We have recently covered a variety of oven-related topics on our blog, from dutch oven care to toaster oven fixes. But, what about a large, regular oven? Do you know what you should do before you start to use your new oven?
Some people may assume they simply get their oven dropped off at home, magically installed, and ready to go. Unfortunately, unless you can afford this type of service, it requires a lot more than this.
It is essential that you thoroughly burn-in and clean your new oven prior to using it. Burning-in an oven primarily involves heating your oven to very high heat and permitting it time to burn-off chemicals. This may sound simple, but it requires attentiveness and precaution.
Before you go and turn your oven on to maximum heat, make sure you know what to expect. You should always thoroughly inspect your oven when it is delivered and wipe it down before you start the burn-in.
Want to know more? Keep reading the 8 things to do for your oven’s first use.
1.Unpack Your New Oven
One of the first things you should always do with any new oven is to make sure it’s properly unpackaged. To properly unpackage your new oven make sure you check every crevice for a plastic-wrapped piece. There will probably be small replacement packs of screws or other small pieces you may need.
Manufacturers tend to add bits of plastic and plastic wrap to their ovens for protection, especially small parts or delicate pieces. You will likely find bubble wrap or another protective wrapping over these parts.
In electric ovens, the heat racks tend to have a plastic cover. Make sure you remove this carefully to avoid dislocating it from the oven. These are delicate so be sure to handle them with care!
2.Remove Twist Ties
Ovens are sometimes held shut with plastic or metal twist ties. These twist ties primarily serve to hold some parts in place during shipment.
To remove these make sure you check the corners of the oven. Once you figure out where they are, gently start to untwist them. Be careful if you choose to use scissors or knives.
Ovens sometimes have a protective coating to prevent rusting. Similar somewhat to a non-stick coating on a pan, if you scratch it with a metal tool it can rust.
3. Check for Any Damage
Before installing your oven check any wiring or pipes to ensure they are not damaged. Unfortunately, there is no way to fully check the oven until you are able to unwrap it and install it. Some delivery services also provide the installation for an added fee.
But, first we will see what to look for if you’re going to “DIY” your oven installation. Then we will see what to look for after your oven is installed and you can turn it on.
When you just unpackaged your oven, check the exterior for any signs of poor handling or damage while shipping. External signs of damage include things such as scratches, dents, or stains on the exterior. If you see these issues you may want to contact the store or manufacturer you purchased it from.
After you give your oven a quick check, double-check all the parts and fixtures. Make sure these fixtures are not damaged or loose. In particular, pay attention to the heating element in an electrical oven.
The heating elements need to be solidly attached to the walls of the oven (unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer). For a gas oven, make sure the igniter is not loose or damaged.
Also, check to ensure the interior is not scratched or damaged.
On a gas oven, you should also check the stovetop to ensure it is not damaged. It can be a little more difficult to find the damage on an electric stovetop, but for a gas stove, the igniters should not wobble. Unless it is specified by the manufacturer.
4. How to Clean Your New Oven
Once your inspection is complete and you’ve removed all of the packaging material, you should clean your oven. For the first cleaning, do not use harsh oven cleaning agents. These require that your oven be heated in order to cut through baked-on grease.
The best way to clean your new oven is to wash it in hot soapy water. Alternatively, you can wash it with an apple cider vinegar and baking soda blend.
You may be wondering why you should wash a brand new oven? The purpose of this first wash is to loosen any dirt or dust which has collected within the oven. This will not remove the chemical coating within the oven.
Every new oven has a chemical coating on the inside. This coating is toxic and was intended to protect the interior after the oven is manufactured. The interior cleaning helps remove some of the “new oven” smell.
Some people prefer to use vinegar (apple cider vinegar typically) and baking soda mixture to clean their oven. This is diluted in water and it can be helpful if you have a lot of trouble getting rid of the scent of a new oven.
Cleaning your new oven is not too difficult and is essentially wiping down the interior. Since it hasn’t been used yet, you don’t need to remove any burnt food so you won’t need to scrub it.
For an electric oven try to avoid using too much water on the electric heating coils.
5. What Does it Mean to Burn-in Your Oven?
The most important part of using your oven the first time is to properly burn it in. To burn in your oven means to heat the interior to high heat and have the chemical coating on the inside burn off. This chemical compound is usually composed of toxic chemicals, including formaldehyde.
Some brands use a protective sealant which must be burned-off before use as well. If you cook food in an oven that has not been properly burned-in then you risk getting this in your food.
The method is similar to how you might clean an oven, minus the cleaner. Some ovens have a setting, especially for this.
But, the general method is simply heating your oven to remove this oil coating. Do not use the self-cleaning setting on your oven, unless instructed to do so by the manufacturer.
As a general rule you should do this until you no longer smell the strong chemical scent from the oven. This could take several attempts. However, you can assist the oven by adding certain cleaning agents, which we will delve into shortly.
6. Why is it Important to Burn in a New Oven?
Burning in a new oven protects you and your family from consuming harmful chemicals. If you do not burn-in your new oven you run the risk of getting this in your food. If you make the mistake of starting to bake food in the oven before burning it in, throw the food away.
People can get very sick from these chemicals, even if they consume them in their food. These chemicals have been known to kill small animals and birds when consumed at this quantity. So make sure you do not skip this step!
These chemicals can be a leftover residue from the manufacturing process. Or, they are sometimes added to protect the oven during storage and shipping. But, they are never intended to remain in the oven when you use them to bake or cook.
If you forget to do this you will most likely immediately know as soon as your oven heats to a certain temperature. If you are curious what it smells like it depends on what chemicals the manufacturer used. But, as a rule, if you smell a strong chemical scent when turning on your oven, you should not use it to bake yet.
7. How to Burn in Your New Oven
To properly burn-in your new oven you should turn the temperature up to at least 400 degrees Fahrenheit. If possible, turn the heat up to 550 degrees Fahrenheit. Again, do not use the self-cleaning method.
Rather, just use the normal heating method of your oven. Once the oven reaches the desired temperature you should leave it to burn off the chemicals for at least 30 minutes.
When you turn on your oven you should immediately notice the temperature changes within the first few minutes. If you notice the smell of gas, it could mean your gas was not connected correctly. Or, it may mean there is a leak someplace in your oven.
If you suspect a gas leak, turn off the oven immediately. If you know how to disconnect the gas from your oven and get help.
For an electric oven, you should notice the heating coils becoming an orange-red color. If you do not see them starting to warm up within the first few minutes, it might mean the coils are disconnected. Check to ensure your electricity is working and is connected properly. If it persists, contact the manufacturer.
While your oven is burning off, make sure you have proper ventilation. Once the oven is fully heated, you may want to crack the oven door to let out some of the fumes. Ventilation is very important during this phase.
If you do not properly ventilate your home, you could run the risk of poisoning yourself, your family, or your pets. To ensure proper ventilation, open any windows you can and turn on an overhead vent if you have one. If not, turn on fans and allow them to circulate the air.
If you have pets or small children keep them away from the oven and kitchen. Keep pets outside or in a separate room. For children, if they are too young to be alone, you may want to have someone you trust to take them out for the day.
8. What to do After the Burn-in?
Once your 30-50 minutes have passed, your oven should be thoroughly burned-in. The best way to ensure the burn-in is complete is to allow your house time to air out and attempt to turn it on again. Allow it some time to warm up and see if the scent is gone. If your oven is no longer generating that smell, your burn-in was successful.
If you continue to smell the chemical scent after your burn-in you may need to employ a few tricks. One of the best ways to assist your oven with this process is to put an oven-safe bowl filled with water in your oven.
This creates a humid atmosphere in your oven due to the water vapors. The vapors will help to loosen the oils and remove them from your oven. If you want to be creative, you can try adding lemon juice to the water as well.
Some people like to do this as a way to get rid of the scent. Just make sure you are properly burning-in your oven and not simply masking the scent. There is no need to clean your oven after the burn-in is complete.
The oven will heat the chemical oils to a very high heat and remove them from the interior of the oven. As long as you no longer smell strong chemical or paint scents, you should be good to start using your oven.