after each cooking, wipe the appliance inside and out, then later you will not have to spend a lot of time cleaning it from grease stains.
If you have prepared a dish, for example, baked a chicken, after which the device inside is dirty, then it is easy to clean it. The main thing is to do everything right. remember, that Grease stains are easier to wipe off when the oven is still warm. If you decide to do the cleaning the next day, it will be better if you warm the appliance over low heat for at least fifteen minutes. This will facilitate the cleaning process, as the dirt will soften and be more pliable.
Empty the oven completely before cleaning. That is, you need to remove baking sheets, trays, grates, etc. from it. Some models are designed in such a way that the door can be easily removed, which greatly facilitates the cleaning process.
Be aware that appliances with an enamel or other coating on the inside may be damaged if you use powders for cleaning. Any abrasive products can scratch the surface and grease will strongly eat into these grooves.
In addition, too hard sponges, metal meshes, scrapers and anything else that can damage the surface should not be used. Choose a soft sponge or just a kitchen rag.
Another rule that will help you not only keep clean, but also extend the life of the device - never apply cleaning chemicals to the heating elements of the oven or to the fan. Particles of the product may remain and, when heated, the device will emit a chemical smell that will be transferred to the dish and can spoil its taste and your health.
If you feel that a strong smell remains after cleaning and airing does not help, then use the following folk method. Surely in your house there is a pack of activated charcoal. You will need nine to ten tablets. Tablets should be completely dissolved in water and leave the glass in the oven for two hours. The smell will completely disappear.
How often you clean the appliance depends on how often you cook. Of course, during the preparation of pies, muffins and any other pastries, the oven does not get so dirty and does not get dirty at all. But after baking meat, any casserole, foil dishes, chicken, etc., the device needs to be cleaned. Firstly, it will help get rid of the smell of the finished dish, and secondly, it will help maintain cleanliness.
To maintain cleanliness, it will be enough that daily you will wipe the inside of the chamber with a damp, clean cloth. In addition, do not forget to clean the baking sheet after cooking, otherwise it will be difficult to wash off the old fat later.
So, if you have already run the oven to the point where a simple cleaning with a cloth does not help get rid of soot and grease stains, then you need to get serious about getting the appliance shiny and clean.
Overview of cleaning products
Washing the oven so that it shines clean again is easy. The most important thing is to know exactly how to do it, which tool to choose and where to start.
You can clean the oven with folk methods, that is, with the help of improvised means that are in every home.
By the way, this method is safer, since these products do not contain any chemistry. Therefore, if you suffer from allergies, then you should stop at this cleaning option.
In addition, you can use special professional tools that do an excellent job. Many home appliance manufacturers recommend choosing one or another cleaner, as it has been tested and found to be safe to use. The only downside is their high price.
So, let's first look at the tools and methods that are available to each of you.
Folk
Folk methods for cleaning the oven from grease stains have already been tested by more than one generation of housewives. Our grandmothers also knew the secrets, thanks to which all kitchen utensils and appliances shone with cleanliness and there was not a single hint of contamination.
The most commonly used cleaner is baking soda. It's amazing how this affordable tool helps not only to prepare magnificent pastries, but also to clean dirty surfaces. Many housewives even use it instead of dishwashing detergent, as this powder easily copes with grease and even old stains.In addition, it is easy to clean the tile in the kitchen with soda, which is often dirty from regular cooking, especially if the kitchen does not have a hood.
Surprisingly, this folk remedy will help get rid of both fresh stains and dirt, and old ones. Take a little baking soda and dilute it with water so that you get a thick homogeneous paste.
The resulting paste should be applied to the contaminated surface and left for 10 minutes. Then, with a damp sponge or rag, you need to rub heavily soiled places and then rinse everything off with a clean rag. Stains of grease, even stubborn ones, will easily move away from the surface of the enamel, which covers the inside of the oven, and from the glass of the door.
If the stains of fat are too ingrained into the surface and cleaning with soda does not help, then you can also use it with it. table vinegar. By the way, housewives often use baking soda and vinegar together as the most effective means of fighting strong pollution.
Treat the entire contaminated surface with vinegar. Be sure to pay attention to the percentage of acetic acid. If it is 70% acid, then it must be diluted with water. Add one to two teaspoons of strong vinegar to a glass of water.
So, apply vinegar to a rag and wipe the dirty places. Try not to use a sponge as it will absorb all the liquid i.e. vinegar, and the surface will not be soaked enough. After you have treated the contaminated areas, apply baking soda to the sponge and go over it with it. Vinegar and soda will react, a hiss will begin, which should not scare you. Leave it like this for an hour, then rinse with a sponge and clean water. Then wipe with a clean cloth and leave the door open for 20 minutes.
With the help of the usual lemon or citric acid You can also get rid of fat. If the house has at least half a fresh citrus, then cut it into slices or circles and rub the contaminated surface. Fat stains are destroyed by acid. But this method will help you get rid of weak pollution, but it is unlikely to get rid of old stains.
Citric acid will help get rid of serious pollution. To do this, fill the baking sheet with water, one glass will be enough. Add 50-100 grams of citric acid there and send the baking sheet to the oven. The oven should be preheated to 200 ° C and leave the baking sheet for half an hour. Then turn off the device and let it cool down a bit. Then you can simply wipe the surface with a clean, damp cloth. Contaminants will be easily removed.
common salt, which we use to prepare food can also become a cleanser. Once you have finished cooking and notice that the inner chamber of the appliance is dirty and needs to be cleaned, you need to do the following. Sprinkle salt on a baking sheet and put it in the oven until it has cooled. After half an hour, the appliance will cool down, the baking sheet can be removed, and the contaminated surface can simply be wiped with a clean and damp cloth.
Ammonia - this is not only a well-known folk remedy for washing windows. Apply it to contaminated areas, for example, with a sponge or a spray bottle. Leave it like this with the door closed for three to four hours, then clean the surface in the usual way.
There is another effective method of cleaning with ammonia. To do this, you need to preheat the oven to 100 ° C, put a glass with diluted ammonia on the upper grate and close the door. After four hours, you can easily get rid of greasy plaque and soot.
Shop
If for some reason you do not trust folk methods of dealing with grease and dirt, then it is quite possible to purchase a special cleaning agent that is in every store.
When purchasing such a tool, be sure to carefully read the instructions to make sure that it is suitable for cleaning the inside of the oven. Also, opt for a gel or spray that is easy to apply rather than powders.
If a lot of acids are indicated in the composition, then such a tool can damage the coating, the enamel of the inside of the chamber. Therefore, it is worthwhile to carefully study the composition of the product.
Remember that it is necessary to work with gloves, otherwise you risk seriously damaging the skin of your hands. In addition, it is important to remember that heating elements should never be cleaned with such products.
Remove grease
It is possible to wash the oven from old fat in 5 minutes. The above describes effective ways that will allow you to quickly and easily wash contaminated places. But there are several more effective methods that will allow you to quickly wash not only the inside of the chamber, but also the door, as well as the grate.
Take a container that is large enough for the grill to fit comfortably. Pour hot water, add baking soda and table vinegar in equal proportions, soak the grate for half an hour. After that, you can simply walk on the surface with a sponge and rinse everything with warm water.
The grate, like the oven itself, can be washed using the same folk remedies that we talked about above. The only thing you need to clean it is by soaking it.
The appliance door from the inside is very difficult to clean. Especially if you cooked delicious meat or chicken.You can wash the door in the same ways as the camera itself. The only thing, do not forget that you need to clean the glass surface only with a soft sponge so as not to leave scratches on the door glass.
We clean the soot
If you have not cleaned the inside of the oven from grease stains and other contaminants in time, then wiping off the fried fat will not be so easy.
Before you start getting rid of old and burnt fat and burnt, it is recommended to steam the oven a little to soften the old dirt. Someone in the house has a compact handheld steamer that will do the job just fine. But if you do not have such a unit, then this does not matter. Pour more water into a baking sheet or some other dish, put the container inside, preheat the oven to 150 ° C, close the door. After 40 minutes, you can turn off the oven and open the door to release the steam.
After such a “steam room”, old fat will be much easier to move away. It will be possible to wash problem areas with any of the methods described above.
By the way, you can rub a little laundry soap into a container of water and leave it to “steam” the oven for about an hour. But after such a “steam room” it will be possible to simply wipe the surface with a rag, getting rid of stains and soot. And if before this procedure the top was yellow, then after it it will shine with cleanliness.
How to wash dishes?
A glass tray or baking dish is, of course, easy to clean from any dirt in the dishwasher. But if there is no such miracle helper in the house, then you will have to handle it manually.
Glass can sometimes be very fragile, so you need to be extremely careful when cleaning such a baking dish. The baking sheet can be soaked in hot water, where you should add the usual dishwashing detergent.After an hour, the fat will be much easier to lag behind the surface, and it can be cleaned off with a regular sponge.
An iron pan can be boiled, after which it will again shine with cleanliness. To do this, you will need a large container where the baking sheet can freely fit. Add baking soda and vinegar in equal proportions and boil for 30 minutes. Then wipe off the dirt with a rag or sponge and rinse with warm water.
The same can be done with dishwashing detergent - do everything that is described above, only add gel along with soda. Half an hour of boiling will be enough. By the way, if you do not have a large capacity, then you can simply put the baking sheet itself on the fire, filling it with water and adding all the necessary cleaning products.
You can clean baking trays or glassware, as well as any other heavily soiled dishes, in the following way. Take baking soda, add hydrogen peroxide to it, which is sold in every pharmacy. Dilute the soda to form a thick paste, apply the product to the sponge and boldly wipe the contaminated surface.
Peroxide can also be used on its own. To do this, pour 200 ml of peroxide into half a liter of water, boil this liquid and pour it over a baking sheet while hot. After 20 minutes, all dirt will be easily cleaned.
Just do not forget that with peroxide it is necessary to work with gloves. Also note that the more concentrated the solution of peroxide and other substances, the more dangerous it will be to inhale their vapors. Therefore, take care in advance about the access of fresh air to the room or at least about sufficient ventilation.
Helpful Hints
Owners should take note of the following tips:
- Instead of soda, you can use the usual baking powder that you use for baking at home. By the way, it copes with hardened dirt much more effectively, unlike soda, since it already contains citric acid. The method of application is the same as with soda.
- If there is soda in the house, but there is no vinegar, then it can be completely replaced with citric acid. By interacting with baking soda, it will help to quickly destroy particles of fat.
- As a cleaner, you can use regular dishwashing detergent. It is desirable that it be a gel. Such a tool does an excellent job of removing grease stains, dissolving them, and does not damage the surface. And if you add a little citric acid to it, you can cope with old pollution.
- If you make it a rule to cover the baking sheet with parchment paper every time, then the fat will not eat into the surface much and you will not have to make a lot of effort to return it to cleanliness. Do not put off washing the baking sheet or baking dishes until later. The longer the time passes, the more difficult it will be to clean the dirt.
- Fans of such a carbonated drink as Coca-Cola can safely use it as a means to cleanse stubborn dirt. It is enough to soak a baking sheet or a dirty dish in this drink for half an hour or an hour so that the dishes shine with cleanliness. You can also boil the dishes in this drink for about five minutes, and then it will be cleaned even faster.
For information on how to clean the oven at home from fat and soot, see the following video.