The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Your Middleby Marshall Conveyor Oven

Middleby Marshall & WOW Conveyor Ovens

If you’re running a bustling kitchen, chances are your Middleby Marshall conveyor oven is a workhorse, churning out delicious dishes day in and day out. To keep it performing at its best and ensure top-notch food quality, regular cleaning and maintenance are essential. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a kitchen manager, here’s your comprehensive guide to keeping your Middleby Marshall conveyor oven in pristine condition.

Why Cleaning Matters

A clean conveyor oven not only enhances food flavor but also prolongs the lifespan of your equipment and ensures food safety. Here’s how regular cleaning benefits your kitchen:

• Maintains Efficiency: Clean ovens operate more efficiently, ensuring consistent cooking times and temperatures.
• Prevents Flavors Transfer: Residual food particles can affect the taste of your dishes. Regular cleaning helps maintain the integrity of flavors.
• Ensures Safety: A clean oven reduces the risk of grease fires and improves overall kitchen safety.
• Regular – as in every 6 months. National pizza chains clean their conveyor ovens at least every 6 months with their hood cleaning per NFPA 96 fire and life safety code.

Cleaning Schedule

To maintain optimal performance, create a cleaning schedule tailored to your kitchen’s needs. Here’s a basic outline:

1. Daily Cleaning:
   • Exterior Surfaces: Wipe down the exterior of the oven with a damp cloth and mild detergent to remove grease and food splatters.
   • Conveyor Belt: Remove any food debris from the conveyor belt using a brush or cloth. Inspect for wear and tear.
   • Cooling Fans and Ventilation: Ensure cooling fans and ventilation ports are free from obstruction to prevent overheating.
2. Weekly Cleaning:
   • Interior Cleaning: Turn off the oven and allow it to cool. Remove conveyor components and clean the interior surfaces with a non-abrasive cleaner and damp cloth.
   • Burners and Heating Elements: Wipe down burners and heating elements to remove grease buildup. Check for any signs of damage or corrosion.
   • Air Vents: Clean air vents and filters to maintain airflow and prevent overheating.
3. Monthly Maintenance:
   • Deep Cleaning: Perform a more thorough cleaning of all components, including the conveyor belt, rollers, and interior walls. Use manufacturer-recommended cleaning solutions and follow their instructions.
   • Inspect Moving Parts: Inspect bearings, pulleys, and other moving parts for signs of wear. Lubricate as necessary to ensure smooth operation.

Step-by-Step Cleaning Process

Follow these steps for a thorough cleaning of your Middleby Marshall conveyor oven:

1. Preparation: Ensure the oven is turned off and completely cooled before starting the cleaning process. Disconnect power if necessary.
2. Exterior Cleaning:
   • Wipe down the exterior surfaces with a damp cloth and mild detergent. Pay attention to control panels and handles. Professionals use “bulls milk” to remove carbon and burnished marks from stainless steel. Aside from the weirdness of the name it’s amazing and expensive but worth it.
3. Conveyor Belt and Components:
   • Remove crumbs and debris from the conveyor belt using a brush or cloth.
   • Treat the entire conveyor belt and frame with cleaning solution and pressure wash. If you can get it use caustic soda. Buy a 50 pound bag on amazon and keep it around for that body you need to dissolve. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
   • Use a brass wire hand brush to remove any remaining baked on gunk. HAND NOT POWER BRUSH
   • Inspect and clean conveyor rollers and bearings to ensure smooth operation.
4. Interior Cleaning:
   • Remove conveyor components carefully according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
   • Fingers – most fingers are location specific so mark them or you’ll spend hours guessing what order they go in.
   • Finger consist of three components. Keep each finger component “set” together. These parts are not universal.
   • Spacers – just like fingers the spacers need to be marked so you can properly reassemble the oven.
   • Clean interior walls, heating elements, and burners with a non-abrasive cleaner and cloth.
   • Use a long wire hood to remove aluminum foil and other debris from the fan blades. If this confuses you, you have no business cleaning an oven.
5. Filters and Ventilation:
   • Clean air vents and replace filters if necessary to maintain proper airflow.
6. Final Checks:
   • Reassemble all components and ensure they are securely in place.
   • Power on the oven and perform a test run to ensure everything is functioning correctly.

Professional Cleaning

For complete and professional cleaning you should leave it to experts, consider scheduling regular professional cleaning with CLEAN HOODS EXPRESS. The can clean your conveyor over with your hood at a substantial savings vs just the hood or just the oven. Certified technicians can perform thorough inspections, identify potential issues early on, and ensure your oven meets safety standards.

Conclusion

By following a regular cleaning and maintenance routine, you can extend the life of your Middleby Marshall conveyor oven while maintaining high food quality and kitchen safety. Remember, a clean oven is a happy oven—and happier customers too!

Keep cooking, keep cleaning, and keep your kitchen running smoothly with a well-maintained Middleby Marshall conveyor oven. Your delicious dishes and satisfied patrons will thank you for it!