A Look At The Myths And Facts Behind Oven
How to Repair Common Oven Parts
The oven is an appliance used in kitchens that is commonly used to cook food items. The heat generated by the oven sterilizes food items and kills the majority of micro-organisms that are present in them.
An accurate oven thermometer is a necessity for bakers of all kinds. Understanding how your oven works will help improve your baking and roasting skills and eliminate those frustrating hot spots that wreak havoc with cookies, cakes and other baked goods.
Thermostat
The thermostat is among the most crucial components of your oven, helping to make sure that the temperature of your food is in line with what you've set on your control panel. It could be a problem, just like any other switch or sensor that is electro-mechanical. The oven may overheat or underheat, or simply not keep the temperature you set.
The oven thermostat is tiny strips of two different metals joined. When exposed to heat, the different metals expand and flex at different rates, making or breaking an electrical circuit. When the thermostat's metal attains the temperature you've set on the control panel, it turns off the heating element's power. As the oven cools, the bimetallic strips contract in a circuit, re-establishing it and activating the heating element. This process continues to ensure a constant temperature in your oven.
The oven must be disconnected and all screws removed to identify the issue with the thermostat. Set your multimeter to the Ohms setting and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads zero or close to it then the thermostat is operating properly and doesn't need to be replaced.
If the multimeter isn't reading anything, then the thermostat is not working properly and needs to 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. The thermostats are available for purchase at a reasonable cost on the internet or in a Kitchen renovation products shop.
Bake Element
ovens and hobs can't be complete without the bake element which is the element that heats up to help your oven cook food. It's a simple component that transforms electricity into high temperatures for baking, roasting, and broiling. Electric ovens and ranges typically have heating elements, which 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 work by converting electrical energy into heat by the process of resistance, which then radiates through the oven's interior to raise the temperature to the desired level to cook various types of food items.
When you turn on your oven, the heating element begins to generate heat by the high-voltage electricity that flows across its metallic surface. The element is a coil or ribbon (straight or corrugated) of wire. When the electric current flows through it, it begins to get hotter. The element will glow red hot when it is at the desired temperature.
The baked element is the primary source of heat in most oven functions. It's usually found in the bottom of the oven, and is used to perform the self-cleaning function in many ovens with automatic cleaning. When it starts to smoke you may notice that your oven doesn't preheat as quickly or that your food isn't cooked through completely.
Connect your multimeter to its black and red ports. Then, you can press the probes made of metal on one end 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 element is warm to the contact. If not, take it off the element and test again.
Broil Element
The broil element, which is usually found at the top of your cavity, offers high heat to brown or char the food. The oven's broil setting can be ideal for quick sear meat, crisp vegetables, reheat lasagna or caramelize the top of a casserole.
The broiler heating element has a similarity to the bake element in that it converts electrical energy through resistance into heat. It consists of an inner core of wires made of metal wrapped in insulating expanded perlite material. The inner core of the element is then covered with an outer layer of stainless steel to shield the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer structure helps reduce the temperature of the broil element making it safer and more efficient than older types of elements.
While you can use any heating element in your oven, make sure to choose one that is in line with the rated wattage of your oven. A different wattage can damage your oven, or cause it to overheat. The current and voltage ratings of the new heating elements can be found on the control panel of your oven. This will allow you to check the power and rating of your oven.
You should also check the resistance of your old element and compare it to the power output of your new broiler heating element. The greater the resistance, the more the power that an oven element draws from.
Replace the element in your broiler immediately If it's not functioning or if it's acting up. Your oven needs to function properly for you to be able to cook your favourite meals. If your oven does not operate at all, or only intermittently, then the issue could be with another part.
Light Bulb and Assembly
The light lets you keep an eye on your food as it cooks without opening the door and let heat escape. The light also informs you when your casserole is ready. It's not unusual for the bulb to die. It can be frustrating but you can do it yourself. Check that the breaker is not tripped and that the connector has three prongs.
Take out the old bulb and then look for the new bulb. You may have to look online for a replacement bulb that is compatible with the wattage and model of your oven. Some ovens hobs use standard 40-watt appliance bulbs some require halogen bulbs up to 50 watts. Be aware that the oil in your hands can damage the halogen bulb, so it is recommended to use cotton gloves when handling it.
Remove the glass casing from the bulb before you replace it. It's important to do this slowly so that you don't break it. Then, you'll have to eliminate the air inside the bulb and fill it up with a mixture of gases. This will prolong the lifespan for the filament.
If your bulb keeps blinking, it could be a bigger electrical issue that must be dealt with by an expert. Make sure you double-check that you're using a correct bulb for your oven and look over your Use and Care Guide for more troubleshooting tips. Remember to unplug the oven and turn off the power before you start any repairs. This will keep you from being shocked by electricity.
Vent Tube
The vent tube is a crucial oven component because it allows a small amount of airflow within the cavity. This permits the bake element to circulate heat throughout the oven, making sure that the temperature is evenly distributed.
It also allows the vapors escape from the oven, and smoke to be drawn from the cooking surface. It is essential to ensure the proper operation of any electric or gas oven.
Oven vent tubes can become clogged or Best ovens blocked by several reasons. Accidental spills or splatters could leave sticky residues in oven vents. They can attract debris, dust and other contaminates that could cause blockages over time. Grease and oil particles may be blown into the air and settle around the vents, too. Other environmental factors such as construction and kitchen renovations can cause dust to enter the vents. This can lead to clogs.
Based on the type of the oven the vent tube may comprise a spreader 46 and an fill tip 12 and the bottle guide 20 which are integrally formed into the pipe 32. For example, the bottle guide 20 might have a tapered outer surface that compliments the complementarily tapered inner surface of the spreader 46 to allow the vent tube to be effortlessly placed into various sizes and shapes of bottle necks.
A blocked vent tube could cause a reduction in pressure inside the enclosure which could cause a downdraft that pulls exhaust backwards and then down the vent, causing damage to oven's components. If you believe that your vent tube is clogged or blocked, consult a professional for help. They will determine the cause and make recommendations on how to clean or clean the vent.