Check out the most effective methods for preventing oven fires.

1. Make sure your oven is serviced, clean, and in good repair

A properly working oven is perhaps the easiest step in avoiding a fire, so be sure to get it serviced at least once a year. Quickly clean any leftover food scraps after cooking as well, which can burn the next time you turn the oven on, resulting in lots of smoke and potentially a fire.

2. Never Leave the House if Something’s Cooking in the Oven

It’s essential to attend the cooking process because it’s a sure way to detect any strange thing happening that can potentially start a fire. If you’re not at home, you won’t be able to sense any burnt smell or hear any strange sound. Being alerted by potential problems with the oven cooking process is very important to let you act fast if something goes wrong.

Even cooks that are careful about leaving the house when the oven is in use can still get distracted with other tasks and forget about the running oven in the kitchen. This is understandable if you’re in another room working on other things that need to be dealt with quickly. However, cooking should take priority of your attention to avoid leaving the oven unattended.

3. Install a smoke detector but not in the kitchen

A surefire way to know something’s about to go south in the kitchen is the sound of a smoke alarm. Be sure to install alarms properly and locate them 6 to 20 feet away from any kitchen appliances to prevent false alarms. The shorter distance applies to photoelectric smoke detectors, and the 20-foot space to ionization smoke detectors.

4. Keep Greasy Food Covered

Splattering grease has the potential to start a serious oven fire if you’re not careful. This is also a problem when it comes to using a regular stovetop. Preventing grease from splattering inside the oven will also simplify the cleanup process after the cooking is finished. It’s a smart idea to get a cover or dedicated splatter guard. That small flame from the grease can transform into a small fire in no time.

5. Don’t Use the Oven for Heating

This is quite obvious for some people but never consider maintaining the oven on for heating purposes. No matter how easy or convenient it may seem, this is a really inefficient process to stay warm while the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning can be significant. Electric ovens are not designed for this purpose. They might overheat and start a fire.

6. Watch Kids and Pets Closely During Oven Cooking

Kids running around in the kitchen and playing with buttons can pose a danger if you’re using the oven. You need to be careful with pets as well because they can be a distraction and increase the likelihood of making mistakes such as spilling greasy pans. The most important aspect to remember when using the oven is to always pay close attention to your surroundings. If you don’t leave the oven unattended, it’s more likely that you can prevent children or pets from wandering around in the kitchen.

7. Get a Dependable Timer

Checking the time on a wall clock might seem fast when you’re trying to figure out cooking times but it’s easy to become distracted and forget something in the oven. This is why a kitchen timer can be considered a lifesaver. It allows you to multitask efficiently without worrying that you’ll forget about the cooked food in the oven. Using your phone’s timer is a decent solution but getting a dedicated timer tool that’s sufficiently loud and clear would be more practical.

8. Check the Cooking Temperature

This is a more important aspect when frying foods but it’s a solid preventive method for kitchen fires. Instant-read thermometers are handy to see whether the pot reaches the oil’s flash point that could be dangerous as it makes greasy splatters ignite. Be mindful of the temperature when frying foods.

9. Have an ABC Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher

Keeping a fire extinguisher in your home represents a solid preventive way to avoid all kinds of fires, not just those happening in the kitchen. When it comes to oven fires specifically, it’s worth getting the right kind of equipment for the job. The wrong type of fire extinguisher can fail to contain even small fires or be simply useless. Electrical and grease-caused fires are best handled with the help of ABC dry chemical fire extinguishers. Be sure to have one nearby.

10. Use the correct size pot to avoid food boiling over

To avoid food boiling over onto the stove, be sure to use the correct size pot on the appropriate size burner. If food boils over, it can cause the flame to flare up around the pot. Don’t allow food to boil over on gas burners. This can cause the flame to go out with the gas still on, increasing the potential for a fire or explosion.

Why do you need to clean your glass oven door?

When you first purchase an oven the glass door is perfectly clean. However, if you’ve ever done any baking you’ll know it doesn’t stay that way for long. Very quickly the glass becomes filthy with baked-on food and, if it isn’t cleaned regularly, can become impossible to see through.

This is a problem for more reasons than just its unsightly look. If you aren’t able to see through the glass to your food, you won’t be able to monitor its progress. If you can’t do that you’ll be forced to open the door more often to check. That wastes heat, making for a longer cooking time.

We show you how to clean glass oven door with the right products which will not harm them. Follow these quick and easy steps to clean your glass oven door in no time.

1. Wipe down the glass door

First, open up the oven door so it sits flat. Use a paper towel or old rag to wipe down the glass as best you can. The goal is to remove any of the loosely baked-on parts of the stain.

This can be quite sticky and messy so be sure to use a rag you can throw out afterward. The goal here isn’t so much to clean the door, as it is to prepare the glass for step 2, where the real process begins.

2. Apply a bi-carb solution to the glass

Bi-carb really is the miracle cleaning solution for anywhere in the home, and the glass oven door is no exception. Grab a bowl and fill it with 1 cup of bi-carb soda. Then, slowly add water until a paste is formed. Mix the solution with a fork as you go to break down any clumps.

Then, take a paper towel and apply the solution to the top of the glass. Ensure every area of the glass is covered with paste. Leave for 10-15 minutes to dry.

3. Scrub the oven door with a scouring sponge

When the bi-carb has dried, it’s time to use some elbow grease. Take a scouring sponge and scrub the glass in small concentric circles. The abrasiveness of the bi-carb should help to lift the stain quickly. Although the bi-carb is abrasive, it’s perfectly safe to use on the glass so don’t worry about scratching it.

Once the stain is completely removed, use a clean wet rag to wipe off the remaining bi-carb and buff the glass door to a shine.

Other tips for cleaning the oven

Now that you know how to clean the glass oven door, we share with you some tricks to clean the oven in an optimal way:

• Lemon is one of the best products for cleaning the oven door glass. By applying the lemon juice after each use, you will eliminate any bad smell from the appliance.
• Leave the oven door open after cooking for at least a few minutes. This way clean air will penetrate inside and will prevent encrusted food and dirt from being generated inside the glass.
• To remove the oven panes without removing the door, be sure to leave the hinges locked. If not, they could close and cause the glass to break if it is not attached properly.
• After cleaning the oven glass door, check that it is positioned correctly to avoid overheating the door. Also, the oven may not work if the double glass is not fitted properly.

If you’ve followed these steps you should have a perfectly clean glass oven door in no time.

Inexpensive ammonia helps to loosen and dissolve those tough baked-on messes inside your oven. Instead of scrubbing for hours, you’ll be able to wipe your oven clean in just a few minutes. Although this homemade oven cleaner doesn’t do all the work for you, it does make a difficult job much, much easier!

But before I show you how it’s done, let’s get a couple of important warnings out of the way:

• If you have a gas oven, make sure the pilot light is out and the gas has been turned off before you start cleaning.
• Never mix ammonia with other strong cleaning agents, such as bleach or commercial oven cleaners.
• Work in a well-ventilated area. At the least, open up the windows while you work.

Okay, now let’s get started!

You’ll need:

• Ammonia
• Baking dish
• Pot of water
• Dish soap
• Scrubbing pad or sponge
• Cleaning gloves

Directions

1. Prep

Start by preheating your oven to 150 degrees F.

While the oven is heating, put your pot of water on your stovetop and bring it to a boil.

When the oven has reached 150 F, turn it off. Pour 1 cup of ammonia into a baking dish, then place the dish on the top rack of your oven.

Finally, place the pot of boiling water on the bottom rack of your oven, and close the oven door.

2. Wait

You’ll want to give the ammonia and hot water several hours to work their magic inside your oven. The most convenient way to do it is to do the prep right before you go to bed, and let it sit overnight.

3. Empty The Oven

In the morning, open your oven and remove both the bowl of ammonia and the pot of water. (But don’t dispose of the ammonia; you’ll want to use it later!

Remove the oven racks as well, and leave the oven door open to air out for about 15 minutes.

4. Scrub

Now that the ammonia has had time to work its magic, it’s time to scrub all that nastiness away.

Add 1-2 teaspoons of dish soap to the dish of ammonia, along with a quart of warm water. Then pull on your cleaning gloves and grab a scrubbing pad.

Dip the scrubbing pad into the ammonia mixture, and use it to wipe away the softened grease and grime along the sides and bottom of the oven. (It should be a fairly easy job at this point!)

Bonus Tip #1 – Remove Your Oven Door

If you’re having a hard time reaching the back of your oven, you can make it much easier by removing the oven door. I know, it sounds complicated – but it really isn’t! To remove the door from the oven at our studio, we simply pulled it all the way open, then used a grilling fork to pry open a latch on each side. It came right off and was very easy to put back on.

If your oven door doesn’t have latches like ours, just Google “remove oven door on [your oven make and model]” and I’m sure you’ll find the right instructions!

Bonus Tip #2 – Keep Your Oven Clean

Once your oven is clean, you can help keep it that way by utilizing oven mats. I’ve lined the bottom of my oven with these washable, heat-resistant mats. When the mats get dirty, I just pull them out and give them a quick wash in some soapy water. I’m just sorry that I didn’t start doing it sooner!

Some are definitely more powerful than others and will work for different degrees of dirt. Here are 8 different ingredients to clean your oven and how to use them.

1. Cornstarch and Vinegar

Just add 1 cup of white vinegar and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to a small bowl. Mix until the ingredients are completely blended together and apply it to the oven.

First moisten the oven then apply the paste. Use a scouring pad to clean the interior of the oven. Remove the racks and give them a scrub with the same solution.

Once you’re through just wipe away the residue with fresh water. If there is stuck on grease or dried food, just allow it to soak for a few minutes before scrubbing.

2. Dish Soap and Lemon Juice

Stir together 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and 1 cup of lemon juice in a small sauce pan. Heat this mixture until it thickens then stir in 1 tablespoon of dawn dish soap.

Apply it to the oven with a spatula while it’s hot. Let this mixture sit for 20-30 minutes. Once the time has passed, wipe it clean and the dirt will come right off.

This is perfect for a quick clean and a great way to multitask. You can set this in motion and move to other aspects of the kitchen while it sits.

3. Vinegar and Baking Soda

An old faithful, vinegar and baking soda will oxidize to melt away all the stuck on grease.

Just mix 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1/4 cup of vinegar in a container, preferably a spray bottle. While it’s still fizzy, spray it on the interior of the oven and give it a scrub.

You can also moisten the walls of the oven and apply the baking soda. Then give it a spray with vinegar to allow it to oxidize and melt the grease.

Both methods work but the latter is a lot easier to achieve.

4. Murphy Oil Soap and Baking Soda

Murphy oil soap is originally a wood cleaner but it has proved its value in other areas of the home.

Mix 3 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of Murphy oil soap with 1 liter of water and ensure that the ingredients dissolve.

Use this along with a sponge to wash the interior and the racks of your oven. Give the corners and glass a detailed clean to get the most out of this mixture.

When you’re done just rinse the soapy residue away with warm water.

5. Baking Soda Alone

Baking soda is a strong cleaner that can take certain messes by itself. If your oven needs a gentle clean, then baking soda is a great bet.

Just mix 2 cups of baking soda and 2 cups of water in a spray bottle and give the tougher areas a spritz. If there is stuck on food just allow it to soak for 15 minutes.

If not, you can scrub with a scouring pad and wipe away the dirt with a soft cloth. If the baking soda does not suffice, you can add 1 tablespoon of borax to give it a boost.

6. Rubbing Alcohol and Dish Soap

Mix 1 cup of rubbing alcohol and 1 table spoon of dawn dish soap to clean your oven. Rubbing alcohol is a great replacement for bleach as it cleans and disinfects.

Apply this mixture to the oven and let it sit for a few minutes. Once you’re done just wipe it away with fresh, warm water.

Warm water will ensure that the taste of rubbing alcohol doesn’t get into your food once you start to use the oven.

The best dish soap to use to do this is Dawn dish soap as it’s environmentally friendly and will eliminate grease quickly.

7. Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide

For a cleaning solution that will result in a beautiful shine, mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.

Make a paste with 1 table spoon of hydrogen peroxide and 2 tablespoon of baking soda. Apply this to the interior and exterior of your oven.

Add a small amount of elbow grease as you scrub with a sponge. Once you’ve covered the entire surface area of the oven, wipe it clean with a cloth.

Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide will give your oven a deep clean.

8. Salt and a Lemon

For a more fragrant solution, you can use half of a lemon to clean your oven. Just slice half a lemon and sprinkle 1 teaspoon of salt on the the surface.

Use this to scrub the interior and glass of the oven until the grease begins to lift. The acidic properties of the salt and lemon will work to cleanse the oven.

This will also leave your kitchen with an amazing fragrance. You can also use baking soda with half of a lemon for the same type of clean.

Just use different methods to discover the best one for your oven. Baking soda can also be added to any of these recipes that doesn’t already have it.

It is a universal cleaner that will combat even the toughest grease. In all things, ensure that your oven is being cleaned as often as you can and nothing will be permanent.