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Comment by butterfi | Hacker News Reader

Really? I figured most ovens had a self-cleaning option... I did this trick to recondition several cast iron pans and it works great, but be prepared for massive amounts of greasy smoke.

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Afaik it's just not a thing in europe. Only high end models have it, and even then it's an optional feature that costs extra. Even in a kitchen I rented where just the sink faucet did cost 1000€ the self-cleaning module of the oven was not installed.

We tend to have pretty different ovens in Europe vs the US.

Just a random thought (lived both in the US and in the EU): could it be that US ovens are more often gas ovens while in the EU it's mostly electric? (might be easier to get higher temperatures with gas).

Couldn't find statistics on this with a quick search...

It's the opposite... my oven in the US doesn't have the cleaning thing, turns out it's because it's gas only. The gas stovetop + electric oven version of this model has it. Seems to be a thing even with other manufacturers and models.

I’ve lived in the US and EU too. My experience was we have fan assisted ovens in the EU whereas ones I saw in the US had a top and bottom element with no fan assist.

Fan assisted ovens are also called "convection ovens." They certainly exist in the US, but I think they are more high end? I personally have one, it also has a self-clean function. The stove part is gas but I think (?) the oven is electric.

Ovens are smaller here typically and you’ll more often than not find the oven and hob (stove) as separate appliances.

I'm in Canada, but I don't think I've ever seen a gas oven. All my ovens have been electric, and nearly all of them had a self-clean option.

Yes it is, it's marketed as 'pyrolytic', it's the norm above roughly £350 and unusual roughly below.

But yes, it is just an element that can go hotter and a shell that can withstand it. Ovens are incredibly overpriced for how rudimentary they are IMO. Ripe for 'disruption' if you had something non-bullshit to compete on but price - sizing is already standardised.

`pyrolytic` does not exist as a keyword for ovens in my country. I just checked at the biggest retailer for such stuff.

The cleaning module of the one oven I'm aware of that had that option was more than just a heating thing. The manual talked about foam and how to refill it. Different countries, different mechanisms I assume.

Never seen it in Australia either but maybe I'm sheltered.

interesting - both electrolux ovens i have had in the last 10y do have self cleaning. that just - heat as much as possible mode.

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