What Is Oven And How To Utilize It
How to Repair Common Oven Parts
The oven is an appliance used in kitchens that is used to cook food items. The heat generated by the oven sterilizes food items and kills the majority of microorganisms.
An accurate oven thermometer is essential for bakers of all kinds. Understanding how your oven works will help improve your baking and roasting skills and eliminate those annoying hot spots that cause havoc with cookies, cakes and other baked goods.
Thermostat
The thermostat is among the most crucial components of your oven, helping to ensure that the temperature of your food matches what you've set in the control panel. As with any electro mechanical switch or sensor it may have issues that can cause the oven to over heat or under heat, or not be able to keep the temperature at what you've set.
The oven thermostat is essentially a small strip of two different metals bonded together. When heated the different metals expand and bend at different rates, forming or breaking an electrical circuit. When the metal in the thermostat attains the temperature you've set on your control panel it shuts off the heating element's power. As the oven cools it expands the bimetallic strip in a circuit, re-establishing it and turning on heating element. This cycle continues for a long time to ensure a constant oven temperature.
To identify a problem with the thermostat, you'll need to disconnect the oven and make sure that all of the screws that hold it in place have been removed. If you own a multimeter (which is a device that detects the electrical current) set it to the ohms level and then test the thermostat. If the multimeter reads 0 or very close to it, then the thermostat is working correctly and doesn't need to be replaced.
If the multimeter does not read anything, it's likely that the thermostat is faulty and needs to be replaced. Cooker Spare Parts recommends that you replace the thermostat with a fresh one of the same kind as your old one. The thermostats are available for purchase at a reasonable cost online or in the kitchen store.
Bake Element
Ovens are not complete without the bake element which is the element that heats up to help your oven cook food. It's a basic element that converts electricity into the high temperatures required for baking, roasting, and broiling. Heating elements are commonly found in electric ovens and ranges and can be either uncovered or hidden under the floor of the oven.
The majority of oven heating elements are constructed of high-resistance materials such as nickel-chromium alloy. They work by converting electrical energy into heat via the process of resistance, which radiates outwards into the oven's interior to raise the temperature to the desired level to cook various types of food items.
When you start your oven the heating element starts to work by generating heat by the high-voltage electricity moving across its metal surface. The element is a coil or ribbon (straight or corrugated) of wire, and as the electric current flows through it, it starts to get hotter. When the element reaches the temperature it is intended to it starts to glow red hot.
The baked element is the main source of heat in most oven and hob functions. It is typically located at the in the bottom of the oven. A lot of ovens that are automated also have it for self-cleaning. If it starts to get hot, you might notice that your oven doesn't heat up as fast or that your food is not cooked through completely.
To determine if you have a functioning oven baking element plug your multimeter into its black and red ports, and then place the probes made of steel against each other on the opposite side of your device. The other end should be placed against one of its terminals, and then place your hands on it to test whether the baking element is warm to the touch. If it's not, remove the element and try again.
Broil Element
The broil element is typically located in the upper part of the oven and can provide the same high temperature as grills to roast or grill food items. The oven's broil setting is a great way to quickly grill meat or crisp vegetables, to heat up lasagna or caramelize the top of a casserole.
Similar to the bake element, the broiler heating element converts electrical energy into heat via the process of resistance. It is composed of an inner core comprised of metal wires, wrapped in an insulating and expanded product called perlite. The inner core is then enclosed in an outer layer of stainless steel to shield the wires from direct contact with the oven. The three-layer design helps to reduce the temperature of the broil element, making it safer than older designs.
While you can use any baking or broiling heating element in your oven, make sure to select one that is compatible with the wattage rating of your oven. A different wattage could cause damage to your oven or cause it overheat. You can determine the power of your oven hob and oven the rating of the new heating element by checking their voltage and current ratings on the oven's control panel.
You should also test the resistance of your previous element and compare it to the power of the new broiler heating element. The greater the resistance of an oven element, the more power it draws.
If your broiler's heating element is malfunctioning or isn't working in any way, you should replace it as soon as possible. Your oven must work properly to be able to cook your favorite meals. If, however, your oven is not working at all, or is only working intermittently, the problem could be with a different part of your oven.
Light Bulb and Assembly
The light allows you to keep an eye on your food as it cooks without opening the doors and letting 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 frustrating but you can do it yourself. Check that the breaker isn't tripped and that the connector has three prongs.
Remove the old bulb and then find the new one. You may have to look online to find a replacement that matches the wattage and type of your oven. Some ovens and hobs utilize normal appliance bulbs of 40 watts some require a halogen lamp up to 50 watts. It is recommended to use cotton gloves to shield the bulbs from damage caused by oil.
Remove the glass casing of the bulb prior to replacing it. You should do slowly to avoid breaking it. Then, you'll need to remove the air from the bulb and replace it with a mixture. This will extend the lifespan of the filament.
If your bulb keeps going out, there could be a wider electrical problem that needs to be handled by an expert. Verify that you're using the correct oven bulb and check your Use and Care Guide for more help in troubleshooting. Be sure to unplug your oven and turn off the power prior to beginning any repairs. This will help protect you from electrical shock.
Vent Tube
The vent tube is a crucial oven element because it allows a small amount of airflow to be created within the cavity. This allows the bake element to circulate heat throughout the oven, ensuring that the temperature is evenly distributed.
It also allows the vapors be released from the oven, and smoke to be drained from the cooking surface. It is essential to ensure the proper operation of any gas or electric oven.
Oven vent tubes may become blocked due to many factors. Accidental spills and splatters from cooking can leave sticky residues on oven vents, which could attract dust and other particles which can lead to blockages or clogs in the course of time. Grease and oil particles can become airborne and settle around the vents, as well. Other environmental factors like kitchen and construction work can introduce dust into the vents. This can cause clogs.
Based on the model of the oven, the vent tube can comprise a spreader 46 and the fill tip 12, and the bottle guide 20 which are incorporated into the pipe 32. For example, the bottle guide 20 could have a tapered outer layer that is complemented by the tapered inner surface of the spreader 46. This allows the vent tube to be smoothly placed into various sizes and forms of bottle necks.
A clogged or blocked vent tube can result in the loss of pressure inside the structure that surrounds it, which can create a downdraft situation which pulls exhaust down vent and backwards towards the oven burners, causing damage to the oven's components. If you believe that your vent tube is clogged or blocked, contact a professional for help. They will identify the issue and give suggestions for clearing or cleaning the vent.