Trevor....Can I put my Capital Grates in the Oven on Self Clean?

12 years ago

I'm trying to spiff up the kitchen for a magazine photo shoot (so cool) and also to list the house for sale (boo hoo). I want to restore my grates to a uniform black look on my Capital Precision range.

If I take out those rubber feet, can the racks go in the oven on self clean? For that matter, can the racks even stay in there?

I guess if the racks can't stay, there would be nowhere for the grates to sit....

If this is all a big fat NO, what would you suggest to use on them to make buyers think I don't ever use the range, lol?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

PRO
Trevor Lawson (Eurostoves Inc)
12 years ago
Beekeeprswife..... From the Factory, hope it helps

Self clean is not a good idea. Even though the grates can take the heat, the
overall heating of the entire grate can cause porcelain to possible either
crack or expand invisible cracks.

Use a fine abrasive cleaning pads like a green Scotch Brite pad or very fine
steel wool to lightly scrub residual oils off. They are what causes dark
spots on the grates. A mild soap or grease cutter such as Formula 409 can
also help remove dark oil marks.
stooxie
12 years ago
Maybe Trevor can provide some insight on this but you could try going the other direction: coat them all in peanut oil and season them like a cast iron pan. That would give them a uniform appearance and should look very nice. That's basically how mine are.

The downside is that there's really no way back if that somehow doesn't cut the mustard.

I think your last line says it all regarding the media and reality.

-Stooxie
Related Discussions
Are you happy with your self-clean Capital range?
Q
Comments (26)
We have had a variety of high end ranges, and the Capital is the worst of the lot. We now have a Wolf and are delighted with it. We had a Thermador in a previous home and that was also quite good. We had an old Viking, which was not bad but was outdated. The Capital was really a disaster from the begining and their warranty service was abysmal. As a former chef, I am used to cooking on a variety of stoves. I like all-gas. I have always gotten 48 inch home ranges because two ovens are a must and I find that a flat griddle is an indispensable tool that is much more versatile than people realize. On the Wolf I also have a char grill, which is better than many restaurant grills I have used. If you have ever watched Chopped, you know that they use Capital ranges, and my wife and I have often commented on how the chefs there are always complaining about the oven not being hot or pans not heating right. That was our experience with Capital. We couldn't even bake bread without putting a double pan on the shelf below the bread, and even then the bottom scorched. The griddle did not respond at all, and flames shot out the back. Even after numerous attempts at getting the stove fixed under warranty, it still did not work right. I am sure many of these stoves do work passably well, but I would never buy one again. My Thermador and Vikings before were much better, and the Wolf I have now is better still. Anything but another Capital!
...See More
Capital 48' Range - Manual vs. Self Cleaning
Q
Comments (9)
IMO any self clean is a bad thing, having said that the capital has few electronic componants which self clean can damage, we dont use it that often but when we do it certainly works very well. As for the rolling racks they are not fully extending but work well. the rotisserie is fantastic, the first thing I did when the range arrived was to cook two chickens and one beef joint to see how it performed. you can see the resluts in the PDF's attached in this link below. Is it worth an extra $1000 I would say maybe for the self clean if you use it, yes for the racks and a huge yes for the rotisserie. (the pdf files are just below the picture of the 30" range) Here is a link that might be useful: capital Rotisserie
...See More
Okay. so I'm going to clean my oven. . .
Q
Comments (4)
I've had self-cleaning ovens for over 30 years, and I've used dozens of them--both electric and gas as a home ec teacher and demonstration cook. yes, you're supposed to remove the racks. I never do. Leaving them in is the easiest way to clean them. They do darken, and yes, they may not slide quite as easily after going through the cleaning cycle, but that's a minor trade-off to me. I also put the top grates (gas range) and any cast iron that I want to clean and reseason in the oven while it self-cleans. Everything comes out beautifully, and no work for me. If you are a purist and don't want to leave the racks in, the alternative method, I hear (haven't tried it) is to put the racks in a trash bag with ammonia, seal, let them soak a while, then clean.
...See More
Self-cleaning oven? Phooey!
Q
Comments (36)
If you have enough crap on your oven walls to set off a smoke detector, well, you don't clean your oven often enough. My lower floor smoke detector is just outside of the kitchen, and the self clean cycle has never set it off. And yes, I use that oven - I roast, broil, and bake in it several times a week. If you leave puddles of crap (cake batter or stuff) on the bottom of your oven, and don't wipe it up, well, yes! it will flame. Do you not read the instructions??? All the "problems" mentioned above are clearly pointed out in my 25-y-o instruction manual. Wipe up spilled food and excess grease. Set clean cycle. Run. It's not rocket science, but it is common sense.
...See More
weissman
12 years ago
If you really want pristine grates you can buy new ones but I really don't think that would be necessary for resale. For the photo shoot, they can always air brush them :-)
amcook
12 years ago
Just this past weekend, I did a full cleaning of my CC. I was inspired by seeing the brand spanking new Culinarians on the Chopped previews. I just soaked the grates in hot water and dish soap for a bit and them scrubbed them with green scotch pads. If you have thick grease on them, you can boil some water and soak them in that for a while. We use to use boiling water to clean soiled grates and burners in the restaurant and it works wonders.
cassity
12 years ago
Turn oven on 200 and let it come to temperature. Use the open top burners (or oven) to heat the grates for a few minutes. Remove the grates from the top and coat them with a fine layer of Crisco. Put grates in oven and turn oven OFF. Let them sit in the oven for an hour

Repeat.

I seasoned many cast iron pans and dutch ovens this way.
sprtphntc7a
12 years ago
wow, bee, i can't believe you r moving!!?? that gorgeous house!! hope all is well and this move makes you happy!!

best of luck!!
plllog
12 years ago
You can also remove char and grease by applying a paste of baking soda, cover with a paper towel, and pour some boiling water on it. Leave over night. Trailrunner posted this awhile ago, and it works on ovens, pans, grates, whatever. Chemistry or something. :) Totally harmless. :)
will47
12 years ago
I spray mine with hot water, and use a wok brush to scrub them a bit. I try to do it often enough that they don't get too horribly much buildup on them. I've been trying to avoid using soap / degreaser on it for a while, since it seems to be pre-seasoned cast-iron - I don't want to strip off the seasoning.
amcook
12 years ago
I think the grates are ceramic coated cast iron rather than seasoned. I can assure you that mild soap does them no harm. The grates on restaurant ranges are no different and industrial degreasers don't even do them any harm.
cassity
12 years ago
amcook,

It's porcelain enameling (matte finish) over cast iron.
amcook
12 years ago
sorry.. I sit corrected. Thanks. :)

Related Stories

THE POLITE HOUSE The Polite House: Can I Put a Remodel Project on Our Wedding Registry?

By Lizzie Post

Find out how to ask guests for less traditional wedding gifts

Full Story

105

HOUSEKEEPING How to Clean Your Range and Oven

By Bonnie McCarthy

Experts serve up advice on caring for these kitchen appliances, which work extra hard during the holidays

Full Story

214

LIFE We Can Work It Out: Living (and Cleaning) Together

By Alison Hodgson

Run a household without fussing and fighting with these ideas for how to work together on household chores

Full Story

HOUSEKEEPING Tackle Big Messes Better With a Sparkling-Clean Dishwasher

By Bonnie McCarthy

You might think it’s self-cleaning, but your dishwasher needs regular upkeep to keep it working hard for you

Full Story

208

KITCHEN DESIGN Design an Easy-Clean Kitchen

By Pangaea Interior Design, Portland, OR

"You cook and I'll clean" might no longer be a fair trade with these ideas for low-maintenance kitchen countertops, cabinets and floors

Full Story

188

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Exuberant Self-Seeders for Gorgeous, Easy-Care Gardens

By Donald Pell - Gardens

Keep weeds down, color high and maintenance low with beautful plants that sow themselves

Full Story

HOUSEKEEPING 12 Cleaning Projects That Go a Little Deeper — Naturally

By Youthful Habits

Eucalyptus oil for germy door handles. Baking soda for oven grime. Here are nontoxic solutions for often-overlooked cleaning jobs

Full Story

129

KITCHEN DESIGN Yes, You Can Use Brick in the Kitchen

By Becky Harris

Quell your fears of cooking splashes, cleaning nightmares and dust with these tips from the pros

Full Story

131

DECORATING GUIDES 15 Bite-Size Home Projects You Can Tackle in No Time

By Laura Gaskill

See how getting little decorating, cleaning and organizing tasks done can add up to a big sense of accomplishment

Full Story

ART Let's Put a Price on Art: Your Guide to Art Costs and Buying

By Vanessa Brunner

We paint you a picture of what affects an artwork's price — plus a little-known way to take home what you love when it's beyond your budget

Full Story

Trevor....Can I put my Capital Grates in the Oven on Self Clean?

Comments (11)

Trevor Lawson (Eurostoves Inc)

stooxie

Related Discussions

weissman

amcook

cassity

sprtphntc7a

plllog

will47

amcook

cassity

amcook

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US