Should you burn in a new oven?

Author: Ava Towne  |  Last update: Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Preheat and Maintain: Set the oven to a relatively high temperature, around 200°C (400°F), and let it run empty for about an hour. This process helps burn off any manufacturing residues and odorous compounds.

Is it safe to cook in a brand new oven?

health wise you will be fine. If it is an electric oven you need to run it for a while to burn off any grease or oil that might be on the coils or oven, if its gas it doesnt have to be run but it is recommended.

Can you use a brand new oven straight away?

There is a lot of factory dust and oils that you must burner off when you break in your brand new oven. Before actually using your oven, you're going to want to turn the oven on to 500oF and let it run for 1 hour. That should burn off anything coming from the factory which needs to be removed.

How long does it take to burn off the fumes in a new oven?

If you're wondering how to burn off a new oven, it starts with turning on the fan (if you have a vent hood) and opening your windows. Set your oven to a Bake cycle at 350° F. Allow your oven to run for up to an hour.

Is it normal for a new oven to smell like its burning?

A small amount of smoke or odor can be normal, especially the first time a new range or oven is used. It is caused by the heating of new parts, insulating materials, a protective coating of oil that is used in the manufacturing process, and/or the tape used in shipping. It should dissipate after the first few uses.

Burning Off Your New Oven

How to burn off chemicals in a new oven?

Most manufacturers will tell you to heat your new oven to a high temp (think: about 400°F) for 30 minutes to help remove any residue from the surfaces inside the oven. Be sure to open the windows and run some fans — things will get smelly.

Can you cook food straight away in a new oven?

To avoid a situation where a freshly prepared meal in your new kitchen appliance smells like burnt plastic, we recommend you do, as most experts refer to it, a “burn-in” before cooking in the oven for the first time. This process will make sure to burn off any residue of coating oil and eliminate the unpleasant smell.

How to get rid of burnt plastic smell in oven?

Quick Answer: If your oven smells like burning plastic, it's often due to residue from packaging, protective coatings needing to burn off in new ovens, or potentially faulty wiring. Ensure the oven is clean and free from packaging, ventilate the area, and run it at high heat for a short period.

How to get chemical smell out of oven?

Fill an oven-safe dish with equal parts water and white vinegar, pop it in the oven, set it to 200°F, and let it steam for about 30 minutes. “It's basically a steam room for your oven to help it sweat out all the gunk,” says Webber. “After it's cooled down, wipe everything down — bye-bye lingering chemicals.”

How to burn out a new oven?

Preheat and Maintain: Set the oven to a relatively high temperature, around 200°C (400°F), and let it run empty for about an hour. This process helps burn off any manufacturing residues and odorous compounds. Cool Down: Allow the oven to cool down completely before cleaning the interior with a damp cloth.

Why is my new oven burning everything?

A common cause for your oven to start burning food is the calibration, a badly calibrated oven is usually noticeable because of how it burns your food. If the edges of your food are burnt but the centre is still cooked then poor calibration is likely the reason.

What is the difference between old and new ovens?

"Newer ovens have better insulated walls and three layers of glass that reduce heat loss, which means they're more energy efficient than older models," says Fiona. "They also have digital temperature control for accuracy and faster preheat times."

Do you need to burn off a new oven element?

New ovens may have a pungent smell on first use. This is not a fault with the oven and is usual because factory residues may need to be cooked off the elements or hot plates. Before you use your oven for the first time you will need to 'burn off' the 'newness' smell.

Is it normal for a brand new oven to smoke?

A small amount of smoke or odor from your new oven is not uncommon during the first few times the oven is used. This is caused by the heating of new parts, insulating materials, or the tape used in shipping. This is applicable to both gas and electric ovens. The smoke or odor should dissipate after the first few uses.

How long does it take for a new wood stove to stop smelling?

Start a small fire, slowly building it and increasing the heat over a 4-6 hour period. Keep the room well ventilated. Repeat this process with larger, hotter fires until the paint smell has dissipated. The paint smell should take 3-4 burns to eliminate, with the smell reducing with each burn.

Can I still use my oven if I burnt plastic in it?

Because melted plastic can release gases like benzene, dioxins, and toluene into the air — which can be damaging to the respiratory and nervous systems, according to the National Library of Medicine — it's imperative that the plastic is removed before the oven is turned on again.

Is it OK to smell burnt plastic?

Burning plastic is bad as it releases toxins that can cause serious damage if inhaled. Fumes from burning plastic have been linked to respiratory illnesses, reproductive issues, cancer, immune system damage and nervous system damage.

How do you get burnt oven smell out of your house?

Place small containers of baking soda in key areas to neutralize and absorb burnt smells (but keep out of reach of kids and pets). Introduce fresh scents into the room. Febreze Air is ideal for emergency stink situations and comes in scents such as sea spray, jasmine & lime and fresh-baked vanilla.

Is it okay to use a new oven straight away?

It also helps to heat the oven on top/bottom heat for 30 minutes at 250°C. This should be enough to get rid of any unpleasant smell coming from the new oven. If your new oven smells of plastic, please double-check whether you have removed all the packaging in the oven's interior prior to using it for the first time.

Why does my new oven take longer to cook?

The downside to this new feature is that your heating elements are now housed in hollow spaces within the walls of the oven cavity, which means the heating element must heat up a larger volume of air, and it can no longer heat up the main cavity as directly as it did before.

Can you transport a new oven on its side?

Glass top (radiant) cooking products should be moved in an upright position, carefully protected, to prevent possible damage to the glass cooking surface.

Is it safe to smell a new oven?

Is the New Smell Dangerous? Odor and smoke when you turn on an oven for the first time is normal and not harmful. The best way to get rid of the smell is to run an empty cycle. It is recommended that you do not cook any food before this cycle as the smell and, potentially, the taste can stick with your food.

How long does it take to burn off chemicals in the oven?

Chemical cleaners attack tough-to-remove dirt, so wear rubber or nitrile gloves and a mask to avoid breathing in the fumes. If you're wondering if it's safe to cook in an oven after cleaning with it, it's best to leave the oven at a high heat for around 20 minutes before you use it.

Can you use a new oven without cleaning it?

Answer: Before an oven is used for the first time, the oven interior should be cleaned and a burn-in may be required. Wolf recommends discarding any food that is cooked in the oven before the first use / burn-in process is completed.

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