THANKSGIVING PREP

I probably should have posted this last weekend. Today I’m prepping to bake a turkey. Before I do any baking, I make sure that my oven is clean—especially when baking something for a really long time like a turkey.

I want you to go look at your oven. Is it clean? I try to keep mine clean all the time. When it’s cool, if I know something spilled, I clean it up right away. And before I turn on the oven, I give it a once-over visually and a scrub if it needs some scrubbing before I begin to bake. I have done this for decades so it is a habit and it doesn’t ever get really dirty. I have that time built into my baking schedule. And because it’s only 10 minutes, if it does need to be done, it’s not a big deal.

WHAT IF I HAVEN’T KEPT MINE UP?

Now if you haven’t cleaned your oven for a few years and it is an absolute disaster, I recommend making sure there’s no loose bits that could catch fire and giving it a quick wipe with something you can throw away. But unless you have Wednesday off that you can devote to cleaning your oven, I’m going to say to forgo the oven cleaning until after turkey day.

THE BEST WAY TO CLEAN THE OVEN

I have to say, I’m the wrong person to ask. Since I keep mine clean, I don’t have a recommendation of a tried and true method from personal experience. I have helped a friend with hers. I used a baking soda and hydrogen peroxide paste. The key is to put it on and let it work. This may take several hours. Sadly, it doesn’t stick to the sides, so you still need another product. Once about 7 years ago I used Norwex. Their instructions have changed, so my experience then wouldn’t be applicable to today’s product.

Recently, I saw another blogger try several methods and she said The Pink Stuff and a good scrub sponge. Another said the Dawn Powerwash on a warm oven with plastic wrap to cover it so it doesn’t dry out was her favorite method. This link is the combo of both the Powerwash and the Scrub Daddy scrubber (undyed). As you’ll read, that’s the scrubber I recommend. Neither of these cleaners are considered “healthy.” EWG rates both of them a C, with the Pink stuff cream getting a D. But sometimes you do what you have to then determine not to let it get so bad you need heavy duty in the future. I have used Norwex oven & grill cleaner in the past. It worked like a dream (see above paragraph) but it’s quite expensive. It’s supposed to be eco and people friendly.

For the sponge, I like the Scrub Daddy sponges. Yeah, they look weird, but they do work! And unlike so many other sponges, they Rinse clean and they can go through the dishwasher. Mine lasted a long time. In their three pack, the green is for heavy duty. You can use whatever SCRATCH-FREE sponge you like. I caution highly against anything abrasive and especially an S.O.S. pad! They are not meant for the interior of your oven. Many ovens today are self-cleaning, even though we don’t use that option very often because it is damaging to the heating element so the surface is very different. Additionally, I wouldn’t use SOS on enamel pots and pans, so I wouldn’t ever think to use it on my oven, either.

WHAT’S THE BEST METHOD?

For most cleaners, a little warmth and time is your friend. Warm your oven for a few minutes—and I mean just a few. Unless otherwise indicated, if you can’t touch it, it’s too warm. We just want to soften the grease. Then apply your cleaner using rubber gloves (the chemicals may not be harmful, but you don’t want your hands to look like you repair cars for a living, do you?). Let the cleaner work! While the hydrogen peroxide and baking soda cleaner is awesome on cookie trays, your stovetop, and other flat surfaces, it doesn’t work very well on the sides or back of your oven. And, it does take a couple of hours on grody surfaces. The Pink Stuff and the Dawn Powerwash shouldn’t take that long. Maybe give it 20 minutes or so—you should see it turn brown.. The Norwex cleaner states it is ready after 10 minutes. It does require preheating and another oven warming after.

From watching others videos, the Powerwash seemed to take less effort scrubbing, but you spend a bit of time covering all the surfaces in plastic wrap and all that soap you spray on is time consuming to remove. It took many rinses to get it off. The Pink Stuff, took more effort in scrubbing but rinsed clean quite easily.

IN THE FUTURE

In the future, make it a habit to clean up the stove after baking. Just like you wash the dishes and wipe off the stove, determine to wipe out the oven as well. On occasion you may need to get in there with a scrubber and cleaner because the steam created by baking will bring along with it particles of food and grease, but it will be less often and less effort. And isn’t that what we want?

Enjoy your Thanksgiving Day.

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