The lowdown on ‘self-cleaning’ ovens

Anything that cleans itself sounds like a good idea, especially when it comes to ovens. Usually the term ‘self-cleaning’ refers to the pyrolytic cleaning method which is often falsely claimed to be the latest on the market, whereas in fact it debuted back in the 60s.

There are pros and cons to the different technologies on the market with pyrolytic and steam cleaning being the most known ones. Let’s have a closer look:

Pyrolytic Cleaning

Pyrolytic cleaning works by heating the inside of the oven upwards of 400°C for 2-4 hours reducing grease and food residue to ash that can be wiped off. Sounds easy – the downside is that the high temperatures can damage the oven’s enamel over time and the duration of the cleaning cycle is not very energy efficient. Additionally, the high heat can result in smoke and odours and the ash residue can remain in the crevices of the oven.

Steam Cleaning

Steam cleaning is another popular ‘self-cleaning’ technology which uses water and heat to create steam that helps release food residue from enamel coated oven walls. A steam cleaning cycle only takes up to an hour, often less, at only around 120°C without creating smoke or odours. The downside is that this method is not as thorough as pyrolytic cleaning.

Catalytic Cleaning

The catalytic cleaning method is another method. Catalytic ovens have a rough lining that absorb grease when the temperature rises above 200°C. Advantages are that this method quick (15 minutes), however, additional manual cleaning is necessary and the catalytic walls have a limited lifespan of about 5 years when they need replacing.

Hydrolytic™ Cleaning & EzyKleen

Hydrolytic™ cleaning technology, a trademark of Australia’s premier kitchen appliance brand Kleenmaid, is in essence the same as steam cleaning. However, Kleenmaid’s ovens combine steam cleaning with the use of oleophobic oven enamels (EzyKleen technology) which naturally repel grease from the oven walls and are Nickel and toxin free. Kleenmaid is the only brand who combine the two technologies in New Zealand.

This method is by far quicker, cheaper, gentler on the oven and the most ecological.

But one thing is for sure, no matter what type of ‘self-cleaning’ oven you choose, it will always require the owner to clean it / wipe it down after a cleaning cycle and the best prevention of a super dirty oven is always to clean it after every use.

The Kleenmaid oven range is now available in New Zealand exclusively through Ikon.

KLEENMAID HYDROLYTIC OVENS: