How Oven Became The Top Trend On Social Media
How to Repair Common Oven Parts
Ovens are a common kitchen appliance used to cook food. The heat generated by the oven sterilizes food items and kills the majority of microorganisms.
Every baker needs an accurate oven thermometer. Understanding how your oven works can help you improve your baking and roasting skills and eliminate those annoying hot spots that cause havoc with cookies, cakes and other baked goods.
Thermostat
The thermostat is an important part of your oven. It helps to ensure that the temperature of food matches the temperature you set on the control panel. Unfortunately, like any other electronic mechanical switch or sensor, it can have issues that can cause the oven to over heat or under heat, or just not be able to keep the temperature at the level you've set.
The oven thermostat is essentially an extremely small piece of different metals that are bonded. When exposed to heat, the different metals expand and bend at different rates, making or breaking an electrical circuit. When the metal in your thermostat reaches the temperature you set on your control panel, it will turn off the heating element's power. As the oven cools, the bimetallic strips contract to re-establish the circuit before turning on heating element. This cycle continues for a long time to ensure a constant oven temperature.
To determine if there is a problem with the thermostat you'll have to remove the oven and ensure that all of the screws holding it in place have been removed. If you own a multimeter (which is a tool that analyzes electrical current), set it to the ohms setting and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads zero or close to it the thermostat is functioning properly and doesn't need to be replaced.
If the multimeter does not show anything, the thermostat is faulty. It is time to get it replaced. Cooker Spare Parts suggests that you replace your thermostat with a thermostat of the same model as the one you have. The thermostats are available for purchase at a reasonable price on the internet or in the kitchen store.
Bake Element
Ovens can't be complete without the bake element which creates heat to make your oven cook food. It's a simple component that transforms electricity into the high temperatures needed to bake, roast, and broiling. Electric ovens and ranges often include heating elements that can be exposed or hidden beneath the floor.
In general oven heating elements are made up of high-resistance materials such as nickel-chromium. They convert electrical energy into heat by the process of resistance which then radiates throughout the oven interior to raise the temperature to the desired level to cook different kinds of food items.
When you turn on your oven the heating element gets to generate heat from the high-voltage electrical energy flowing across its metal surface. The element is a ribbon or coil (straight or corrugated) of wire, and as the electric current flows through it, it begins to increase in temperature. The element will glow red hot when it is at the desired temperature.
The baked element is the main source of heat for the majority of oven functions. It's usually located in the bottom of the oven and is used to perform the self-cleaning function in many ovens with automatic cleaning. When it begins to get hot, you might notice that your oven doesn't warm as quickly or your food isn't cooked through completely.
Plug your multimeter in to its red and black ports. Then, press the probes made of metal on one side of the element against each other. Place the other end against one of its terminals and place your hand on it to feel whether the baking element is warm to the contact. If it's not, remove the element and test again.
Broil Element
The broil element, which is usually located on the top of your cavity allows high-temperature heat to cook or char the food. The broil setting in your oven is a great option for quickly searing meat, crisping vegetables, reheating lasagna or caramelizing the top of a casserole.
Similar to the bake element the broiler heating element transforms electrical energy into heat by the process of resistance. It consists of an inner core of wires that are wrapped in insulating perlite product. The inner core is then wrapped in an outer layer of stainless steel to protect the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer design helps to reduce the temperature of the broil element, making it more secure than the older models.
You can use any heating element to bake or broiling in your oven. However, you should choose one that is in line with your oven's rated wattage. A different wattage could harm your oven, or cause it overheat. The voltage and current ratings of the new heating elements are available on the control panel of your oven. This will allow you to examine the wattage and rating of your oven.
It is also advisable to check the resistance of your old element and compare it with the power output of your new broiler heating element. The higher the resistance, the more energy an oven element consumes.
If your broiler's heating element is acting up or doesn't work in any way, you should replace it as soon as possible. It's important that your oven function properly to cook your most loved food items. If, however, your oven isn't working at all or only intermittently, the issue could be in a different area of your oven.
Light Bulb and Assembly
The light allows you to keep an eye on the food that is cooking, without opening the door and let the heat escape. The light will also let you know when the casserole has been cooked. But it's not uncommon for the bulb to go out. It can be quite frustrating, but you can do it yourself. Make sure the breaker isn't tripped and that the connector has three prongs.
Take out the old bulb and then look for the new bulb. You may have to search online for the right replacement bulb that is compatible with the wattage of your oven. Some ovens use standard appliance bulbs that run at 40 watts, while others need an halogen lamp that can reach 50 watts. Consider using cotton gloves to shield halogen bulbs from the damage caused by oil.
Before you place the new bulb in, you should first remove it from its glass casing. It's important to take this step slowly to ensure that you don't fracture it. Then, you'll have to remove the air from the bulb and fill it with an amalgamation of gases. This will provide a longer life for the filament.
If your bulb is constantly being replaced, it may be a larger electrical problem that needs to be dealt with by an expert. Verify that you're using the correct oven bulb and look over your Use and Care Guide to get additional troubleshooting tips. And remember that it's always a good idea to unplug your oven and disconnect the power from the outlet prior to you begin any repair. This will help prevent being shocked by electricity.
Vent Tube
The vent tube is a vital oven part that allows for a tiny airflow inside the cavity. This allows the bake element to circulate heat throughout the oven, ensuring that the temperature is evenly distributed.
It also allows the vapors that are released from the oven to escape, as well as allows smoke to be drained away from the cooking surface. It is crucial for the efficient operation of any gas or electric oven.
Vents for ovens can become clogged or blocked by several reasons. Accidental spills or splatters can leave sticky residues on oven vents. These can draw in dust, debris and other contaminants that can cause obstructions in the course of time. Oil and grease can also be airborne and settle on vents. Other environmental factors, such as kitchen construction and renovations, can introduce dust and other contaminants into the vents, resulting in blockages or clogs.
Based on the oven model the vent tube may include an a bottle guide 20, spreader 46 and fill tip 12 that are integrally formed with the pipe 32. For example the bottle guide 20 could have a tapered exterior surface that compliments the complementarily tapered inner surface of the spreader 46, allowing the vent tube to be effortlessly placed into various sizes and designs of bottle necks.
A clogged or blocked vent tube can cause the loss of pressure inside the structure that surrounds it, which could result in a downdraft which pulls exhaust down vent and backwards through the oven burners, causing damage to the oven's components. Consult a professional if you suspect that your vent tube might be blocked or clogged. They will determine the cause and provide suggestions on how to clear or clean the vent.