Cooking with friends and family is one of the best ways to bond.
However, if you aren't using your oven properly, you could be putting yourself in danger.
If you make sure to never do any of the 10 following things to your oven, then you have the green light to cook, bake, broil, and warm to your heart's content!
It's not just gas ovens that are a concern, either. Electric stoves pose their own, lesser-known threats to your home. This is not to say that you should be afraid to use your oven or stove by any means. As long as you are informed about proper use, there is no need to worry!
If you are planning to do a lot of cooking for any kind of special family event any time soon, then you're going to want to read up!
Please SHARE with your family and friends who love to cook!
1. Forget To Clean It
If you forget to clean your oven, the particles can eventually become a fire hazard. Make sure that you are giving the oven and the stovetop a good wipe down if any major spills happen. A fresh spill is easier to clean than a caked-on one, anyway.
Cleaning Matters also notes that debris in your oven will affect how your baking turns out.
2. Use The Self-Cleaning Feature Before An Important Meal
The self-cleaning feature on your oven works by melting off all of the grease and grime from your oven. To do this, it needs to heat up to extreme temperatures, possibly reaching 1000 degrees to carbonate the residue so it just cracks right off.
This extreme heat and power can cause the oven's electrical system to burn out. It can be fixed, but you may have to wait a bit of time for a part to come. Don't clean your oven right before you're expecting to cook a big family meal for a holiday or special occasion, just in case the worst happens!
3. Block The Vents
You may think you are conserving energy when you block the vents on the top or bottom of your oven, but you're also making it impossible for the oven to maintain an even temperature throughout.
The circulation of air keeps your food cooking at a consistent temperature all around, according to The Appliance Clinic.
4. Open And Close The Door While Cooking
Doing this lets all the heat out of the oven, which will result in longer cooking times and more energy wasted.
If you want to peek at your food, use the oven light instead. If you must open the oven to check on your dish or rotate it, do it quickly and infrequently!
5. Use It If You Smell Gas
If you have a gas oven, you shouldn't use it if your home fills with the scent of gas when you turn it on. A gas leak is no joke, and it can cause explosions, fires, and general catastrophe.
If you suspect your oven has a leak, you can go to your hardware store and get a relatively cheap gas leak detector. If you find a leak, you should call a professional. However, if you are comfortable repairing it on your own, be sure to turn off your gas and turn the burners on to burn off any remaining gas before changing out any parts.
6. Use It As Storage
Using your oven as storage for pans and trays is never a good idea. If you forget that items are in there before you turn it on, you could either ruin an item in the oven or scald yourself trying to remove it.
It's best to simply use an oven as an oven, not an extra cabinet.
7. Neglect The Knobs
Your oven knobs get pretty darn dirty. Think about how often you touch them while you are cooking, potentially with raw meat on your hands. Like other high-traffic areas, your oven knobs need cleaning.
The best way to do this is to pop them off and wash them with a mild detergent and water, according to GE.
8. Use It As A Heat Source
You should never use your oven as a heat source. Simply put, that is not what they were designed for.
In some cases, a misused or over-exerted oven could even emit carbon monoxide, according to DC.gov.
9. Line The Bottom With Aluminum Foil
Handymen order many an oven floor for folks who line their ovens with foil for a supposed easy cleanup, as sometimes the foil can melt!
If you must use foil to catch drips, place it directly underneath the tray on the rack instead of on the oven floor.
10. Forget To Register It
In order to get refunds and keep warranties effective, a simple sales receipt will do. However, if you are worried about getting alerted if there are any recalls, then registering your oven is a necessity.
Take the time to fill out the card to ensure your safety, as recommended by Consumer Reports.
Did you know about all of these things that you shouldn't be doing to your oven? Please SHARE with family and friends!
