Wondering if my Brown Oven/Stove is safe

[vsk101]

Hi,

I'm bringing home a baby boy eclectus in a few weeks and am in the process of replacing my cookware, bakeware, hair dryer, etc. I'm also wondering about my oven. I live in an apartment (so it came with it). It says "Brown" on it, and I think the manufacturer must be Brown Stoveworks. I have read that the grates that go over the burners can be non-stick coated, and my look as though they may be. I called the company and they said they do not use these chemicals and it is likely cast iron, but I don't think mine is. Also, the inside looks as if it could be nonstick, but I'm not really sure. Is there anyone who has experience with this brand that can confirm what the rep said? And is there any particular concerns about apartment-size ovens (it is perhaps 2/3 the side, i.e., skinner than a regular stove). Thank you

 

[SailBoat]

Brown Stoves and Ovens have been a long time manufacturer and have been very slow to adapt new technologies to the product line! Their target market has not change over the years as they support long use applications in the Rental Market and small work kitchens.

Their older style appearance have a large following in restorers of older homes or newer homes that want that older appearance. They also have a larger following in the Lake Cottage market as many parts of their product line are smaller and can fit in those smaller kitchens.

I do not own a Brown at present, but have had them in a couple of my past apartments and also a work boat that I sent a summer on a very long time ago.

I cannot confirm for their full line, but the products that I have come across have only cast iron stove parts and the oven sides have been powder coated metal.

Find the Manufacturers' Plate and the units model number and call the manufacturer direct. They can tell you the year manufactured and what those parts are made from.

 

[vsk101]

Thanks so much SailBoat. I wasn't expecting you to know so much about these ovens! I called the company and they said for the oven itself, only those Brown stoves that are self cleaning are an issue. They told me that the grates for the oven (the 4 removal pieces that you put the pot on when you are cooking) are metal that are coated with porcelain and that they do not contain any chemicals. But when I look at them, they are chipping in places the way paint does. I can see it is a silver-colored metal that is rusting in places and the black "porcelain" has chipped off. Does this sound right to you? I guess I can always just try to find strainless grates and replace them, but I'm not sure how easy that is to do.

 

[SailBoat]

Thanks so much SailBoat. I wasn't expecting you to know so much about these ovens! I called the company and they said for the oven itself, only those Brown stoves that are self cleaning are an issue. They told me that the grates for the oven (the 4 removal pieces that you put the pot on when you are cooking) are metal that are coated with porcelain and that they do not contain any chemicals. But when I look at them, they are chipping in places the way paint does. I can see it is a silver-colored metal that is rusting in places and the black "porcelain" has chipped off. Does this sound right to you? I guess I can always just try to find strainless grates and replace them, but I'm not sure how easy that is to do.

I first saw and used it on that work boat years ago. It stuck with me, because the cook always made a big deal that the thing never failed to work, which is important on work boats. Years later I owned several apartments and when faced with having to stick a stove /oven into a tiny space, I remembered my days on that work boat. So, I installed Browns in all of my apartments.

Yup, one of the problems with porcelain is that with poor care, they can chip, but that only happens during cleaning or someone in a rush and forcing something again it. As long as you use your oven and clear it after use you will not have additional chipping. FYI: Always use a drip pan under whatever you are cooking and you will find that you rarely need to clean your oven!

My oldest brown was near 30 years old when I sold that apartment and I would guess that it is still working well today.

FYI: Try Brown replacement parts service!

 

[vsk101]

Sailboat, I live in a > 100 year old apartment, so the Brown oven seems to fit from what you are saying. It is actually the 4 grates on top of the oven that they are saying are porcelain but must at the very least be porcelain over metal. They are all peeling and rusting in the middle, from where the pot has the most weight. So you think this is ok or should I replace with plain metal just to be safe? Brown said their original replacement would only be for the exact same burner, so I would need to find another brand that fits.

 

[SailBoat]

Sailboat, I live in a > 100 year old apartment, so the Brown oven seems to fit from what you are saying. It is actually the 4 grates on top of the oven that they are saying are porcelain but must at the very least be porcelain over metal. They are all peeling and rusting in the middle, from where the pot has the most weight. So you think this is ok or should I replace with plain metal just to be safe? Brown said their original replacement would only be for the exact same burner, so I would need to find another brand that fits.

Porcelain has very limited structural abilities and it would be common for the porcelain to be applied to the cast iron. As long as whatever chipping is not allowed to fall into whatever you are cooking, there is no concern other then its appearance. Unless you plan to stay in this apartment for a very long time, its really not worth putting your money into your landlords pockets.

 

[vsk101]

Sailboat, thanks so much. I feel like I have so many important details to take care of before I bring him home, and the help you have given me has saved me a lot of time (and money!) and is really putting my mind at ease. I am very grateful -- many thanks again.