Self-cleaning ovens are a wonder of modern technology. Rather than scrubbing away at caked-on grime, you can simply flip a switch and let the oven itself do the work.
But is it a good idea to use this feature? Some people have contended that the high heat used during self-cleaning cycles can damage various parts of the oven itself.
Consumer Reports set out to settle the debate. Kenneth Sutton and Sue Collomb — who have been dubbed the publication’s “resident range experts” — have tested dozens of ranges and wall ovens over the years.
They say fears of damage related to self-cleaning technology are overblown, though you should take precautions when using it.
“I recall a few malfunctions during self-cleaning over the years, but it’s not a common thing,” Sutton says.
However, that does not mean self-cleaning problems don’t arise. Chris Zeisler, technical service supervisor at Repair Clinic, tells Consumer Reports that oven parts that sometimes fall victim to a self-cleaning cycle include:
- Door latches
- Electrical components
- Bake or broil heating elements
- Igniters in gas ranges
- Gaskets
Damage to your oven is not the only potential danger in running a self-clean cycle. The Bob Vila website warns that high-heat and steam self-cleaning ovens might expose you to carbon monoxide. According to the website:
“It’s important to know that both high-heat and steam self-cleaning ovens can emit unpleasant burning odors and fumes, and harmful byproducts like carbon monoxide, from the vent of the oven during the cleaning cycle. High-heat models tend to emit a higher volume of more noxious fumes. These fumes emanate from both food particles and the enamel lining that coats the oven interior.”
The resulting fumes can irritate both people and pets. Those with respiratory conditions are at higher risk.
So, should you skip self-cleaning? Not necessarily. You can reduce the risk of damage by running the self-clean cycle sparingly. Regularly wiping up drips and other messes can reduce the need to use the self-clean feature.
Also, remove racks prior to running a cycle, and turn on a range hood fan and open windows to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide buildup.
Even if you do find yourself using the self-cleaning feature, the risk of damage remains relatively low.
Consumer Reports estimates that self-cleaning problems happen with only about 1% of the ranges covered by the publication’s latest reliability ratings. Ignition problems with gas and pro-style ranges and chips and scratches in cooktops are considerably more common.
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