As soon as the festive season is approaching you know that your oven will be handling more than the average cooking quantities! So preparing for these holiday feasts is the simple way to avoid disaster – making sure your oven is clean and in full working order is just part of the maintenance – take a look at how to get your oven ready for the holidays here…
Cleaning the oven
Not only does a clean oven look nice but it also increases the efficiency of the appliance to heat up more quickly and to cook evenly and at the estimated times. Get your oven ready for Christmas by using these cleaning tips:
- 1. Wipe away burnt on food remnants after each use to maintain a top cooking performance
- 2. Clean hobs regularly to ensure they stay safe to heat
- 3. Unplug the appliance when cleaning with water so you don’t get electrocuted!
- 4. When you’ve finished cooking put a heat-resistant bowl of water inside the oven and heat at a high temperature for 20 minutes to loosen grease and grime. When cool wipe the interior with paper towels
Self-cleaning options
If you decide to use the self-clean mode on your oven remember to do it at least two weeks prior to entertaining as you need to ensure it’s actually working properly! If there are any problems with the cleaning cycle or the latch mechanism you may need a helping hand. The heat generated from self-cleaning can sometimes cause a cut in power, so run it for a short time only.
Pre-heating the oven
If you don’t pre-heat your oven it can have a drastic effect on the results of your dish! The majority of ovens need about 20 minutes to reach the optimum temperature, so keep an eye on the timer and check with a swift opening of the door to see when the oven is ready.
Temperature calibration
There’s a simple home test to ensure your oven temperature is calibrated correctly – simply take a cup of sugar and place it in an oven-proof dish and pop in the oven. Set the temperature to 350 degrees and after an hour the sugar should still be the same if it’s melted the oven is too hot. Next set your oven to 375 degrees for 15 minutes for the sugar to completely melt – if it hasn’t the oven is too cold Simple!
Oven maintenance
To avoid emergency oven repairs read the following oven maintenance tips:- 1. Inspect the oven’s burners for damage and replace coils when necessary
- 2. Regularly check heating elements and thermostats
- 3. Check door seals for escaping heat
- 4. Line the base with an oven sheet to avoid having to do a deep clean
- 5. Roast meat and fish in cooking bags to minimise spitting fat
Need Professional Help?
Get fully guaranteed cooker and oven repair in South London from a qualified and experienced team – search online for a highly rated and reputable company. You’ll be able to call for a quote and arrange an appointment at short notice and be able to choose from a six-day option. Your service will be fully insured and come with a six-month guarantee, so if you can’t do the job yourself simply call in the experts!
