LOS ANGELES – Cleanliness is vital for business success when operating a food business. The oven is an area where grease spills and food residues quickly build up. Dirt and grime not only present a health risk but can also become a fire hazard. Professionals will already be familiar with the best way to clean an oven at home. Read on to find out how to clean a commercial oven.
Explore your oven’s cleaning program
Depending on your type of oven, it may come with a self-cleaning option that makes a deep clean much faster. Auto-clean ovens work by heating up the inside to extremely high temperatures of around 500°F. This burns off any food remnants and grease and all you need to do is swipe away the pile of ash that remains. The process doesn’t require any toxic chemicals so it’s a good long-term investment. But not everyone can afford the latest in commercial kitchen equipment, so follow the steps below to manually deep clean your oven. Operation of a commercial kitchen means that you are legally required to keep your equipment clean in order to minimize health hazards. Therefore, you should clean your commercial oven regularly.
Prepare your oven
To manually clean a commercial oven, make sure it’s switched off and cooled down. You’ll need:
- Oven cleaner
- Rubber gloves
- Sponge
- Toothbrush or other small brush
It’s advisable to wear suitable attire. As a first step, a commercial oven is usually cleaned by removing the lose food remnants from the inside of the oven.
Take out the metal racks
Prepare a bath of hot, soapy water in your commercial sink. Remove the metal racks from the oven and add them to the water bath. Let them soak to help break down sticky and greasy food residues. Use a sponge to scrub off any persistent burnt bits.
If your racks are very dirty, use a special oven cleaner. To do so, place the racks in a sealable plastic bag that is included with the cleaner. Add the cleaning solution according to the packaging instructions. Wait for the recommended time and remove the racks. Wipe and wash them to remove the toxic chemicals.
Clean the inside of the oven
Use a rough sponge to loosen the grease and encrusted food. Avoid touching the fans and internal heating elements to minimize damage. For stubborn stains, use an oven cleaner. The product should be applied to the walls and surface of the oven. It usually takes a few hours for remnants to lift. It’s important to select a good high-strength cleaning solution for your business. For a comparison, see this overview of the best industrial oven cleaners.
Maintain the oven door
Oven doors sometimes get overlooked. Cleaning the door of the appliance is important to avoid corrosion and avoid the door from closing properly. Use a scraper or sponge to remove food remnants. Industrial soap may help lift some of the grease stains. But if the grease is baked into the surface, try a professional cleaning solution instead. Not all specialist cleaners are suitable for glass or metal, so it’s advisable to carefully follow the instructions.
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