Cleanliness at the touch of a button: The pyrolysis oven
Read how self-cleaning works and which pyrolysis oven is the best in the Mykitchens magazine.
Reading time: approx. 2 minutes
Burned-on grease splashes, stubborn crusts, and laborious oven cleaning with scouring agents and a sponge – with a pyrolysis oven, any kind of oven dirt is no longer a problem! Instead of laborious scrubbing, just press a button – the oven heats up to 500 degrees Celsius and reduces residue to fine ash, which can then be easily wiped away. Oven cleaning at the touch of a button. Here in Mykitchens Magazine, we show you what's behind this self-cleaning technology – and, more importantly, which is the best oven with a self-cleaning function.
What is pyrolysis?
Pyrolysis is a self-cleaning function found in modern ovens. During the process, the oven cavity is heated to temperatures of up to 500°C. Grease, food residue, and baked-on deposits burn away into a fine ash that can simply be wiped out once the oven has cooled down. Chemical cleaning agents are not required.
Find pyrolysis ovens in the shop
![[Zweite Wahl] Smeg SOP6900TP Einbau-Backofen Creme](https://mykitchens.de/media/0d/c5/9c/1728649400/smeg-sop6900tp-einbaubackofen-creme-produktbild-1.webp?ts=1728649400 "[Zweite Wahl] Smeg SOP6900TP Einbau-Backofen Creme")
![[Zweite Wahl] Siemens studioLine HB974GLB1 Einbau-Backofen Schwarz](https://mykitchens.de/media/ed/8e/45/1728648918/siemens-hb974glb1-einbaubackofen-schwarz-produktbild.webp?ts=1728648918 "[Zweite Wahl] Siemens studioLine HB974GLB1 Einbau-Backofen Schwarz")
How Pyrolysis Self-Cleaning Works
Pyrolysis is a self-cleaning function in modern ovens that heats the appliance to extremely high temperatures of approximately 400 to 500°C. This heat completely incinerates all residues such as grease splashes, food residue, or burnt crusts in the oven, turning them into fine ash. After cleaning, this ash simply needs to be wiped away with a damp cloth.
The cleaning process is fully automatic and takes approximately 1 to 3 hours, depending on the model and degree of soiling. Before starting pyrolysis, you should remove baking trays, racks, and accessories from the cooking chamber unless they are expressly labeled as pyrolysis-compatible by the manufacturer. After the program is complete, the oven door is locked and will not open until the appliance has cooled down. This way, you won't be injured by the high temperatures during self-cleaning.
Important: High temperatures and sometimes odors are generated during pyrolysis, so the kitchen should be well ventilated. Children and pets should be kept away from the oven during the process.
Advantages
- Very thorough cleaning, removes even stubborn and burnt-on residue.
- No chemical cleaning agents required.
- After cleaning, only fine ash remains, which can be easily wiped away.
Disadvantages
- Very high energy consumption due to extreme temperatures (up to 500°C).
- Longer cleaning time (up to several hours).
- Higher initial purchase price.
- Accessories such as baking trays often need to be cleaned separately unless they are pyrolysis-resistant.
Which is the best pyrolysis oven?
From budget-conscious all-rounders to smart mid-range models to luxurious high-end appliances, the range of pyrolysis ovens is extensive. Bosch and Siemens score points for their technological prowess and everyday practicality, Miele and Gaggenau for their premium quality, while Smeg impresses with their design and Bauknecht with their solid functionality. They all have one thing in common: The pyrolysis oven finally makes oven cleaning as easy as it should be. A quick comparison of our manufacturers.
You can also find more comparisons in our comprehensive "Oven Review."
Our top 4 in the pyrolysis test:
Which pyrolytic oven is right for me?
There is a perfect built-in oven with a self-cleaning function for every kitchen—allowing you to remove burnt-on grease and effectively clean the oven interior. Each manufacturer has its own advantages. Here is an overview featuring our recommendations.
| User | Our recommendation |
| 👨👩👧👦 Family | Miele Oven |
| 🧑🍳 Hobby cook | Miele or Siemens oven |
| ✨ Design kitchen | Smeg or Gaggenau oven |
| 🫰 Price-conscious | Bauknecht oven |
| 🛜 Smart Kitchen | Bosch or Siemens oven |
Bauknecht
Bauknecht offers pyrolysis ovens with an attractive price-performance ratio. The wide range of features is strongly geared towards the needs of practical households: solid technology, uncomplicated handling, and decent cleaning performance. For families or cost-conscious users, these appliances are a good introduction to the world of self-cleaning technologies.
Which Bauknecht oven has pyrolysis?
Miele
Miele has traditionally held the flag high for durability and quality. The miele pyrolytic ovens are known for their particularly thorough cleaning, often enhanced by the so-called "PyroFit" feature: baking trays and drawers are pyrolysis-resistant and can be cleaned at the same time. This saves time and makes cleaning even more convenient. Typical Miele: a well-thought-out operating concept and exquisite craftsmanship.
Which Miele oven has pyrolysis?
Siemens
Siemens appliances draw on the same technological expertise as Bosch, but are generally more design-oriented and digitally connected. The combination of pyrolysis and automatic baking programs is popular. Users can start cleaning cycles or view the remaining time using the Home Connect app – smart convenience solutions for tech-savvy consumers.
Discover our favorite from Siemens, too: the iQ700 oven.
Which Siemens oven has pyrolysis?
Bosch
If you're looking for a blend of everyday practicality and smart operation, we recommend a Bosch pyrolytic oven. Often, you can select multiple cleaning levels, so an energy-intensive full cycle isn't necessary for every small stain. The clearly structured control panels are particularly practical, making them immediately understandable even for occasional users. Bosch is specifically aimed at households that value reliability and efficient solutions.
Here, we have taken a closer look at the latest generation of the Bosch Series 8 oven.
Gaggenau
Gaggenau sets standards in the premium and professional segments. The gaggenau pyrolysis function is just one aspect of a high-quality overall package: elegant fronts, spacious cooking spaces, and numerous sophisticated automatic programs. These appliances appeal to customers who view kitchen technology as part of their gastronomic lifestyle – uncompromisingly high quality and strong design.
Read our magazine to find out why the Gaggenau oven belongs in every high-quality designer kitchen!
Which Gaggenau oven has pyrolysis?
Smeg
In addition to state-of-the-art technology, the Smeg pyrolysis oven impresses with its iconic design. Often with a retro look, without sacrificing functionality. The self-cleaning function is integrated almost invisibly in many appliances, yet remains powerful. Those who value aesthetics in the kitchen while still wanting to use time-saving cleaning technology will find the perfect combination here.
Be inspired by the latest edition – explore the Smeg Musa collection.
Which Smeg oven has pyrolysis?
Conclusion
If you bake or cook regularly, a pyrolytic oven saves a great deal of cleaning time. Models from brands such as Bosch, Siemens, Miele, and Gaggenau, in particular, combine the self-cleaning function with modern features like steam assistance, automatic programs, and smart home connectivity. This means you benefit not only from easy cleaning but also from greater convenience in your everyday kitchen routine.
Our oven bestsellers
