What is a Pyrolytic Oven?
A pyrolytic oven, often known as a self-cleaning oven, is designed to make oven cleaning a hassle-free task. It uses high temperatures—up to 500°C (930°F)—to turn food residues and grease into ash. This self-cleaning process allows you to easily wipe away the remnants with a damp cloth, eliminating the need for harsh chemicals or vigorous scrubbing.
Why Buy a Pyrolytic Oven?
Now that you understand the basics, let's dive into the real benefits of having a pyrolytic oven:
Bye Bye Elbow Grease: Say goodbye to back-breaking oven scrubbing sessions! With a pyrolytic model, you'll spend way less time and effort cleaning your oven.
Safe & Chemical-Free: No more exposing yourself to harsh oven cleaner fumes. Pyrolytic ovens let you get that sparkling clean oven without any toxic chemicals.
Energy Efficient: While the self-cleaning cycle does use a bit more electricity than normal cooking, most of the time pyrolytic ovens operate just like a standard electric oven. Some even have an "Eco" pyrolytic mode to reduce energy usage.
Cooler Kitchen: The incredible insulation in pyrolytic ovens keeps the exterior remarkably cool during the cleaning cycle as well as everyday use.
Time is Money: Having to thoroughly clean a grimy oven less often means less time wasted doing a chore no one enjoys. More time for the important things in life!
How Does Pyrolytic Cleaning Work?
The magic of a pyrolytic oven lies in its ability to heat the oven cavity to extremely high temperatures. This process, known as pyrolysis, breaks down the organic materials inside your oven, turning them into fine ash. The cycle typically lasts between 1.5 and 2.5 hours, depending on the oven's condition and the specific settings used. Safety is a priority; the oven door locks automatically when the internal temperature reaches about 300°C (570°F) and remains locked until the cleaning cycle is complete and the oven has cooled down.
Pyrolytic vs. Catalytic: What's the Difference?
Pyrolytic ovens operate just like regular electric ovens for most of the time, able to clean their interior when the mode is selected.
Catalytic ovens (another type of self-cleaning oven) on the other hand use porous catalytic liners to continuously absorb food splatters and oven grease during normal cooking. When the oven reaches temperatures over 200°C, this absorbed grime gets converted into an ash that falls to the bottom to be swept out.
While convenient, the downside is that catalytic liners only cover certain areas of the oven cavity. A pyrolytic oven's intense heat reaches every nook and cranny for a deeper, more complete clean. Catalytic liners also need to be replaced every 3-6 months or so.
Both catalytic and pyrolytic ovens are great self-cleaning options compared to standard ovens. But if you want the absolute deepest, most thorough cleaning with the minimum effort, a pyrolytic model is the way to go.
Features to Look For
If the idea of a self-cleaning pyrolytic oven is sounding pretty appealing right about now, here are some key features to keep an eye out for:
Size & Capacity: Make sure to measure your kitchen's oven cavity space and choose a model with dimensions to fit. Most pyrolytic ovens are 60cm wide, but capacities can range from 70L to 120L+ to suit different household sizes.
Oven Glazing: Higher-end pyrolytic ovens will have three or even four layers of glass in the door to better insulate the heat and keep the exterior cooler.
Special Functions: Look for pyrolytic models with handy functions like fan-forced cooking, auto-programmed recipe settings, dedicated defrost and dehydrate modes, and meat probes for perfect roasts every time.
Fuel Type: While most pyrolytic ovens are electric, you can find dual fuel models that pair an electric pyrolytic oven with a gas cooktop.
Cooling fan: All pyrolytic ovens and catalytic ovens come with a tangential cooling fan, which circulates cool air around the outside of the oven to keep your kitchen cool.
Oven functions to look out for:
Fan-forced - this feature uses a fan to circulate hot air around the oven cavity for faster and more even cooking.
Programmable timer - some pyrolytic and standard ovens feature an electronic timer that can automatically be programmed to switch the oven on, set it to cook, and once a specified cooking period has elapsed, switches off. More advanced models come with pre-programmed recipes that provide step-by-step instructions for cooking popular dishes.
Defrost - this setting provides a safe and efficient means of defrosting your food.
Fan-assisted grilling - this mode uses the top grill element in conjunction with the fan to efficiently roast meat, or brown the tops of pasta and potato bakes.
Roast probe - if you love cooking a traditional Sunday roast, this is a feature well worth forking out for. A roast probe is a metal skewer that is attached to the oven and can be inserted into meat to determine if it is cooked through.
Other considerations
Pyrolytic and catalytic technology is only available in electric ovens. Also, they’re more common in standard-width 60cm ovens than they are in the larger 90cm models.
Keep in mind, you will need to remove all metal items from the oven before you start a pyrolytic cycle. Otherwise, your metal racks will buckle under the intense heat. Most oven racks are dishwasher-safe, so you can just pop them into the dishwasher to get them clean.
You will also still need to clean the glass oven door by hand. Most models feature a removable door, which makes cleaning a simpler task.
Please remember to read the manufacturer's instructions before you start using the catalytic liners or pyrolytic cleaning cycle, as all ovens are different.
Pyrolytic ovens offer a modern solution to one of the most tedious kitchen chores—oven cleaning. By choosing a model that suits your kitchen's dimensions, cooking habits, and personal preferences, you can enjoy a cleaner, more efficient cooking experience without the traditional cleanup hassle. Whether you're a busy professional or a passionate home cook, a pyrolytic oven can make a significant difference in how you manage your cooking and cleaning time.
Need help with your decision?
If you’re unsure as to which oven to purchase, or have any questions regarding this appliance or any other, please give our Australian-based customer service team a call on 1300 000 500. Whether it’s 3 in the afternoon, or 3 in the morning, with our 24 hours a day, 7 days a week customer support services, you’ll be able to reach us any time of the day!