Cleaning & Maintenance of Rotisserie Ovens

Jim Bob – A long-time contributor to GrillBabyGrill. Jim has had a lifelong relationship with the art of grilling, passed on from his father and grandfather to him.

Cleaning and Maintenance of Rotisserie Ovens – Do’s and Dont’s After Cooking

Photo Courtesy: Teresa Trimm

Mmmmm, there is nothing better than the smell of a chicken or roast cooking in the oven or on the rotisserie. That smell is a call for friends and family to sit down for a delicious meal together.

Cooking a roast or a chicken in a regular oven is just so boring. And, if you love the taste of rotisserie chickens from the store, you know that it’s really hard to duplicate that taste at home.

So, the solution is to buy a rotisserie oven. Unless you are lucky enough to have a cool, multi-function oven, you’re going to need to invest in another appliance.

What most people don’t realize is that a rotisserie oven requires a little more care and maintenance than your regular oven. If you have recently purchased a rotisserie oven for your kitchen or backyard, there are some things you need to know about caring for this new, and delightful appliance.

1. How to Clean After Use?

Image Courtesy: terren in Virginia

If you don’t clean your rotisserie oven after each use, you’ll find that old fats and grease will start to burn and impart not so tasty flavors to your foods. So, while it may not be a fun time, don’t skip cleaning your rotisserie oven.

Here are our recommended steps for cleaning your rotisserie oven.

Allow the oven to cool. You don’t want to be handling hot racks, spits and other parts. Also, things will be greasy, so using your oven mitts will just make a big mess.
Start by cleaning the glass door with soapy water. You don’t need anything fancy, just a little dish soap and some warm water. Don’t use anything scratchy on the glass. This will leave scratches which will make future clean-up a pain.
Remove the baskets, rollers, drip pan, racks, spit, and any other removable part that should be cleaned. You will want to refer to your owners manual to ensure that you are not removing a part that shouldn’t be removed.
Wash all of the parts you’ve removed with warm soapy water or even a bit of oven cleaner. If your parts are dishwasher safe, toss them in the dishwasher to save a bit of time and effort.
With all of the parts removed and cleaned, you will need to clean out the inside of your rotisserie oven. Use a bit of oven cleaner, degreaser or dish soap to break down stuck on grease and any other food residue that might be stuck to the inside of the oven. Avoid harsh scouring pads if possible, they will only scratch the inside of your oven.
Finally, wipe down the door gaskets with soapy water. Leave the door open to allow the interior of your rotisserie oven to dry.

2. Periodic Cleaning Tasks

So, now you know how to clean your rotisserie oven after each use. However this isn’t the only cleaning that should be done. There are periodic cleaning tasks that need to be done so that your rotisserie oven works as it should, every time.

For gas rotisserie ovens, remove the burners monthly if you use your rotisserie oven frequently, or quarterly if you don’t. Use warm soapy water to clean the burners, and use a paperclip to push out any stuck on debris that may be plugging the burner opening.

Wipe down the exterior of your rotisserie oven with a stainless steel cleaner for added shine and protection against smudges and fingerprints.

See this trick to clean your oven in 5 minutes.

3. Maintenance of Rotisserie Ovens

The owner’s manual for your rotisserie oven will likely have routine maintenance tasks that you should complete if you want to keep your rotisserie oven in prime working condition.

Also, there are things that you should watch for when cooking that will tell you if there is a problem with your rotisserie oven.

Make sure that bearings and moving parts are lubricated and clean. Food and grease can stop up these parts and cause big problems. If you need to grease bearings, make sure you are using a food safe grease.

The rotisserie motor can go bad, so make sure that you know where and how to order a replacement and install it.

Keep an eye on the shape of the spit. If it gets bent, it won’t work correctly, and can cause the rotisserie motor to burn up.

When you are cooking, if you notice heavy smoke or smell burning, make sure that your food isn’t stuck against the walls of the rotisserie oven. If it is, remove the spit, replace the food, and start again. Misaligned food can quickly put pressure on the gears of the oven, and cause unintended damages. If food is lopsided make sure you remedy the problem quickly.

Keep an eye out for wear and tear on the oven as a whole. When it looks like it is old and has rust, or doesn’t work as well as it used to, it is time to replace.

4. Rotisserie Ovens: Do’s and Don’ts After Cooking

For the best results when cooking with your rotisserie oven, follow these simple do’s and don’ts.

Do read the owner’s manual. This is a life saver and will give you all of the info you need to care for your rotisserie oven.

Don’t just “set it and forget it”. Keep an eye on foods in the rotisserie oven.

Do follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for cleaning products.

Do unplug portable rotisserie ovens when not in use.

Do wear oven mitts or other heat resistant gloves when handling hot parts.

Don’t use water in your oven if it is attached to power.

Do skip the abrasive cleaners or metal scrapers on oven parts.

Do clean the glass after each use.

Don’t forget to care for the stainless steel housing.

Don’t use harmful cleaners inside the oven. This will leave funky odors and tastes.

Jim Bob

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you’ve made the decision to invest in a rotisserie oven, even if it is a small, portable countertop, oven it should be cared for and maintained appropriately. Our thoughts in this article are very general, covering a wide range of rotisserie oven concerns.

For the best advice on care and maintenance of your new rotisserie oven, do consult your owners manual. Once you have the know-how you’re ready to become a rotisserie oven master, and your friends and family will love the meals you prepare.