Five Oven Lessons From The Pros
How to Repair Common Oven Parts
The oven is a kitchen appliance that is typically used to cook food. The heat generated by the oven sterilizes food and kills the majority of microorganisms.
All bakers require an accurate oven thermometer. Understanding how your oven functions will help improve your baking, roasting and cooking skills. It will also help eliminate those annoying hot spots which can cause damage to cakes, cookies and baked products.
Thermostat
The thermostat is one of the most vital components of your oven, helping make sure that the temperature of your food is exactly the temperature you've set on the control panel. As with any electro mechanical switch or sensor it may have issues that cause the oven to over heat or under heat, or simply not be able to maintain the temperature you've set.
The oven thermostat is basically an extremely small strip of two different metals bonded together. When exposed to heat the various metals expand and contract at different rates, creating or breaking 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 contract in a circuit, re-establishing it and turning on heating element. This process is repeated repeatedly to maintain a constant oven temperature.
To identify a problem with the thermostat, you'll need to disconnect the oven and ensure that all of the screws that hold it in place have been removed. Set your multimeter to the Ohms setting, and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads 0 or very close to it the thermostat is working correctly and doesn't need to be replaced.
If the multimeter does not read anything at all, then the thermostat is not working properly and needs to be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts suggests that you replace your thermostat with one of the same model as the one you have. The thermostats are sold at a reasonable cost online or in a kitchen goods shop.
Bake Element
Ovens can't be complete without the bake element which is the element that heats up to help your oven cook food. Best place to buy oven and hob 's a basic element that converts electricity into the high temperatures required for baking, roasting and broiling. Electric ovens and ranges typically have heating elements, which can be exposed or hidden beneath the floor.
Generally, oven heating elements are constructed from high-resistance components like nickel-chromium alloy. They convert electricity into heat via resistance. This heat then radiates through the interior of the oven to reach the temperature required for cooking different types foods.
When you start your oven, the heating element begins to produce heat from the high-voltage electrical energy moving across its metal surface. The element is a ribbon or coil (straight or corrugated) of wire, and when the electric current passes through it, it starts to increase in temperature. The element will appear red hot when it is at the desired temperature.
The baked element is the primary source of heat used in most oven functions. It's usually located in the bottom of the oven, and is used to perform the self-cleaning function in a variety of ovens that are automatic. You may be noticing that the oven doesn't warm up as quickly, or that your food hasn't cooked completely.
Plug your multimeter in to its black and red ports. Then, press the probes made of metal on one end of the element against each other. Place the other end of the element on one terminal and place your hand on it. If the element feels warm, take it off it and test it again. If not, take it off and try again.
Broil Element
The broil element, usually located on the top of your cavity allows high-temperature heat to brown or char foods. The broil setting of your oven is an excellent choice for quickly searing meat or vegetables, crisping them up, reheating lasagna or caramelizing the top of the casserole.
Similar to the bake element, the broiler heating element converts electrical energy into heat through the process of resistance. It is made up of an internal core of wires that are wrapped in insulating perlite material. The core of the element is covered with a stainless steel outer layer to shield the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer structure reduces the broil element's temperature making it more durable and safer than older types of elements.
You can use any heating element to bake or broiling in your oven. However, it is important to choose one that is compatible with the wattage that your oven is rated for. A different wattage could cause damage to your oven or cause it overheat. The voltage and current ratings of the latest heating elements can be found on the control panel of your oven. This allows you to determine the ratings and wattage of your oven.
You should also check the resistance of your previous element and compare it to the wattage of your new broiler heating element. The higher the resistance, the more energy an oven element consumes.
Replace your broiler element immediately in the event that it isn't working or is acting up. Your oven needs to function properly for you to be able to cook your favorite foods. If your oven isn't functioning at all or only intermittently, the issue could lie with another part of your oven.
Light Bulb and Assembly
The oven light helps keep an eye on your food as it cooks, without having to open the door to let heat escape. The light will also notify you when the casserole is finished. It's not uncommon for the light bulb to fail. It can be a hassle, but you can do it yourself. Before you begin, make sure that the breaker hasn't tripped and that the three-prong connector remains intact.
Take out the old bulb and then find the new one. It is possible to look online for a replacement that matches the wattage and type of oven you have. Some appliances use standard 40-watt bulbs and others require halogen bulbs up to 50 watts. Be aware that the oils from your hands could damage the halogen bulb, so you should use cotton gloves when handling it.
Before you place the new bulb in place it is important to first take it out of its glass casing. ovens and hobs uk should do this slowly to avoid breaking it. Then, you'll need to remove the air from the bulb and replace it with the mixture. This ensures a longer life for the filament.
If your light bulb is always going out, there could be a wider electrical issue that must be dealt with by a professional. Make sure you're using the correct oven bulb and check your Use and Care Guide to get additional troubleshooting tips. Be sure to unplug your oven and shut off the power before beginning any repairs. This will help protect your from electrical shock.
Vent Tube
The vent tube is a crucial oven element because it allows a small amount of airflow inside the cavity. This allows the bake element to circulate heat throughout the oven and ensures that the temperature is evenly distributed.
It also allows the vapors to 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 for ovens can become clogged by various reasons. Accidental spills and splatters during cooking can leave sticky residues on the oven vents, which can attract dust and other debris that could eventually cause obstructions or blockages over time. Grease and oil particles may become airborne and settle around the vents, too. Other environmental factors, like kitchen renovations and construction work, can introduce dust or other pollutants into the vents, leading to clogs or blockages.
Based on the model of the oven, the vent tube can comprise a spreader 46, an fill tip 12 and the bottle guide 20 which are incorporated into the pipe 32. For instance, the bottle guide 20 may have a tapered outer surface which is in harmony with the tapered inner surface of the spreader 46 to allow the vent tube to be easily inserted into different sizes and designs of bottle necks.
A blocked or clogged vent tube can cause the loss of pressure inside the structure that surrounds it, which could result in a downdraft that pushes exhaust down the vent and then backwards over the oven burners, causing damage to the oven components. Consult a professional if you think your vent pipe could be blocked or clogged. They will identify the issue and give suggestions for clearing or cleaning the vent.