What Oven Will Be Your Next Big Obsession?
How to Repair Common Oven Parts
The oven is an appliance used in kitchens that is used to cook food items. The heat from the oven sterilizes food and kills the majority of micro-organisms in them.
Every baker needs an accurate oven thermometer. Knowing how your oven works will improve your baking cooking, roasting and cooking skills. It will also help eliminate those annoying hot spots which can ruin cakes, cookies and baked items.
Thermostat
The thermostat is one of the most important parts of your oven, assisting to make sure that the temperature of your food matches what you've set in the control panel. However, just like any other electro mechanical switch or sensor it may have issues that cause the oven to over heat or under heat, or just not be able to maintain the temperature at the level you've set.
The oven thermostat is basically tiny strips of two different metals that are connected. When heated by the oven, the metals expand and bend at different rates. This creates an electrical circuit. When the metal in the thermostat is at the temperature you've set on the control panel, it shuts off heating element's power. When the oven cools down the bimetallic strip expands in a way, reestablishing the circuit and turning on the heating element. This cycle is repeated continuously to ensure that the oven remains at a constant temperature.
You'll need the oven disconnected and all screws removed to identify the problem with the thermostat. Set your multimeter to the Ohms setting, and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads zero or close to zero it means that the thermostat is working correctly and does not need to be replaced.
If the multimeter doesn't read anything, the thermostat is faulty. It must be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts suggests that you replace your thermostat with a similar type as the old one. These thermostats are available at a reasonable cost online or at a kitchen products shop.
Bake Element
Ovens are not complete without the bake element which provides heat to make your oven cook food. It's a simple component that converts electricity into high temperatures for baking, roasting and broiling. Heating elements are typically found in electric ranges and ovens, and they can be either uncovered or hidden under the oven's floor.
The majority of oven heating elements are constructed from high-resistance materials like nickel-chromium alloy. They convert electrical energy into heat via the process of resistance which then radiates through the oven interior to raise the temperature to the desired level for cooking different types of food.
When you start your oven the heating element starts to produce heat through the high-voltage electricity that flows across its metallic surface. The element is a ribbon or coil (straight or corrugated) of wire, and when the electric current passes through it, it starts to heat up. The element will glow red hot when it reaches the temperature you want.
The baked element is the main source of heat in most oven functions. It's usually found at the bottom of the oven and is used to clean the oven in many ovens with automatic cleaning. When it begins to smoke you may find that your oven isn't able to heat up as fast or that your food is not fully cooked.
To check for a working oven baking element, plug your multimeter into its red and black ports, then rub the probes made of metal against each other on one side of your device. The other end should be placed against one of its terminals and put your hand on it to feel whether the baking element is warm to the touch. If not, remove it and try again.
Broil Element
The broil element, typically located at the top of the cavity, provides high temperatures to brown or char the food. Broil settings in ovens are a great way to quickly sear meat crisp vegetables, heat lasagna, or caramelize the topping of the casserole.
The broiler heating element is comparable to the bake element in that it converts electrical energy by resistance into heat. It is composed of an inner core comprised of metal wires, wrapped in an insulating and expanded product called perlite. The inside of the element is covered with an outer layer of stainless steel to protect the wires against direct contact with the oven. The three-layer structure helps reduce the broil element's temperature making it safer and more efficient than the older designs of elements.
You can use any heating element you want to use for baking or broiling in your oven. But, you must choose one that is in line with the wattage of your oven's rating. A different wattage may harm your oven, or cause it overheat. You can verify the wattage of your oven and the rating of the new heating element by looking at their voltage and current ratings on the control panel of your oven.
Verify oven and hob of your old element, and compare it with the wattage rating of the new one. The higher the resistance, the more the power that an oven element draws from.
Replace the element in your broiler immediately If it's not working or is acting up. It is crucial for your oven to function properly so that you can cook all of your favorite foods. If your oven isn't working in any way or only intermittently, the problem could lie with another part of your oven.
Light Bulb and Assembly
The light lets you keep an eye on your food while it cooks without opening the door and let heat escape. The light also alerts you when your casserole is ready. It's not uncommon for the light bulb to fail. It can be a hassle, but it's a relatively simple fix that you can accomplish yourself. Before you start, make sure that the breaker hasn't tripped and that the three-prong connector remains intact.
Take out the old bulb and then locate the new one. You may need to search the internet for a replacement bulb that matches the wattage and type of your oven. Some use standard 40-watt appliance bulbs some require halogen bulbs up to 50 watts. Be aware that the oil from your hands can damage a halogen bulb, so it is recommended to use cotton gloves when handling it.
Before putting the new bulb in place, you should first take it out of its glass casing. It's crucial to take this step slowly to ensure that you don't break it. After that, you'll need to evacuate the air inside the bulb and fill it with an amalgamation of gases. This will ensure a longer lifespan of the filament.
If your bulb is constantly going out, there could be a bigger electrical issue that must be addressed by an expert. Be sure to double check that you're using the right bulb for your oven and consult your Use and Care Guide for more troubleshooting tips. Remember to unplug the oven and turn off the power prior to beginning any repairs. This will keep you from suffering an electric shock.
Vent Tube
The vent tube is a crucial oven part as it allows for a small amount of airflow inside the cavity. This permits the bake element to circulate heat throughout the oven, ensuring that the temperature is evenly distributed.
It also allows vapors to be released from the oven, and smoke to be drawn from the cooking surface. It is essential for proper operation of any gas or electric oven.
Vents in ovens can get clogged or blocked by several reasons. Accidental spills or splatters may leave sticky residues in oven vents. They can attract dust, debris and other contaminants that could cause obstructions over time. Oil and grease can also become airborne and then settle on vents. Other environmental factors like construction and kitchen renovations can introduce dust into the vents. This can cause clogs.
Based on the type of the oven the vent tube may comprise a spreader 46, a fill tip 12, and an a bottle guide 20 that are incorporated into the pipe 32. The bottle guide 20 can be fitted with a tapered outer edge that is complemented by the tapered inside edge of the spreader to allow the vent tubes to be inserted smoothly into different sizes and shapes bottle necks.
A blocked vent tube could cause a loss in pressure inside the enclosure, which can cause an exhaust downdraft, which pulls the exhaust backwards and down the vent, causing damage to the oven's components. If you think that your vent tube is clogged or blocked, consult an expert for assistance. They will diagnose the problem and offer suggestions for removing or cleaning the vent.