A Guide To Oven From Beginning To End
How to Repair Common Oven Parts
The oven is an appliance in the kitchen that is commonly used to cook food items. The heat generated by the oven sterilizes food and kills the majority of microorganisms.
A precise oven thermometer is an essential for all bakers. Knowing how your oven functions will help improve your baking and roasting abilities and eliminate those frustrating hot spots that wreak havoc with cakes, cookies and other baked items.
Thermostat
The thermostat is an essential part of your oven. It is used to ensure that the temperature of food matches the temperature you set on the control panel. As with any electro mechanical switch or sensor it can sometimes have problems that result in the oven going over or under heat, or not be able to keep the temperature at what you've set.
The oven thermostat is tiny strips of two different metals that are joined. When heated to a certain temperature, the two metals expand or bend at different rates. This creates an electrical circuit. When the metal in your thermostat reaches the temperature you have set on the control panel it will shut off the heating element's power. As the oven cools it expands the bimetallic strip, re-establishing circuit and turning on heating element. This process continues to ensure that the temperature remains constant in your oven.
You'll need the oven disconnected and all screws removed in order to determine 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 properly and doesn't need to be changed.
If the multimeter fails to detect anything, the thermostat is faulty. It must be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a brand new one of the same type as the one you have. These thermostats are available at a reasonable cost online or at the kitchen store.
Bake Element
Ovens aren't complete without the bake element, which provides heat to make your oven cook food. It's a basic element that converts electricity into the high temperatures needed to bake, roast, and broiling. Electric ovens and ranges typically contain heating elements, which can be either exposed or hidden under the floor.
In general, oven heating elements are constructed of high-resistance materials such as nickel-chromium alloy. They convert electricity into heat through resistance. The heat then radiates through the interior of the oven to attain the temperature required to cook different kinds of food.
When you start your oven, the heating element begins to produce heat through the high-voltage electricity flowing across its metal surface. The element is a ribbon or coil (straight or corrugated) of wire, and when the electric current flows through it, it starts to get hotter. The element will turn red hot when it reaches the desired temperature.
The baked element is the main source of heat used in most oven functions. It is typically located at the lower levels of the oven. Many ovens with automatic heating also have it for self-cleaning. When it starts to get hot, you might find that your oven isn't able to preheat as quickly or that your food is not cooked through completely.
Connect your multimeter to its black and red ports. Then, press the metal probes on one side of the element against each other. The other end of the element on one terminal and place your hand on it. If the element feels warm, remove it and try testing it again. If it's not, take off the element and start testing again.
Broil Element
The broil element is typically located at the upper part of the oven cavity and provides the same high temperature as grills to roast or grill food items. The broil setting in 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 consists of an inner core of wires made of metal wrapped in insulating expanded perlite material. The inner core is encased in an outer layer of stainless steel to protect the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer design can help reduce the temperature of the broil element, making it more secure than older styles.
While you may use any heating element in your oven, make sure to choose one that is in line with the wattage rating of your oven. A different wattage can damage 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 current and voltage ratings on the oven's control panel.
It is also advisable to check the resistance of your previous element and compare it to the wattage of your new broiler heating element. The greater the resistance of an oven element, the more power it draws.
If your broiler's heating element is not working or functions at all, you should replace it right away. Your oven needs to function properly for you to be able to cook your favorite meals. If your oven does not function at all, or only intermittently, then the issue could be with another part.
Light Bulb and Assembly
The oven light lets you keep an eye on the food while it cooks without having to open the door to let heat escape. The light will also let you know when the casserole has been cooked. It's not unusual for the bulb to go. This can be frustrating, but it's a relatively easy repair that you can tackle yourself. Before you start, make sure that the breaker hasn't been tripped and that the three-prong connector is in good condition.
Take out the old bulb and then find the new one. You may have to search online to find the correct replacement bulb that matches the wattage of your oven. Some ovens have standard appliances with bulbs of 40 watts and others require a halogen lamp up to 50 watts. Consider using cotton gloves to shield halogen bulbs from damage caused by oil.
Remove the glass casing from the bulb prior to replacing it. It's crucial to take this step slowly to ensure that you don't fracture it. Then, you'll need to remove the air from the bulb and replace it with a mixture. ovens and hobs will extend the filament life.
If your light bulb is constantly going out it could be an electrical issue that requires the assistance of a professional. Make sure you're using the correct oven bulb and look over your Use and Care Guide to find more help in troubleshooting. And remember that it's always a good idea to unplug your oven and disconnect it from the outlet prior to you start any repair. This will help protect you from electric shock.
Vent Tube
The vent tube is an essential oven component that permits a small airflow inside the cavity. This allows the bake element to circulate heat throughout the oven, making sure that the temperature is distributed evenly.
It also allows vapors from the oven to escape as well as allows smoke to be removed from the cooking surface. It is essential for proper functioning of any gas or electric oven.
Vents in ovens can get blocked by a variety of factors. Accidental spills or splatters may leave sticky remnants in oven vents. They may attract dust, debris and other contaminates that could cause clogs over time. Grease and oil particles can be blown into the air and settle around the vents, too. Other environmental factors such as kitchen and construction projects can introduce dust into the vents. This can cause clogs.
Based on the oven model the vent tube may include the bottle guide 20 or spreader 46 as well as a fill tip 12 that are formed by the pipe 32. For instance, the bottle guide 20 might have a tapered outer surface that is complemented by the tapered inner surface of the spreader 46. This allows the vent tube to be effortlessly placed into various sizes and shapes of bottle necks.
A clogged or blocked vent tube could cause a loss of pressure within the structure that surrounds it, which can create a downdraft situation that pulls exhaust down the vent and backwards towards the oven's burners, causing damage to the oven components. If you think that your vent tube is clogged or blocked, call a professional for help. They will identify the problem and offer suggestions on how to clear or clean the vent.