Before purchasing your oven, the choice of options (fan or pulsed heat, built-in, etc.) is decisive.
Added to this is the question of the maintenance system.
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Pyrolysis, for demanding cooks
Pyrolysis cleaning is started outside of the cooking cycles, at high temperature (around 500°C).
The dirt is then carbonized.
The cooking door remains cool throughout the cycle.
In terms of advantages, pyrolysis is very effective, both on sugar and fats.
It requires minimal intervention: just dust the ashes after the cycle.
Conversely, pyrolysis mobilizes and locks the oven for a minimum of 2 hours.
High temperature also has an energy cost;
use off-peak hours (if your oven has a timer) to save on the electricity bill.
The last pitfall is that pyrolysis ovens are more expensive to purchase.
Catalysis, for small budgets
The enameled walls of a catalysis oven eliminate dirt through oxidation.
This cleaning mode works when the oven reaches 200° or 220°C for at least 50 min.
If you cook a little longer, like a chicken, the walls of your oven will be maintained at the same time.
This self-cleaning is a big advantage: catalysis does not lock the oven for a specific period as with pyrolysis.
Catalytic ovens also have a lower price.
On the other hand, take out the dishwashing liquid and the sponge (non-abrasive, the walls are fragile!) to complete the cleaning: the sugars often remain stuck, a problem if you bake a lot.
Same obligation if you only cook at low temperature.
Finally, note that it is your responsibility to clean the grill, plate and glass door of your catalysis oven.
Plan in your budget to change the walls after 5 years.
Hydrolysis, for eco-responsible cleaning
A more in-depth cleaning than catalysis but less demanding than pyrolysis?
This is what hydrolysis promises.
It consists of using steam to loosen the juices stuck in the oven.
Getting started is simple: place around 50 cl (2 glasses) of water with a drop of degreasing dishwashing detergent in the drip pan, start the hydrolysis program (around 80°C), wait half an hour.
All that remains is to lightly wipe with a sponge if necessary, and remove the residual water.
Hydrolysis must, however, be started after each messy cooking to properly dislodge encrusted fats.
In the end, however, the result may seem less perfect than pyrolysis.
Please note that some ovens offer the dual pyrolysis and hydrolysis option for optimal cleaning.
Although not determining the purchase, the choice of cleaning method can quickly tip the balance between two ovens: efficient but greedy pyrolysis, economical catalysis or virtuous hydrolysis, all systems adjust to the needs of cooks.
What if you also learned how to clean your oven without using chemicals?