Fire in the hole
Well, it had to happen eventually. After shattering the inside pane of oven glass with water from my steaming pan several months ago, I took the next logical step and set the oven on fire. I was rotating the baguettes with a spatula, as I do after removing the steam pan, and I noticed a few sparks on the element...didn't think much of it until I gave one loaf a big turn, then the flames started. I can only figure it was cornmeal hitting the element. I should have just turned off the oven, shut the door to cut off the air supply, and kept an eye on the flames; but I panicked and turned the oven off and shot the fire extinguisher at it. While the flame was immediately quenched, needless to say, the chemical-covered bread is now in the trash. I had taken such care with this batch, too, which was to grace a friend's dinner party table.
Anyway...my question is whether, after a thorough cleaning, I can continue to use my element; or whether, after being sprayed with fire extinguisher chemicals while it was hot, I need to replace it? Thoughts, experiences...? Thank you!
#1 - am glad you didn't get hurt. #2, I shouldn't admit it, but it is a funny story - now that all the excitement is over.
Here's a link which may answer some of your questions.
To make you feel better about your experience, I had purchased a cheapo thermometer with a suction cup so I could monitor the temp of my natural gas oven when I turned the light on (it's pilotless and I sometimes use the heat from the oven light for proofing).
One day I turned on the oven to 500F to preheat it. About ten minutes into the preheating I smelled something funny. Yup - I had forgotten to remove that plastic thermometer, which had turned into a melted glob of plastic running down the oven wall.
Took some elbow grease, but I did manage to remove all traces of the melted plastic gunk.
Hope your story ends as well.
I appreciate the commiseration and Lindy, thank you for the link...that didn't turn up on my google search. Onward with the clean-up today.
Wow, Good you've survived it! I guess heat from the element will dissipate the chemicals.
but it's really funny. Bakers have the most fun.
I had a heating element fire years ago. I mistakenly unplugged what I thought was the oven and it kept going. I thought what madness is this? I had unplugged the microwave and forgot the stove outlet was on the floor behind the stove. My new one does not have a floor element. Then, a few years ago I started a burner to make pasta, but started the wrong one and melted a pan. It looked whole until I went to move it and it disintigrated and started my linoleum floor on fire. I threw the dogs water dish on it and counted my self lucky (and klutzy). Now after hearing about your glass window, I am less concerned about my "steaming the bread for the prefect crust." I know I can't afford a new one.
Cooks Illustrated tested fire extinguishers for kitchen fires a while ago. Basically everyone of them "created noxious fumes and messy residue", and damaged ("scarred") the surface of kitchen appliances.
Probably you should better ask a pro ( the manufacturer) whether burner elements damaged by fire extinguisher foam can emit toxic fumes.
Karin