Is it dangerous to cook with oven cleaner residue in the over?

Cooking food in an oven with residual oven cleaner left inside can pose health risks. Oven cleaners are typically made up of harsh chemicals, like sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, which can release toxic fumes when heated. These fumes can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, and long-term exposure can cause more severe health problems, such as respiratory issues or chemical burns.

Cooking food at high temperatures can worsen this issue, as the heat can cause the chemicals to evaporate more quickly. The residue from the oven cleaner can then contaminate your food, making it unsafe to eat. The best practice is to thoroughly clean the oven to remove all traces of oven cleaner residue before cooking any food.

Properly Cleaning the Oven:

Turn off the oven and let it cool completely.

With protective gloves on, use a damp cloth or sponge to wipe the interior surfaces of the oven. Pay special attention to areas with heavy residue buildup.

Rinse the oven thoroughly with water to ensure there is no remaining oven cleaner.

Dry the oven with a clean cloth.

Turn on the oven and let it run on the highest temperature setting for about an hour to burn off any leftover cleaner.

Ventilate the kitchen well during this process to avoid exposing yourself to the released fumes.

Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning your oven and ensure proper ventilation during the cleaning process to avoid any health risks.