Verify Oven Door Has Tight Seal:

Over 20% of your oven’s heat can escape if the door is not sealed properly.
– Open the oven door and locate the rubber gasket around the perimeter of the door.
– Feel for any broken, torn or deformed areas on your seal. Close the door and see if you can find any leaks.
– Replace the gasket if necessary.

The air inside the oven must circulate for proper cooking to take place. Room air usually enters the oven cavity at the base of the door as it is not sealed air tight. As the oven heats the air it rises. At the top of the oven cavity there is a small vent that allows some of the hot oven air to escape to the room which in turn allows more air to enter the oven cavity. This continual cycle allows the oven to heat uniformly from bottom to top. It is important that that vent is not blocked to allow for proper air circulation in the oven. Ranges with a glass top also have a vent for the oven but it is usually in the back panel. Large pots left standing in from of such a vent area could also contribute to poor oven cooking. Totally covering oven racks with aluminum foil or stuffing the oven too full with cookie sheets, etc. can also hamper the natural oven air circulation preventing proper cooking. Baking delicate item like cakes is usually most affected by improper oven air circulation.

Caution: When putting aluminum foil over the oven backsplash, be careful not to trap the heat coming from the oven vent between the foil and the backsplash. Doing so may melt the backsplash if the oven vents through the back.

Know Your Oven Type
Before you can clean your oven, find out what type you have to prevent damage. Determine if your oven is a self-cleaning model, a textured model, or a regular non-self-cleaning oven. Always follow manufacturer’s instructions for maintaining your oven.

For Self-Cleaning Ovens
Run the self-cleaning cycle for your oven as often as you need to. It reduces almost any spill to a powdery gray pile of ash that can easily be wiped away at the end of the oven’s cleaning cycle using a damp cloth. Make sure you have a window open during the process, to help keep smoke from sticking to walls and your ceiling. You may need to wash down the oven door and frame with a gentle cleaner to remove soil residue. Don’t scrub the rubbery gasket that seals the oven door. Just rinse it with dish soap and then water. Don’t use abrasives, or oven cleaners on the interior of the oven.

For Textured Ovens
Textured ovens are sometimes called continuous cleaning ovens. They have a special surface that has a rough porcelain layer that is supposed to burn off food gradually as you continue to use your oven. To clean this type of oven, you should only need to wipe down the inside with a damp cloth when your oven is cool. Never use abrasive cleaners, scouring pads, or oven cleaners.

For Regular Non-Self-Cleaning Ovens
Each time the oven is cooled off, wipe up any spills with a hot, wet cloth. If you do this each time, food will not build up or burn onto the oven surfaces. Some people prefer to cover the bottom of the oven with aluminum foil, but you’ll need to make sure that no vents are blocked if you choose this prevention trick. For really stubborn stains or buildup, you’ll need an oven cleaner and a plastic scrubbing pad or brush. Make sure you use good ventilation when using an oven cleaner.

Tips:
1-For self-cleaning ovens, you may want to remove plastic knobs for the duration of the cycle. There have been several people with warped or melted plastic knobs once their oven is finished cleaning itself.
2-Baking soda can be used on regular non-self-cleaning ovens as a gentle abrasive that also soaks up grease and oily stains.