General Electric recommends leaving self-clean racks in the oven during the self-cleaning cycle and removing stainless-steel racks before the cycle starts. Oven cleaners, liners and aluminum foil are not recommended for use during the cycle, according to the company.
The self-cleaning cycle lasts up to three hours depending on the amount of food spillage that is inside. The door automatically locks while the oven heats to about 880 degrees Fahrenheit, burning food debris into thin ash. When the cycle stops and the door unlocks, the residue of ash must be wiped from the racks as well as from inside the door and the bottom of the oven.
