When you move into your first apartment, you might not be familiar with every single thing in the kitchen. For example, you most likely know how you should take care of your stove from years of cooking basic meals for yourself, but the oven might seem more imposing. If you want to know how to safely use your apartment’s oven for delicious meals and baked goods, find some helpful advice below.
1. Check your oven for door damage
Sometimes, you might notice when you’re about to use your oven that there’s a small crack on the door. You may think it’s fine, but it’s not. Even a small crack could lead to big safety issues.
If you use your oven when the temperature is very high, there’s a chance that the high temperature could cause the cracked glass in the door to break completely. If you notice a crack or any small issue with your oven door, quickly ask your landlord to fix or replace the door before you use the oven.
2. Don’t use your oven to heat your apartment
If your apartment’s heater breaks, it’s highly unsafe to use your oven to warm up your apartment. Gas ovens produce carbon monoxide, which is obviously extremely dangerous. Under no circumstances should you leave your oven open while it’s on.
3. Consider getting an oven thermometer
If you want to prepare delicious food with your first oven, you should consider getting an oven thermometer. These devices are helpful because some parts of your oven will be hotter than others – no oven heats entirely perfectly. An oven thermometer will show you the exact temperature of your oven while you use it, which might turn out to be pretty different than the temperature you set.
4. Only use the oven for certain things
There are so many ways you can use your oven to prepare your meals. You can cook your food in an array of oven-safe cookware like Dutch ovens, cookie sheets, and cast iron skillets. However, there are just as many things you should avoid putting near or in your oven.
Among the things you shouldn’t place in your oven include towels, oven mitts, potholders, glassware, plastic, paper towels, wax paper, and unprotected food. All of these items could lead to either fires or shattered, dangerous messes. You should also do your best to clean food debris, which is also a fire hazard..
5. Clean your oven regularly, but not frequently
You should only deep clean your oven about twice a year. While your oven is off, you can start cleaning by wiping loose bits of food from the interior with a damp sponge or cloth. Then, remove the racks and clean them with warm, soapy water and a wool soap pad.
To clean tough grime inside your oven, place a hot, wet cloth on top of burned spots to help soften them up and wipe them up after. If your oven has a self-cleaning function, you should use that function instead. You can also clean the exterior of your oven with warm, soapy water and a sponge.
How often do you use your oven? Share your experience in the comments!
