Most of us want our ovens to give off the aroma of delicious home cooking like freshly baked bread or spice cookies. It’s frustrating when they instead smell of burning material such as plastic.
Believe it or not, this is normal under some circumstances so read on to find out when it’s okay and when you should investigate further.
Why Does My Stove Smell Like Burning Plastic?
1. Cable Ties/Zip Ties
If your oven is new, you may need to remove some packaging items that the manufacturer has used to protect the appliance.
Your burnt plastic smell may indeed be burnt plastic from the zip ties used to secure the shelves and other inserts for transportation. To check, remove all the loose parts inside the oven such as shelves and drip trays.
Check for any plastic ties. If you see any molten ones, use our easy method to remove the mess. First, put an ice pack or packet of frozen peas over the molten plastic to make it hard. It should now come off easily using a knife for leverage.
Once you have taken it all off, clean the area with dishwashing soap and a sponge. You can also clean it with coffee grounds or activated charcoal to remove any last trace of odor.
2. New Stove Smell
If your stove is brand new and you are using it for the first time, heat it with no food inside it first.
Most new stoves have a strange plastic or rubber odor the first time they’re used and this is nothing to worry about provided you’ve removed all the packaging material.
The smell is caused by the stove’s insulation or the protective oil coating that is sprayed on during the manufacturing process. If the smell bothers you, wipe down the entire oven with warm soapy water and lemon juice.
Use a fine microfiber cloth to dry it. This will wash off the protective coating and your new oven will be ready to use.
3. Electrical Wiring
Not all burning plastic smells are benign. If you are using an electric stove, particularly an older one, the smell may be from the insulation around some wiring.
You may have noticed that your stove trips the electrical circuit when you switch it on. In this case, it’s vital that you have the stove checked by a qualified electrician before you attempt to use it again.
Failure to do so may result in a fire or electrocution. Meanwhile, disconnect your stove from the electrical connection if possible.
4. Plastic or Styrofoam Container Left in Oven
Accidents happen and perhaps somebody put a plastic item into the oven for safekeeping. When the oven was switched on, it melted. Open the oven and have a good look with the oven light switched on.
Use a flashlight if necessary. If you find a melted plastic item, remove it as per the method for zip ties. Wipe the oven down with a baking soda solution to remove lingering odors.
When you next turn your oven on, open all windows and switch the ventilation fan on to extract any remaining smells that might be emitted.
To Conclude
Never ignore strange burnt smells coming from your oven. It is always worth it to investigate further until you find the cause. Failure to do so may result in a fire, electricity issues, or tainted food.
Plus, inhaling the fumes from burnt plastic is dangerous for your health. Good luck!