Catalytic cleaning of the oven: what is it, the principle of operation

To clean the oven of greasy stains and soot after cooking is a laborious task. In modern ovens, this problem is solved using a catalytic (low-temperature) self-cleaning system. What it is and how it differs from pyrolytic high-temperature treatment, we will consider further.

What does catalytic oven cleaning mean?

Catalysis is a process that speeds up chemical reactions, and in the case of cleaning the oven, this means accelerated conversion of fats released during cooking and deposited on the walls into water and soot (carbon). This process occurs due to the fact that the inner surface of the oven, namely the back and side walls, and sometimes the convector blades, are coated with the following composition:

• Porous fat-absorbing enamel.
• The catalyst is in the form of manganese, cerium, cobalt or copper oxide. Its particles, which fill the pores of the enamel, help to accelerate the decay of fat adhering to the walls of the cabinet, splitting it into carbon, organic residues and water.
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• Absorbent containing nano particles.

Catalytic cleaning is carried out automatically during the maximum heating of the oven - at temperatures of 200-250 ° C. So, it occurs during the baking of a dish, and there will be no need to wait for extra time or turn on a special mode. After the prepared food has been removed, it remains only to wipe the back and side walls of the cabinet.

Features of catalytic ovens

The bottom of the cabinet has a normal surface. This is because enamel for self-cleaning is afraid of sugar, and when baking pies or other products with a sweet filling, the risk of its leakage is very likely. Also, surfaces with such enamel do not tolerate dairy products. So, the bottom of the cabinet should be cleaned of dirt with a soft sponge with any detergent.

Manufacturers of such furnaces recommend additionally purchasing a grease filter. After installation, it must be cleaned periodically, and it can be washed even in a dishwasher, only make sure that there are no other dishes and food debris in it, as they can get into the filter cells, and it will stop work.

The grease-absorbing coating of the ovens erases over time, so after about 5 years the side walls will need to be replaced. The instructions for this household appliance have a section explaining how to do this yourself, you can also call a specialist from the service. In some oven models, the side panels come with double-sided enamel for self-cleaning, after abrasion of one side, they only need to be attached with the reverse side, therefore, to acquire new walls do not need to.

Catalytic cleaning oven recommendations

So that over time, catalytic cleaning does not lose its speed and effectiveness in the breakdown of fats, the following recommendations should be observed:

• take care of the catalytic surface, refusing to use hard sponges to clean the fat after oxidation;
• if during cooking randomly sugar gets on the catalytic surface, it should be cleaned in the classical way, that is, with the use of a mild detergent and a soft sponge;
• during manual cleaning, abrasive detergents should be completely discarded, since they will destroy enamel.

Advantages and disadvantages

Catalytic purification has the following strengths:

• all chemical processes take place automatically under the influence of high temperature and catalysts in the enamel pores;
• It is possible to reduce energy consumption, since the cleaning takes place directly during cooking;
• for the human body, catalytic purification is absolutely harmless;
• slightly increases the cost of the oven.

As for the cons, they are as follows:

• you must manually wash the baking sheets, grill, wire rails;
• the bottom and inner surface are not treated with an enamel coating, so they will also have to be cleaned manually;
• sweet and dairy products quickly destroy the protective coating on the side walls;
• effectively breaks down fat only with constant use;
• there is a need to replace the plates after 4-5 years of operation, as they lose their properties.

Pyrolytic, catalytic or steam cleaning - which is better?

Pyrolytic cleaning, in contrast to the catalytic method, is more aggressive, and with it the combustion of food debris occurs at a temperature of 500 ° C. During the cleaning process, the door is blocked, the accumulated fats and dirt are completely eliminated from the inside of the oven. This can not be said about the catalytic method, in which if during cooking on the walls of the oven there will be many large spots of fat, after one cleaning they may remain, and you need to eliminate them manually.

But ovens with catalytic cleaning do not consume electricity, since it is produced simultaneously with cooking, and the front wall of the cabinet does not heat up to high temperatures.

Steam cleaning (hydrolysis) cannot be called automatic, since it is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. After completion of the cooking process, water is poured into the oven in a specially provided pan together with hydrolysis enhancing agents.
2. The device turns on for a certain period of time specified in the instructions.
3. After heating the cabinet, the water turns into steam, which acts on the greasy accumulations located on the walls of the device, they split and drain into the tray, taking the place of evaporated moisture. If the cabinet is very dirty, then manual cleaning after this method cannot be avoided.

Catalytic cleaning can be used in electric and gas cabinets. This is a convenient way to keep the device clean, however, it is as effective in severe contaminants as the pyrolytic method, but not as aggressive. This system does not increase the cost of the selected oven, but after purchasing it saves energy and time for cleaning the kitchen.