Operations – Cleaning Your Pizza Oven
A pizza oven is an expensive purchase, and the single most important piece of equipment in your kitchen. Without a working oven all production stops. Here are some tips to keep your oven clean and working as hard as you do.
It might be logical to think that cleaning your pizza oven the same way you clean your oven at home would work. Turn the heat to as high as possible and vacuum out all of the soot and debris. Unfortunately, this method doesn’t provide the best results for your oven, or your pizza.
Cleaning a Deck Oven
Deck ovens should be given a standard cleaning of residue and debris daily, and thoroughly once a week after the oven has cooled down. First use a scraper and wire brush to lift the baked on ash and debris from the inside of the oven, then remove using a brush and dust pan. Do not use any water or other liquid to clean the surface of your stone, which could cause the stone to crack under high heat. Next clean the exterior of the oven with some stainless steel cleaner. Scrub thoroughly the areas that have been affected by heat tint or discoloration. Always rub with the grain of the metal so as to not ruin the shine of the stainless steel.
Cleaning a Conveyor Oven
Conveyor ovens have a lot of moving parts, and a lot of places for debris to get trapped. This will require time to complete, but should be done on a regular basis to help keep pizza’s tasking the way they were meant to taste. First unplug your oven and remove the conveyor belt. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions to properly remove the belt. Spray the belt with non-toxic oven cleaner and let sit for 20 minutes then scrub with a wire brush. Next open the doors and remove the large metal fingers above and below the conveyor belt. Again, spray them with oven cleaner and allow them to sit for 20 minutes before scrubbing them with a wire brush. Vacuum the inside of the oven for any loose debris, and scrub the windows and doors of the oven with oven cleaner. Lastly clean the outside with stainless steel polish. Put the oven back together carefully and turn back on to make sure if all works properly. Proper care and maintenance can lengthen the lifespan of your pizza oven. Although it may sound like a horrible chore, taking the time to do daily and weekly cleaning will keep your oven in working conditions, and save you from any downtime. It also keeps your pizza looking and tasting great.
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