A new oven smell during the first few uses is normal. Whirlpool says it comes from new parts and insulation heating up, plus the protective oil used in manufacturing and any shipping tape, and it should fade after the first few uses.
So you don’t need to panic. You do need to burn it off before you cook, move any pet birds, and know the one smell that isn’t normal.
Why a brand-new oven smells
Every maker gives the same reason in slightly different words. The inside of your oven has never been hot before, and a few materials only give off their odor the first time.
- Insulation. GE’s range manual calls an odor from the insulation around the inside of the oven normal for the first few times you use it. Bosch says the same insulation is meeting extreme heat for the first time.
- Factory oil and coatings. Whirlpool lists the protective coating of oil used in manufacturing.
- Tape and packing. Shipping tape left on parts adds its own smell when it heats.
GE describes it as a “burning” or “oily” odor from the vent. That’s the smell you’d expect on the first runs. It shouldn’t get stronger with each use.
Burn it off empty before the first meal
Run the oven empty before the first meal. Whirlpool says not to cook food until you’ve done this, because the smell and taste can stick to the food.
Here’s where it gets confusing. The makers don’t use the same time.
- Whirlpool, KitchenAid and Maytag: Whirlpool’s help page says to Bake at 350°F for 60 minutes. If the smell is still there, repeat it once or twice.
- Frigidaire: its electric range manual says to bake at 350°F for 30 minutes before cooking, and that some noise and odors are normal on that first cycle.
- GE: the smell will disappear in time. To speed it up, GE says to run a self-clean cycle, a minimum of 3 hours on one electric range.
- Bosch: a self-clean burns the smell off more quickly. Take the racks and accessories out first.
Your own manual wins over any of these. If you can’t find it, the model number gets you a PDF from the maker’s site.
Whatever time your brand gives, the steps around it are the same:
- Empty the cavity. Pull out all packaging, foam, tape and paperwork. Take the racks out if you’re running self-clean.
- Air out the kitchen. Whirlpool says to open the windows or turn on the vent hood. Frigidaire says the same for the first self-clean.
- Run it empty. Use the setting and time from your manual.
- Wipe it once it’s cool. Whirlpool says to use a soft, damp cloth on the inside.
Move pet birds out before you start
This is the one health warning the makers print. Whirlpool says some birds are extremely sensitive to these fumes and that exposure may kill certain birds.
Move them to another closed room that’s well ventilated. GE gives the same warning for its self-clean cycle, so it applies if you speed things up with self-clean, too.
If the smell won’t go away, look for something left inside
Still strong after several burn-offs? Then it usually isn’t the insulation. Something is probably heating up that shouldn’t be there. Owners on Reddit who chased a lingering smell were told to look again for clear film on the racks and walls.
A man who burns off ovens every week for a house builder said what he finds:
“Most ovens I’ve seen have a couple of bits of paper in them, and some cardboard to protect the removable shelves.” u/OortyBoy on Reddit
He’d also seen bits of blue tape holding shelves in place. I’d pull every rack and use a headlamp along the walls and the top of the cavity before running it again.
Some gas ovens have a removable false bottom. On a Maytag gas range that still stank after repeated burn-offs, the top reply suggested a warranty call:
“Either you or the service person can look for a foreign object that has fallen into this space and may be burning each time you use the oven” u/Mosquitoes-zzz on Reddit
The same reply asked whether a propane conversion had been done right, since a poor conversion burns badly and smells. If your range was converted, that’s a job for the installer, not you.
Some odors outlast the new-oven phase. Whirlpool says not to line the oven bottom with foil, which traps spills, and not to cover a whole rack with foil or a silicone mat. Leave the door gasket alone, too: no rubbing or moving it while you clean. If the door is in your way, here’s how to remove an oven door safely.
A gas smell is different: stop
On a gas oven, Whirlpool says you may catch a brief, faint whiff of gas as the burner lights. It should fade within a few minutes. A rotten-egg smell that stays, or a hissing sound, isn’t a new-oven smell.
Frigidaire’s gas range manual says what to do:
- Don’t try to light any appliance.
- Don’t touch any electrical switch, and don’t use any phone in your building.
- Call your gas supplier right away from a neighbor’s phone. If you can’t reach them, call the fire department.
I’m not licensed for gas-line work, and you shouldn’t try it either. If the oven lights but won’t get hot, our page on a gas oven not heating covers the checks that are safe to do yourself.
New oven smell: questions
Is the new oven smell dangerous?
The makers call it normal and tell you to ventilate. Their one printed health warning is for pet birds, which can die from the fumes, so move them first. A gas smell is a separate problem. Leave the house and call your gas supplier.
How long does a new oven smell last?
Whirlpool says it should fade after the first few uses. GE says the insulation odor goes away after several uses or a self-clean cycle. If it’s no weaker after a few burn-offs, look for packing left inside.
How do I get the plastic smell out of my oven?
A true plastic smell often means something is still in there: film, tape or foam. Let the oven cool, remove the racks and find it. Then run the burn-off again and wipe the inside with a damp cloth.
