Have you ever opened your new oven, imagining delicious aromas wafting from it, only to find out that the oven smells like burning plastic?
It is common to experience that burning stench in new ovens.
Sometimes it fades after the first use, while at other times, the ovens might take numerous cooking sessions to eliminate the smell.
The smell of burning plastic can be concerning if you’re unaware of what’s causing it. You might get scared of the oven suddenly melting from inside or bursting into flames.
Take relief in knowing that, most often than not, that smell is harmless and will go on its own after a while.
In some cases, however, an electrical fault could be the reason behind that nasty smell. Continue reading to find out why your oven smells like burning plastic and how you can remove it!
Here are a few reasons why your oven might be smelling like burning plastic:
Most oven manufacturers secure the grills, baking trays, and other oven inserts with zip ties.
It is easy to forget to remove them before using the oven for the first time. When you turn on the oven, the heat melts the plastic zip ties and releases the burning smell.
In case you forgot to remove the zip ties before using your brand-new oven and are worried about the smell, at least you now know that the burning smell is plastic being burnt.
If your oven still smells like burning plastic even though you removed the zip ties, it’s probably not your fault.
You brought a new oven, and new ovens tend to smell bad for the first couple of uses.
The oven’s insulation reacts badly to high heat and can smell like burning plastic. Additionally, manufacturers apply a protective coating around the oven cavity, and heat exposure makes it smell like burning plastic.
The irritating smell tends to linger for a couple of days or weeks. You can speed up the process by following these steps:
If your old, trusted oven suddenly starts exhibiting a foul burning plastic smell, it could be due to electrical malfunctioning.
A short circuit in the electrical wiring can melt the insulation or other components, releasing a smell that resembles burning plastic or rubber.
Treating an electrical malfunction is dangerous, so you should let a professional deal with the issues. They’re better equipped to handle it on their own. Moreover, they have the required tools and safety gear for hazard-free repair.
To err is human; it is possible to place a plastic container in the oven and then forget about it.
Children tend to throw their toys in the oven, too, and an unexpecting adult can turn it on without checking what’s inside it.
Sometimes people are in a hurry and turn on the oven for preheating, forgetting they left a plastic utensil or bowl in the oven when they used it last time.
The good thing is that the burnt smell is worse than the cleanup.
Here’s how you can remove the smell of melted plastic from your oven:
Wear oven mitts to prevent burns while handling hot racks and dishes.
Check also:
Ovenproof materials, such as cast iron, stainless steel, ceramics, and food-grade silicone, are widely preferred when cooking in an oven.
Plastic containers melt, and wooden ones warp due to excessive heat.
Burnt plastic smoke harms health, but an accidental whiff or two will not cause any issues.
The fumes’ toxicity also depends upon the type of plastic. Polypropylene is generally safe, but polyurethane and PVC are toxic and can have harmful effects if inhaled.
Ovens tend to smell like burned plastic because they’re new and the internal coatings do not react kindly to hot flames, or you end up burning plastic in them.
The new ones will take time while you can get your older ovens thoroughly checked for any issues.
Generally, a wipe-down with dishwashing soap, water, and a clean rag is enough. You can expedite the process by placing odor absorbers in the oven.
In case of electrical malfunctioning, don’t experiment with the wires and call a professional as soon as possible.
If the odor persists, repeat the cleaning and odor absorption.
Turn the oven off, crack open your windows and use your mittens to remove the oven inserts.
Try scraping off the plastic and washing and drying the racks, trays, and other inserts before installing them back inside.
You can also let the plastic cool down and use an ice pack to rub it off.
If the burning smell is due to the new oven ‘breaking in,’ it is safe to consume the food you just cooked.
But, if the smell is because of burnt plastic, USDA recommends throwing away any food that has come in contact with and absorbed toxic plastic fumes.
It can take a few days if the smell is particularly strong.
Deep cleaning of the oven and using odor absorbers can significantly speed up the process. Repeat for as long as necessary.
Carbon monoxide does not smell like burning plastic.
It is a colorless, odorless gas that could leak from the stove, gas furnace, fireplace, dryer, or water heater.
A new oven will smell during the first few uses.
By now, you know that it’s because of insulation coming in contact with heat for the first time. Or it could be due to the protective oils applied during manufacturing.
You can wash and wipe the oven before its first use, but it will still burn and produce a foul smell.
Keep it clean after every use, and it will soon stop smelling like anything other than the food you just placed inside it.
It is perfectly safe to cook food after you’ve cleaned the oven out of its nasty smell.
The clean but damp oven may release steam after being turned on for the first few minutes. Therefore, it is better to preheat the oven for 15 to 20 minutes before cooking your next meal.
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