Why Does My New Oven Smell Like Burning Plastic?
You may be wondering why your new oven is smoking and giving off a strong burnt plastic or chemical smell upon initial operation. If so, you are not alone. The good news is that this burning smell and smoking process is completely normal for new ovens. In fact, if you read your appliance manual, you will see that this is addressed in the manual and is commonly referred to as the “burn in” period.
Smoke coming from a new oven upon initial operation
What is “burn in”?
Your new oven is being exposed to high temperatures for the very first time. During this initial exposure to heat, oils used in the manufacturing process are being burnt off and the insulation enclosure is emitting an odor as it heats up. Typically this burn in process takes around an hour, but can take more or less time depending on the specific appliance.
Please note that all appliances should be free of any packaging before they are used for the first time. If packaging materials are not removed, you may actually be smelling burning plastic which you do not want so be sure to clean the oven out before initial use. Also, it’s important to note that you should cycle your oven through the burn in phase before you use it for cooking. During the burn in phase, make sure that your kitchen is properly ventilated so that chemicals and odors are exhausted to the exterior. If burning smells persist after the burn in period, please stop use of the appliance and contact the manufacturer for further troubleshooting.
