Oven cleaning is always the last chore on the to-do list and often, a cursory wipe with a wet cloth does little to get rid of stubborn burnt-on spills, so we’re forced to reach for harsh chemicals to clean up dirt that has built up over time.
For this reason, a self-cleaning oven makes a useful addition to your kitchen repertoire. At the press of a button, these clever appliances do all the work for you, burning away grease and spillages before they have time to take over.
What is a self-cleaning oven?
A self-cleaning oven has an internal cleaning function that removes food spillages meaning there is less need for chemical products or manual cleaning to keep the appliance in working order.
What is the difference between a pyrolytic and a catalytic oven?
Pyrolytic ovens use extreme heat to dissolve the grease that has gathered in your oven. Often reaching temperatures of up to 500°C, they burn away any food debris turning it to ash, meaning you only have to wipe away what’s left with a damp cloth rather than scrubbing. Pyrolytic ovens can be more expensive than catalytic models due to the need for additional insulation and stronger heating elements.
Catalytic ovens make use of wall panels that trap cooking grease and break it down gradually when the oven is heated to a temperature above 200°C. Unlike pyrolytic ovens, some more hands-on cleaning is required to keep catalytic ovens debris-free because grease and spillages need to be removed from the surfaces themselves rather than being completely burnt down.
Why should I buy a self-cleaning oven?
Not only are self-cleaning ovens a huge time saver, but they also improve the hygiene of your home, keeping spillages and mess at bay, meaning no lingering smells and tastes will affect the quality of your cooking.
We’ve reviewed a variety of self-cleaning ovens across a range of price points from affordable purchases to investment buys. All of our choices have a wealth of programming functions and promise consistent high-quality everyday cooking.
Say goodbye to stubborn food stains at the touch of a button with our choice of the best self-cleaning ovens.
Smeg cooker portofino CPF9GPOG
Best known for 50s-inspired retro designs, Smeg's version of the self-cleaning pyrolytic oven is every bit as aesthetically pleasing as the brand’s other appliances. Available in a range of eight different colours, this sleek design-led appliance would be a talking point in any kitchen. When in self-cleaning mode the oven reaches top temperatures of 500°C ensuring any dirt is burnt away, without the need for scrubbing or chemical detergents.
Inside, the oven has three fans that distribute the air even around the machine for a uniform cooking temperature across the five different cooking levels. When grilling the door can remain closed, safely keeping heat and unwanted smells inside the oven. On the exterior, the oven door has a soft close hinge and chunky metal knobs that will stand the test of time. This range oven can also be customised to suit your preferences with either a gas or induction hob. It does come with a larger price tag than most but it’s a hard-working and visually attractive option for anyone looking for a stylish range cooker.
Buy now £2999.00, AO
Beko 60cm Built-In Pyro Multi-Function Oven
Once you’ve eaten a midweek meal and the dishes are done, who has the time or energy to clean their oven? That’s where the self-cleaning oven comes in and this multi-function option from Beko is a practical choice, allowing you to cook with complete confidence knowing every splash and spill will be taken care of. It uses consistent airflow to deliver fast and even results, minimising temperature variations and ensuring cooking efficiency, from basic meals to cakes and bakes.
The pyrolytic self-cleaning function heats the oven up to 480°C to burn away residual dirt and grease. Once the oven has cooled, simply wipe away any residue with a damp cloth. This appliance combines a fan and conventional oven, a grill and a host of different cooking functions, with a touch control LED display that is easy to navigate. Beko ovens are rigorously tested with the door opened and closed over 15,000 times before the appliance is signed off for public use. This peace of mind alone means you can confidently cook any meal knowing this budget-friendly oven is built to last.
Buy now £299.00, Beko
Bosch Series 8 HBG7741B1B Built-In Electric Self Cleaning Single Oven
The self-cleaning programme on this oven gets going at the touch of a button, using high temperatures to melt away any grease and residue, leaving you with a pile of dirt to simply wipe away. At 71-litre capacity, this oven is large enough to meet the cooking needs of most families and comes with plenty of added functions, including the ability to monitor the humidity inside the oven and adjust the heating mode accordingly.
The PerfectBake option is ideal for cake makers with pre-selected bake times already installed and ready to go. Simply select your cake of choice and press start. The hot air function circulates across three different trays ensuring everything cooks evenly, ideal if you’re planning a Sunday roast and want to get those tricky timings right. Even better, get a head start on dinner with the remote control that allows you to switch the oven on when you’re away from home to get a meal started or adjust the temperature before you’re even back from work.
Buy now £849.00, Currys
Miele H2455BP Built-In Electric Single Oven
Say goodbye to scrubbing with this sleek electric oven that has a 76-litre capacity and five cooking shelves. The pyrolytic cleaning function is a welcome addition saving you time and elbow grease. Simply press a button and let the oven do the hard work as it melts away weeks (okay, months) of cooking mess leaving you with a light residue or small pile of debris that can be wiped away in seconds with a damp cloth.
Although this is an investment buy, it isn’t just a posh gadget, it’s a reliable and long-lasting addition to your kitchen that has been tested to perform consistently for over 20 years. The temperature can be easily adjusted depending on your meal of choice and the heat is distributed easily ensuring breakfast, lunch, dinner and all snacks in between are cooked exactly to your liking. Overall, it has all the standards of high quality you might expect from a Miele appliance and is a great option for people who need a reliable oven that does it all, from a full Sunday roast to a tray of cupcakes.
Buy now £899.00, Miele
AEG 8000 BPE742380M Built-In Electric Self Cleaning Single Oven
This oven has its very own pre-installed recipe collection ready and waiting to be tried out. Plus there’s a digital cooking assistant that selects the optimal temperature and time for your meal so your dishes are always cooked perfectly. We wondered if a temperature probe was really necessary on an oven, but it turns out this handy addition is a great way to ensure that the core temperature of your food is high enough, meaning you’ll never run the risk of underdone or overdone steak again.
The appliance also allows you to tailor heating functions to your liking using familiar cooking terms like rare, medium and well done. The bright LED display allows for easy navigation and a handy timer turns off the heat once everything is ready to serve. Like others on our list, this oven uses a pyrolytic cleaning system to remove grease and stains from the interior that can be wiped away once the heat cycle has finished.
Buy now £999.00, John Lewis
HOTPOINT Class 4 Air Fry SI4S 854 C BL Electric Steam Oven
With slightly different functionality to others on our list, this oven uses catalytic liners to help keep the interior clean. This means the walls absorb dirt, breaking it down during the cooking process. This self-cleaning feature reduces the need for frequent manual cleaning, however slightly more elbow grease is required to clean the oven as the catalytic process does not reduce interior debris to ash, meaning some stubborn stains might need a helping hand with a damp cloth.
One of this oven’s best functions is its air fry and steam cooking capabilities allowing you to maximise the flavour and nutrients in every meal. The steam option keeps vegetables moist whilst saving energy and the air fry tray promises to serve up perfect fried chicken every time. Plus life is made easier with 20 pre-set cooking programs, so you can make brownies, chips or pizzas with the press of a button, allowing the oven to do all of the temperature and timing calculations for you.
Buy now £399.00, Currys
Neff N70 Slide and Hide B54CR71G0B Built In Self Cleaning Electric Single Oven
Fancy and full of clever additions, this self-cleaning oven is an investment buy that has everything you need to ace whipping up your favourite meals. Who could ignore the Great British Bake Off-style retracting door that opens and smoothly slides into place beneath the oven? It’s a work of genius that not only looks clever but lets you access the oven without risking touching the door and burning your hands or arms whilst manoeuvring heavy pots and pans.
When it comes to cleaning, this oven is equipped with pyrolytic technology that burns away cooking debris leaving you with a pile of ash that can be wiped away easily. One of the best features of this self-cleaning oven is the powerful fans that heat each level of the oven to the appropriate temperature allowing you to cook different dishes at the same time, without worrying about timings or flavour transfers. The air is drawn out and forced back in, continuously circulating, which prevents flavours from mixing. This achieves the desired temperature faster, saving time and energy. Overall, this is a solid choice at the top end of the market from a reliable brand that will serve up many years of delicious cakes and bakes.
Buy now £999.00, John Lewis
INDESIT Aria IFW 3841 P IX UK Electric Pyrolytic Oven
The most budget-friendly option on our list, this 71-litre self-cleaning oven is full of extra functions for more than half the price of some others we tested, so it’s a solid choice for those looking to keep costs down. Controlled using a simple dial, this oven has a variety of pre-set programmes that determine the best cooking time and temperature for your favourite dishes, meaning you simply turn the dial and relax whilst the oven does the hard work.
In addition to its cooking functions, this oven has an automatic pyrolytic cleaning cycle which heats the oven to 400°C, reducing burnt-on food and grease to a pile of ash. It also comes with a tilting grill which can be pulled out and downwards, giving better access during the cleaning process, and ensuring no trapped grease remains on the roof of the oven. Inside, two shelves and five shelf positions give the flexibility you need to cook everything from large roast dinners to birthday cakes. An affordable and spacious option that would be right at home in any modern kitchen.
Buy now £229.00, Currys
Verdict
The Smeg self-cleaning oven is our favourite investment buy that combines both aesthetic appeal and high-tech functionality. It’s hard not to be dazzled by its robust mechanisms and smooth operation. It offers an all-round easy oven clean, with minimum effort.
