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What is pyrolytic cleaning?

Luuk17 JUNE 2026
A kitchen view shows an open, dark oven and white cabinets with silver handles.

Pyrolytic cleaning, or pyrolysis, is a way for ovens to clean themselves. Pyrolytic ovens become extremely hot and burn away all grease and food residue. In this article, you'll read everything about the pyrolytic cleaning function in ovens, including its pros and cons.

Pyrolytic cleaning in ovens at a glance

A man and a child look closely at a screen or device by a window; the mood feels calm, warm and attentive.
  • Pyrolytic cleaning is a self-cleaning function in an oven in which grease and food residue are burned away at very high temperatures until only ash remains, so all you need to do afterwards is wipe the oven clean.
  • A pyrolytic cleaning cycle usually takes between 1.5 and 3 hours, depending on the programme, and normally only needs to be used 2 to 4 times a year.
  • With self-cleaning ovens, you don't need any cleaning products. It also saves you time and effort.
  • A pyrolytic cleaning cycle uses more energy and can cause an unpleasant smell or some smoke.

How does pyrolytic cleaning work?

The inside of an oven is visible, with metal racks, a vented fan panel and bright glowing heating elements above.

Pyrolysis is a self-cleaning oven function in which the oven is heated to around 500 degrees Celsius. Because of this extreme temperature, grease, food residue and baked-on dirt are burned down to a fine layer of ash. During the process, the oven door locks automatically for your safety. Once the oven has cooled down, you can simply wipe away the ash with a damp cloth. Before switching on the pyrolytic cleaning function, you need to empty the oven completely and remove the side rails, shelves and baking trays. With this self-cleaning function, you don't need any chemical cleaning products, and you won't have to scrub your oven by hand.

What other ways can you clean your oven?

How long does pyrolytic cleaning take in an oven?

A close-up shows the control knob of an oven or cooker, with settings and symbols clear on a glossy black panel.

How long pyrolytic cleaning takes in an oven depends on the programme you choose and on how dirty the oven is. On average, a pyrolysis cycle lasts between 1.5 and 3 hours. Many ovens have different settings, so you can choose a shorter programme for light dirt and a longer one if your oven is very dirty. The longer the programme lasts, the more thoroughly grease and food residue are burned down to ash. Do keep in mind that this also means extra energy use, and you may notice a bit more smoke or smell.

How often should you use pyrolytic cleaning to clean your oven?

It's best to use the pyrolytic cleaning function only when it's really needed. In most cases, that's around 2 to 4 times a year for a thorough clean. That said, it does depend on how often you use your oven and how much residue builds up inside.

What are the pros and cons of an oven with pyrolytic cleaning?

A built-in oven stands open in a grey kitchen; warm air seems to flow out from the illuminated interior.

A self-cleaning oven has a number of pros and cons. We've listed them for you below:

+ It saves time and effort: you don't have to scrub by hand, as the oven does all the work.
+ You don't need chemical cleaning products: this saves money and is better for your health.
+ Pyrolytic cleaning gives the oven a thorough clean: all grease and food residue are burned down to ash.
- The pyrolytic cleaning function can use a lot of electricity: the oven heats up to very high temperatures, and longer programmes use even more energy.
- Unpleasant smell and smoke: during the cleaning cycle, smells and smoke can be released, so good ventilation is important.
- Long cleaning time: you can't use the oven while the cleaning cycle is running.

View all built-in ovens

Our advice on pyrolytic cleaning in an oven

Someone cleans the oven rack with a sponge while the door stands open; the scene feels homely, tidy and practical.

Pyrolytic ovens are very useful if you use your oven often and don't want to spend a long time cleaning it. They save you time and chemical cleaning products, although they do use a bit more energy. A pyrolytic cleaning cycle usually takes between 1.5 and 3 hours and is especially useful when your oven really needs a thorough clean.

Which built-in oven should you choose?

FAQ

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