Pyrolysis, catalysis, hydrolysis, EcoClean–How to choose?

Some people love to cook, but very few like to clean afterwards. This surely explains why one of the principal buying criteria of a kitchen appliance is the easiness of the maintenance and many consumers dwell on it. Be that as it may, pyrolysis, catalysis, hydrolysis or EcoClean, the best is to choose the cleaning mode of your electric oven in function of the way to cook.

What is pyrolysis cleaning?

Launched by the brand Scholtès in 1970, pyrolysis is a simple and efficient cleaning system, renowned as high-performance and that is recommended to privilege if you use your oven intensively. Many manufacturers are used to calling this technology Pyroclean or PyroKlean. The cleaning is made by the combustion of residues at a temperature of 500°C for a period of 1 to 2 hours. Actually, many cycles are often recommended depending on the dirtying of the oven. Certain manufacturers have even developed automatic systems that will choose the appropriate cycle depending on the detected level of grime of your appliance. It is also good to know that the release of the cleaning can be programmed on certain models.

Your only task will simply be to remove the residual ashes with a damp cloth or a sponge. Watch out! You much imperatively clean the oven window manually before the pyrolysis because it only cleans the confines of the cavity. The advantages of this method are numerous, but not without energetic consumption which turns out to be the only disadvantage of this method. A trick is to start the pyrolysis cycle right after the cooking; you will thus save energy by taking advantage of the residual heat of your oven. Despite the use of very high temperatures, pyrolysis will guaranty you a quasi-infallible safety that will keep users and more importantly children from burning themselves: tempered door that will reach a maximal temperature of 65 °C during the cleaning cycle (inferior to the burn threshold) and automatic lock. Moreover, this reinforced isolation will mean that you will have a minimised heat loss during the cooking of meals; a way of compensating for the energy consumption during the cleanings!

As for the pyrolysis, its ventilated function uses a turbine to make overheated air circulate in the whole oven cavity during the cleaning cycle in order to carbonise the build-up in the smallest corners.

What is catalysis cleaning?

Generally less expensive than a pyrolysis oven, catalysis is different because it oxidises and destroys greases thanks to its particular surface of catalyst included in the microposities of the enamel that cover the inner oven surfaces. This cleaning system, present in ovens often called self-cleaning, is done at lower temperatures than pyrolysis, i.e. at 250°C. However, its inner surfaces must be replaced after a certain amount of uses (about 25 cycles) because they become saturated. That is why most of them are removable or reversible. Advantage or flaw? You won’t have to program the cleaning cycle or activate it, because your appliance will do it on its own when necessary.

What is hydrolysis cleaning?

Not very well widespread at the moment, this steam cleaning system is only offered on models from a few European manufacturers such as Neff who developed it or Gorenje who calls its technology Aqua Clean. Ecological and economical, it consists of pouring water with a bit of detergent at the bottom of your oven. The water condensates on the inner surfaces thanks to the heat and will make the residues peel off. Once again, you will only need to wash it down with a damp cloth to make everything disappear. The temperature of the cycle won’t go past boiling point and it should all be over in less than 25 minutes, 4 of which are for heating!

What is EcoClean cleaning?

Latest cleaning system innovation, the appliance equipped with EcoClean enamel can have a complete cleaning in an hour. Present on the models from a few manufacturers such as Bosh or Gorenje, this method is even more economical than pyrolysis and much more efficient than catalysis. The EcoClean system is an excellent alternative for people who use the oven only sporadically. The inner surfaces and the vault of your oven are made up of successive layers of microscopic porous spheres filled with oxygen that absorbs and traps grease particles projected during the cooking. During its cleaning at 270 °C, in contact with the oxygen in the inner surfaces, the greases will be entirely destroyed by the oxygenation, without smoke or bad odours. After that, the underside and the door will just need to be wiped with a damp sponge. Similar to catalysis, EcoClean is more high-performance because it is unalterable and that it will be highly efficient during its entire longevity. Indeed, which each temperature rise, the ceramic recharges in oxygen by recuperating all its efficiency in sight of its next cleaning.
The manufacturer Siemens sometimes calls this technology ActiveKlean® and pretends that it is 4 times more efficient and 10 times more absorbent than standard catalysis and that its efficiency will stay at its maximum during the entire longevity of the appliance.

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1. 1.

   Great article!

   By John on October 2nd, 2008
   Very interesting oven cleaning article! I learned alot of new tricks and now understand the differences between all the cleaning methods
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2. 2.

   Very interesting

   By Dom on October 2nd, 2008
   Highly interesting, but i'm not sure I fully understand everything? As long as the oven's clean. That's my point :)
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