The oven will turn off automatically when the cleaning cycle is over, but you won't be able to open it until it cools down to regular baking temperatures. Wipe away ash residue with damp cloth.
Door is locked during the Self-Clean cycle
The oven will need to cool to approximately 200°F (95°C) before the door will open. Allow the oven to cool, for approximately 30-90 minutes, move the latch arm to the left to unlock the door.
Yes, you can leave the house while the oven is self-cleaning, but there are some precautions you should take: Ventilation: Ensure that the kitchen is well-ventilated. The self-cleaning process can produce smoke and odors due to the high temperatures involved.
Turning a unit off during self-clean is discouraged. Damage can occur if self-clean does not complete. If canceled or interrupted, the door stays locked until the unit cools to a safe temperature level. The amount of time it takes for the oven to cool to a safe level varies.
It's largely safe for you and your home
One of the most important tests administered for high-heat self-cleaning cycles, he said, is making sure that the oven door locks once the interior temperature hits 600 °F.
While the convenience of leaving the racks in might be tempting, the self-clean cycle involves intense heat that can lead to unintended consequences. Leaving the racks in during this process can result in warping, discoloration, and even potential damage to the oven's internal components.
On average, high heat self-cleaning ovens require anywhere from 1.5 hours to 3 hours, and even 6 hours on some models. For ovens that use a steam-cleaning feature, cycle times are generally shorter, under an hour for cleaning and cooldown.
First and foremost, don't leave your oven unattended during self-cleaning. You should plan to be in your home for the entire duration of the cleaning cycle to keep an eye on it and make sure everything is operating as planned. The next most important rules for oven self-cleaning involve ventilation.
You'll still have to wipe up any residue, drippings, and other “goodies” that are left over after the self-cleaning finishes. When you start your self-cleaning oven, it is going to get hot. Very hot! The goal is to create enough insulated heat to turn any grease, fat, and anything else that's been leftover into ash.
On Gas Ranges, you cannot use the cooktop burners while Self-Cleaning. On Electric Ranges: Burners on models manufactured 2015 and after will operate during Self-Clean. However, we strongly recommend waiting until after the cycle is complete to cook on the cooktop.
Using the Self-Clean Cycle Requires Precautions
Those same high temperatures that help your oven clean can produce smoke and fumes. “When you run the cycle, turn on a range hood if you have one and open some windows,” Collomb says.
If your oven catches fire, the safety lock will make it impossible to open the oven until it completes its cleaning cycle. This means that the fire will be contained in the oven, and without oxygen, it will eventually burn out. Remember, do not try to put out an oven fire on your own.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide can significantly affect the air quality and health of those breathing in the gas. Safety tip: If you have a self-cleaning oven ensure that the windows are open during the process and keep a working carbon monoxide detector in your house.
“The self-cleaning mode heats your oven up to 900 degrees and incinerates everything in the oven,” explains San Angelo. “This includes on the glass—you may still need to wipe the glass after the self-cleaning cycle is done, but always make sure your oven is fully cooled.”
Racks should also be removed, except for "no scrub" or "self-clean" racks. Racks labeled as "No scrub" or "self-clean" can be left in the oven.
Can I Stop My Self-Cleaning Oven Early? You can usually cancel your oven's self-clean cycle at any time, but you likely won't be able to access your oven right away. The cycle uses extremely high temperatures to clean, triggering the oven door to lock automatically. The door will unlock once the oven is cool enough.
If you ran the self-clean cycle, but the oven doesn't seem to be clean, consider the following: White ash, white spots, or even white film on the interior is normal. Food soil can leave deposits in the oven after it has burned off but can be removed with a water and vinegar solution and a sponge or cloth.
While no chemicals are used during the self clean cycle and fumes from burning food debris are not harmful to breathe, they are very unpleasant to smell. A self cleaning oven can stink up your house easily without proper kitchen ventilation. Opening windows and doors can help clear out the fumes sooner than later.
It can take between 30 and 90 minutes for the oven to cool down after a self cleaning cycle. The lock light and clean lights may remain on during this time.
Pyrolytic self-cleaning symbol
Ovens with Pyrolytic cleaning functionality heat built-up food residues to turn them to ash that can then be wiped away. To use this setting look for a symbol showing three sets of three arrows or dots.
If you open the oven door and the interior feels warm or hot, this can be normal. The oven interior is designed to retain heat, even several hours after the oven has been turned off after cooking.
In general, it is recommended to wait at least one to two hours after cleaning before cooking. This will ensure that any remaining cleaning products or residue have evaporated and that the oven is completely dry.