Causes of Oven Smells and How to Get Rid of Them

Ovens can stink sometimes, but depending on the smell, there are some cures for them.

Chemical Smell
This issue is most common with the new ovens. The insulation around the oven cavity is getting exposed to extreme heat for the first time, that is why there is a chemical smell. To fix this problem, you have to “burn in” your oven.

Burnt Smell
This is the most common bad oven smell – and luckily easy to get rid of – as these usually come from foods that have dripped on the bottom of the stove.

Food Stuck on Rack
Burnt or charred food can produce unpleasant odors. We recommend regularly removing and cleaning the racks to prevent old food from smoking.

Grease Spills
Grease spills on the bottom of the oven can be very dangerous. It causes bad odors, but more importantly the spilled grease can get so hot, a fire can erupt.

Spoiled Food
It happens with all of us…leaving food in the oven overnight (or even longer) often results in spoiled food. We usually notice we left some food in the oven when we turn it on again and that’s when the unpleasant odor hits us.

1. Remove all accessories, pots/pans, racks, and food chunks from the oven. The oven should be empty.
2. Set the oven to self-clean mode, according to the manufacturer's instructions.
3. Make sure your kitchen has good ventilation to allow potential smoke to escape. Open windows and/or turn on the ventilation.

Clean Your Oven Without Harsh Cleaner
If your oven doesn't have a self-cleaning mode, follow our instructions on how to clean your oven

When you first start the oven, it is normal to detect an unusual odor. This is caused by the combustion of gas at the burner and will go away within a minute or two.

Sulfur or Rotten Egg Smell
The odor of the unburned gas can be compared to the smell of rotten eggs. It is not normal to smell unburned gas in your kitchen.
If you smell unburned gas, you should immediately:

• Turn off the oven
• Open your windows
• Extinguish any open flame
• Call your gas supplier from outside your home

We recommend cleaning your oven regularly to avoid issues with odor.
Review your owner's manual to learn how to activate the self-cleaning feature. Remove racks and accessories from the oven before self-cleaning.

For spot cleaning inside the oven, use the Bosch oven cleaner.

For the exterior, wipe down with mild soapy water and a soft cloth. Use the Bosch stainless steel conditioner to create a beautiful shine. Do not use the conditioner on logos, control markings, or black steel.