How To Tell if Your Oven Is Accurate and Working Correctly

Have you ever wondered why your cake isn’t cooking properly or why your roast is taking longer than the recipe suggested? An inaccurate oven temperature can be the culprit behind many kitchen mishaps. To ensure everything you bake, cook, and roast comes out just right, it’s important to check that your oven is functioning properly. Read on to learn how to tell if your oven is accurate and working correctly.

Checking Your Oven Temperature

Something may be wrong with your oven if all the food you cook is underdone or burnt despite your close attention to the recipe. Use a thermometer to test the temperature accuracy and see if something is wrong. Begin by turning on the oven and giving it time to preheat before placing the thermometer inside the oven. It should go in the center of the middle rack.

Once the thermometer is in the oven, leave it inside for two hours, checking every 30 minutes to confirm that the temperature remains steady over time.

If you notice temperatures continue to climb on the internal thermometer, note the changes for every 30-minute check. Continue doing this until the needle stops moving. You can share this information with the repair technician when explaining the problem with your appliance.

Pro Tip

It may be best to avoid using your oven until you get it repaired. High temperatures can create fire hazards, especially if you cook a dish with a lot of grease or butter. If these oils get on the heating element, the results could be disastrous.

Dealing With Inaccurate Temperatures

If your oven fails to reach the desired temperature, you can take various steps to troubleshoot and address the issue. First, use an oven thermometer to test the accuracy of your oven’s temperature readings. If the reading doesn’t match the set temperature, you’ll need to calibrate your oven. While you can attempt to do this yourself by adjusting the temperature control knob, it’s best to contact a professional for the job.

Gas Ovens

Cleaning out built-up residue or removing debris that is blocking the burner from reaching its optimal heat level may be necessary for gas ovens. Grease and food particles can easily clog up a burner, so make sure that it is free from any debris before lighting. Additionally, check the igniter for proper functionality, which is often a common issue in older models.

Electric Ovens

Electric ovens typically fare better than gas models in terms of temperature accuracy. However, they may still experience heating issues due to a faulty element or other electrical problems. If this is the case, it’s best not to attempt DIY repairs, as you could potentially cause further damage and harm yourself. Instead, contact an electrician or appliance repair person who can safely diagnose and fix any electrical problems with your oven.

Other Signs of a Broken Oven

Aside from inaccurate temperature readings, there are other ways to tell if your oven is accurate and working correctly. Depending on what broke, your oven may display other signs that you need to repair it. Some common signs that indicate your appliance may require repairs include the following:

  • Long preheat times
  • Buzzing or clunking sounds
  • Uneven cooking

Below, we go into more detail on each of these signs so that you can determine whether one of these issues may be the cause of your problem.

Excessive Preheating Times

If your oven takes an abnormally long time to preheat, this is a sign that something is wrong, and you need to evaluate the issue. A problem with the heating element, thermostat, gas regulator, or pilot light could be to blame.

Strange Noises

Unusual noises from your oven while preheating or baking can indicate an issue with the motor or fan blades. If your oven is making clunking, humming, buzzing, or clicking noises during use, you should have it inspected by a professional.

Uneven Cooking

If you notice that food isn’t cooking evenly in your oven, there could be an issue with the temperature sensor or heating elements. These components are responsible for maintaining consistent heat throughout the chamber. You won’t get consistent cooking results if they’re not working correctly.

Prevent Damage: Maintain Your Oven

Keeping up regular maintenance on your oven is key to ensuring its continued accuracy in temperature regulation over time. This means occasionally cleaning out vents, checking door seals for proper closure, and replacing any broken knobs or dials that may affect correct settings.

If can also be helpful to verify that pots and pans are completely clean before use; any grease, food residue, or other build-ups on cooking surfaces can disrupt heat distribution within the oven. Additionally, placing too many dishes in one space can cause hot spots and further throw off temperatures.

Sometimes, preventing damage to the oven is unavoidable. Factors such as age and faulty manufacturing can impact your oven no matter how well you care for it. When signs of wear occur, it’s time to call a professional for the necessary repairs.

Contacting a Repair Company

No matter the type of oven you have or the problem you’re experiencing with it, keep an eye out for potential issues related to temperature accuracy, especially if it seems like your food isn’t cooking evenly or consistently.

Tips for Finding a Company

Begin your search by reading through customer reviews online to get an idea of the quality of services different companies offer. You can also ask for recommendations from friends and family members who have recently had oven repairs done. Another important step is to verify the credentials of any repair company you are considering.

While searching, it’s also vital that you verify the company has insurance and the necessary certifications to work on ovens. Every appliance brand is a bit different, so you should also check that the company you hire has the training to work on your specific oven.

Appliance Recovery

If you live in Arlington, TX, contact Appliance Recovery for your oven repair. We work on gas and electric ovens from a wide variety of brands. Our skilled team of professionals will closely inspect why your oven can’t heat properly and perform other necessary fixes. Contact us for incredible service and appliance repairs!

How To Tell if Your Oven Is Accurate and Working Correctly