What Is the First Thing to Do with a New Oven? Essential Steps for Safe and Optimal Use

When you get a new oven, you’ve got to prep it before you cook anything. Clean and burn in your oven first to get rid of any chemical residues left from manufacturing. That way, your food actually tastes like food and not like a factory.

Start by pulling out all the packaging—plastic, foam, tape, and whatever else they stuffed in there. Wipe down the inside with warm, soapy water.

After you clean it, crank the oven up to a high temperature for about an hour. This burns off any leftover chemicals so your oven’s ready for real cooking.

If you skip this, you might get weird smells or even odd flavors in your food. It’s just not worth it.

Want more details? Check out these oven preparation tips for a step-by-step rundown.

Essential First Steps for a New Oven

When your new oven arrives, handle it with care and check it over for any issues. Register the oven for warranty coverage.

Hunt down the user manual—you’ll need it to figure out the basics and maybe even some tricks.

Unpacking and Inspecting the Oven

Take off all packaging: plastic wraps, tape, and those annoying support braces inside. Check for missing parts like racks or screws.

Give the oven a good look for dents, scratches, or broken panels. If you spot anything off, contact the seller before you install or use it.

Pull off any stickers or zip ties. Double-check that the oven fits where you want it and that your power or gas connection matches what the oven needs.

Registering the Appliance

Register your oven right away to lock in your warranty. Most brands let you do this online or by phone.

You’ll need the model number, serial number, and purchase date. Usually, you’ll find this info inside the oven door or on the back.

Registration can also get you customer support and updates about recalls or maintenance. Keep your receipt somewhere safe with your registration info.

Locating the User Manual

Find your oven’s user manual before you do anything else. The manual covers installation, operation, cleaning, and safety.

If the manual’s missing, grab a digital copy from the manufacturer’s website using your model number.

Reading the manual first helps you avoid mistakes and keeps you safe. Some ovens have special features you might not even know about until you check the book.

Preparing and Setting Up the Oven

Make sure your oven is connected safely, clean, and set up before you use it. These steps help everything work right and keep you out of trouble.

Connecting to Power Safely

First, plug your oven into an outlet that matches its voltage and amperage. You’ll usually find those details in the manual or on the back of the oven.

If your oven needs to be hardwired, call a licensed electrician. Don’t try to wire it yourself unless you really know what you’re doing.

Before you plug in, remove any plastic or zip ties near the wiring. This keeps everything safe.

Once it’s connected, turn it on briefly to test the power. If it doesn’t work or you see sparks, unplug it and call a pro.

Running the Initial Burn-In Cycle

Run the burn-in cycle to clear out factory oils and chemical smells. Set the oven to about 400°F (200°C) and let it run empty for 30 to 60 minutes.

You might see some smoke or smell something weird—don’t worry, that’s normal. Open a window or turn on a fan.

Let the oven finish this cycle before you cook anything. Don’t put food or pans in yet.

Setting the Time and Basic Settings

After the burn-in, set the clock and any basic settings. Use the control panel or touchscreen to adjust the time and date.

Check the manual if you get stuck on the buttons or settings. Setting the right time helps with timers and scheduled starts.

If your oven lets you pick Fahrenheit or Celsius, set your preference now. It’ll save you some headaches when you start following recipes.

Cleaning Oven Accessories Before Use

Go ahead and clean all oven racks, trays, and pans before you use them for the first time. Even though they’re brand new, they might still have dust or a bit of leftover stuff from the factory.

Grab some warm, soapy water and a soft cloth or sponge. Give everything a good wash, rinse thoroughly, and dry it off before putting anything back inside the oven.

Skip the harsh scrubbers or abrasive cleaners—they can scratch or mess up your oven accessories.

If you’re curious about burning off residue before cooking, check out this guide on running the initial burn-in cycle.