Author : Cosmo

No need to strain yourself scrubbing away at these ovens. Self-cleaning ovens are an easy alternative to get a shiny interior all from the press of a button. Mistakes happen in the kitchen, learn everything you need to know about this function to save yourself from extra work next time. These ovens come in two types, high heat or steam cleaning. A high heat cleaning oven will greatly increase its temperature to burn away any residue inside. It essentially turns any bits to ash. On the other hand, steam cleaning works with heat and water to loosen soils. However it usually requires a manual clean afterwards. A steam clean may require more work than high heat, but it offers no burn off, lower temperatures and no odors. Each oven varies, but usually a self-clean should be performed every four to six months. This will fluctuate depending how often the oven is used and the frequency of spills. A self-clean cycle will take a few hours depending on the brand and type of oven you own. Before starting a self-clean cycle, here are the steps you should follow: Make sure any major spills are cleaned up. Unless otherwise noted in an owner’s manual, remove the racks to prevent discoloration and potential warping. Double check that the oven door is locked. Most ovens will lock themselves. The oven will cause odors while it’s cleaning. Ensure there is proper ventilation throughout your home. A hood or fan is ideal to remove any heat and odors caused by the burning. Perform the self-clean. Once everything is done and completely cool, take a damp towel and wipe down everything inside to clean up any remaining residue. If you’d like to stay on top of things and reduce the need for a self-clean, follow these steps to keep your oven in working condition. Clean up spills immediately. Use a damp sponge or a brush to get rid of any loose food bits. Always wait until everything is completely cool to work on an oven to prevent accidentally shattering any untempered glass. Remove racks for a more effective and comfortable cleaning. Use warm sudsy water or a quality oven cleaner. Rinse and dry before sliding back into place. The exterior oven door can be cleaned with warm, sudsy water and a sponge. You can also use a multi-purpose glass cleaner with a scrub to achieve a spotless finish. Rinse and dry afterwards. Sources: Good House Keeping

You may live in an area that could have power outages from natural disasters such as thunderstorms, hurricanes or earthquakes. It’s important to understand the foods in your refrigerator or freezer, and how long you should keep them if you lose power. Follow this guide to stay prepared in case you find yourself without electricity. First, look to see the temperature in your refrigerator. This will be critical to monitor in case of a power outage. It’s worth investing in a refrigerator thermometer. The temperature should be set to 35 to 38°F. If the power goes out keep track of how long it’s out. Keep the door to your refrigerator closed as much as possible to keep it colder longer. Once you pass four hours without power and the temperature inside your refrigerator increases past 40°F, your perishable foods will only be good for two more hours. Foods you should toss: Soups, stews, and casseroles Meat, poultry, and seafood Dairy: milk, cream yogurt, sour cream Eggs Sweets: Cheesecake, cream or custard pies, cream-filled pastries Vegetables: pre-washed greens, cooked vegetables, vegetable juice Pasta: Fresh pasta, salads Tofu Food you can keep: Cheese: hard, processed, grated hard cheeses Dairy: butter, margarine Fruit: fruit juice, canned fruit, fresh whole fruits Vegetables: raw Herbs Breads: Bread, rolls, cakes, muffins, tortillas Sweets: Fruit pies Your freezer also has a recommended temperature you’ll want to keep track of. This is a bit easier as you just want to be sure the food inside stays frozen. A full freezer will keep its temperature for about 48 hours, while a half-full freezer will keep its temperature for about 24 hours. Once the power comes back on check foods to see if they have ice crystals. If they do, you’re safe to refreeze it again. Sources: Apartment Therapy

There are many terms regarding ovens you may be unfamiliar with, such as convection, conventional, or True European convection. These are the different ways an oven heats food as it bakes. Looking for all the info you need before making your next purchase? We’ve got you covered. Conventional. A conventional oven typically has two heating elements inside–one at the bottom and one at the top. The bottom element usually is the main source of heat, while the top element is reserved for broiling. The heat inside a conventional oven rises to the top as it bakes. This results in uneven cooking. For instance, cookies you bake in a conventional oven can come out half-burnt and half-blonde due to the various hot and cold spots inside. Convection. A convection oven includes an extra element to provide a solution to the conventional oven. A fan system located at the back of the oven creates a flow of air inside the oven to get rid of any uneven hot spots. This provides more even cooking while removing any excess moisture in foods. A convection oven will bake foods faster which is important to note in recipe instructions. While convection ovens may seem like an easy pick, it’s not suited for foods that are naturally light or airy, since they can be disturbed by the fan. True European Convection. The third oven type are True European Convection ovens. These ovens differ from standard convection in that the fan has an additional third heating element. Instead of just moving air inside the oven, the fan will provide heated air. This will distribute heat more efficiently and evenly than standard convection. A True European oven fan won’t just push around cold air inside since it’s also providing heat. This will in turn reduce the need for cooking time and temperature furthermore than standard convection. This is important to note in your recipes to prevent overcooking. Are you looking to upgrade your oven? Check out our product line here. Sources: Reviewed