10 Unexpected Oven Tips
How to Repair Common Oven Parts
The oven is an appliance in the kitchen that is used to cook food items. The heat from the oven sterilizes food and kills the majority of microorganisms.
Every baker needs an accurate oven thermometer. Knowing how your oven works will help improve your baking cooking, roasting and cooking abilities. It can also help you avoid those annoying hot spots which can ruin cookies, cakes and baked products.
Thermostat
The thermostat is among the most vital components of your oven, helping to ensure that the temperature of your food is in line with what you've set in the control panel. It can be problematic, just like any other sensor or switch that is electro-mechanical. The oven may overheat or underheat, or simply not keep the temperature you have set.
The oven thermostat is a small strip made of two different metals that are joined. When heated to a certain temperature, the two metals expand or flex at different rates. This creates an electrical circuit. When the thermostat's metal is at the temperature you've set on your control panel, it shuts off the power to the heating element. As the oven cools the bimetallic strips expand in a circuit, re-establishing it and turning on the heating element. This cycle continues for a long time to ensure that the oven remains at a constant temperature.
To determine if there is a issue with the thermostat, you'll need to unplug the oven and ensure that all of the screws holding it in place have been removed. Set your multimeter to the Ohms setting, and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter shows zero or close to zero it means that the thermostat is working correctly and doesn't require to be changed.
If the multimeter does not read anything, it's likely that the thermostat is defective and needs to be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts suggests that you replace your thermostat with a similar type as the old one. The thermostats are sold at a reasonable price on the internet or in a kitchen products shop.
Bake Element
The bake element is essential to the functioning of your oven. It generates the heat needed to cook food. It's a simple element that converts electricity into high temperatures for baking, roasting, and broiling. Heating elements are commonly found in electric ranges and ovens, and they can be either uncovered or hidden under the oven's floor.
In general, oven heating elements are constructed of high-resistance materials such as nickel-chromium alloy. They convert electrical energy into heat via the process of resistance which then radiates throughout the oven's interior to raise the temperature to the desired degree for cooking different types of food items.
When you start the oven the heating elements start to produce heat due to the high-voltage electric current flowing across the surface of the metal. When the electric current is flowing through it the element is heated. When the element reaches the temperature it is intended to it begins to be lit up in red hot.
The baked element is the primary source of heat for most oven functions. It's usually found at the bottom of the oven, and is used for the self-cleaning feature in many ovens with automatic cleaning. When it starts to burn out you may find that your oven isn't able to preheat as quickly or that your food isn't cooked through completely.
To determine if you have a functioning oven baking element, plug your multimeter into its red and black ports, then touch the probes made of steel against each other on one end of your device. The other end of the element against one terminal and place your hand on it. If the element feels warm, take it off it and try testing it again. If not, take it off and try again.
Broil Element
The broil element is typically located in the upper part of the oven's cavity and produces high heat like grills to cook or brown food items. The oven's broil setting is a great way to quickly sear meat crisp vegetables, heat lasagna or caramelize the topping of a casserole.
Similar to the bake element the broiler heating element converts electrical energy into heat by the process of resistance. It consists of an inner core of wires made of metal wrapped in insulating perlite product. The inner core is enclosed in an outer layer of stainless steel, which protects the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer design helps reduce the temperature of the broil element, making it safer than older designs.
While you may use any baking or broiling heating element in your oven, you should choose one that matches the rated wattage of your oven. A different wattage can harm your oven, or cause it overheat. You can determine the wattage of your oven and the rating of the new heating element by looking at their voltage and current ratings on the oven's control panel.
Check the resistance of your old element, and then compare it with the wattage rating of the new one. The greater the resistance, the more the power that an oven element draws from.
If the heating element in your broiler is not working or functions at all, you must replace it right away. It's important that your oven functions correctly to be able to cook your most loved foods. If your oven doesn't work in any way, or just intermittently then the problem may be a problem with a different component.
Light Bulb and Assembly
The light allows you to monitor the food that is cooking, without opening the door and let the heat escape. The light also lets you know when your casserole is ready. It's not uncommon for the bulb to die. This can be frustrating however, it's an simple fix that you can accomplish yourself. Make sure that the breaker is not tripped and that the connector has three prongs.
First, take out the light bulb that was in use and then locate the new one. It is possible to look online to find a replacement that is compatible with the wattage and model of your oven. Some ovens use normal appliance bulbs that run at 40 watts and others require an halogen lamp that can reach 50 watts. Be aware that the oil from your hands can cause damage to the halogen bulb, so it is recommended to use cotton gloves when handling it.
Before you place the new bulb into place You must first remove it from its glass casing. Do this slowly so that you don't break it. Then, you'll need to eliminate the air inside the bulb and fill it up with gas mixture. This ensures a longer life for the filament.
If your bulb is constantly being replaced, it could be a wider electrical problem that needs to be dealt with by an expert. Make sure you double-check that you're using the right bulb for your oven and consult your Use and Care Guide for more troubleshooting advice. Remember to unplug the oven and turn off the power prior to beginning any repairs. This will protect you from electrical shock.
Vent Tube
The vent tube is an important oven part that allows for a small airflow inside the cavity. This allows the bake element to circulate heat throughout the oven, ensuring that the temperature is evenly dispersed.
It also allows the vapors be released from the oven, and smoke to be drawn from the cooking surface. It is essential for the proper operation of any electric or gas oven .
Vents in ovens can get blocked due to many factors. Accidental spills and splatters from cooking can leave sticky residues on oven vents, which could attract dust and other debris that could eventually cause clogs or blockages in the course of time. Grease and oil can also be airborne and settle on vents. Other environmental factors, such as kitchen renovations and construction work, can introduce dust or other contaminants into the vents, leading to obstructions or clogs.
Based on the oven model the vent tube may comprise a bottle guide 20 or spreader 46 as well as a fill tip 12 that are integrally formed with the pipe 32. The bottle guide 20 may have a tapered edge that complements the tapered inside edge of the spreader to allow the vent tubes to be inserted effortlessly into various sizes and shapes of bottle necks.
A clogged or blocked vent tube could cause a loss of pressure within the enclosing structure, which can create a downdraft situation that pulls exhaust down the vent and backwards through the oven burners, causing damage to the oven's components. If you think that your vent tube is clogged or blocked, call an expert for assistance. They will determine the cause and provide recommendations for removing or cleaning the vent.