How to Clean Restaurant Brick Ovens and Exhaust Stacks

Brick ovens are sturdy pieces of constructions that require light regular maintenance. Properly cleaning the exhaust stacks not only helps to keep the oven operating at its best, it’s an absolute necessity for fire safety. Read through the guidelines below offered from WoodStone.

• Brick ovens require little cleaning outside of the normal cooking routines.
• When food and debris falls onto the surface, it can be scraped or “baked” off. If the oven is wood-burning, simply place some hot, burning pieces onto the spill and the heat will burn it off. Follow with a brush to remove any debris.
• For gas burning ovens, a pizza peel can be used to scrape the debris off of the surface. If necessary a chef’s knife can be used to gently scrape the surface. Do not poke into the floor of the oven as it can damage the surface.
• Depending on the items cooked, grease can build up and form a patina on the surface. This can be scraped or washed away. Scraping involves the same procedures described above. To wash it away, dampen a cloth with water. Remove excess water so the cloth is just damp. Wrap the cloth around the head of the brush and push it along the floor to “mop” it.
• These cleanings should become part of the chef’s routine. As spills occur, they should be scraped away to keep from build-up forming.
• The floor of the oven should be brushed regularly to maintain cleanliness.

• Exhaust stacks should be cleaned monthly to keep the oven operating safely.
• Stacks can develop a layer of creosote that will build up over time.
• The cleaning process is similar to sweeping a chimney, but requires special knowledge and equipment when dealing with restaurant stacks because of the grease/food debris build-up that can occur within the chimney.
• It is recommended that only a qualified chimney sweep complete this cleaning. Ensure they were experienced with brick ovens and the proper cleaning procedures.
• If the creosote is not removed, it WILL lead to a chimney fire. It is imperative that the exhaust stack is well maintained.