Tired of cookies coming out burnt and roasts resembling charcoal? An oven likely responsible. Here is a list outlining some of the most common reasons why this happens along with how to fix them for you to explore before calling an appliance repair specialist:
- Temperature is set incorrectly:
- Temperature is not regulated: This most often occurs when the oven thermostat is broken. This causes heat inside to constantly exceed the level that was set resulting in meals being ruined as they become overcooked.
- Use a thermometer: You can manually set the temperature by using an oven thermometer and adjusting the pre-heating temperature accordingly. The thermometer should be kept still until the temperature matches the one set in the oven. If the difference in temperatures is too high, the thermostat will need to be replaced.
- Calibration Issues: Calibration is lost over time which causes temperature misalignment.
- Hot air pockets or cold spots:
- Heating Element Cuts: A heat spot can be caused by either a damaged or even misaligned heating element, this consistently creates problems as some foods are forced to be overcooked while others remain raw.
- Obstructed vents: Even vent structures can lead to stuck cold air meaning the heating baster will never work to its maximum efficiency, always ensuring that the obstructions are cleaned around the vents.
- Other aspects of cooking:
- Overcrowding: Regardless of how much food is being cooked, if there are no free empty spaces in the oven, the food will be cooked poorly and will be burnt.
- Incorrect positioning of the oven rack: This most often depends on what type of meal is being cooked and how, and depending on this the ideal oven position can change, simply experiment with the rack and try different meals to find the perfect spot.
- Other Things:
- Epic Oven Mess: It’s crucial to clean out the oven on a regular basis, as grease can accumulate and turn into a fire hazard since it can interfere with heating elements. Always follow the manufacturers instructions!
- The Age Factor: Older models of ovens tend to be less effective due to changed components. This theoretically means that any cooked dishes do not have the same level of taste every time it is cooked.
When to Seek Help from Specialists:
If a heating element, thermostat or some component seems to be damaged, it’s advised to get in touch with an appliance refurbishment specialist. Complex oven repairs aren’t advisable as they can risk your safety as well as suspension of warranty.
Don’t Burn the Food:
- Watch over it: While cooking, keep observing the meal throughout the process.
- Using an Oven Thermometer: Invest in a good thermometer to aid in checking the temperature within your oven.
- Modifying the Cooking Timings: In the case where your food seems to get burnt often, change the time settings and increase it.
- Rotate Baking Trays: As the food is baking, turn its trays at least once to maintain proper browning.
Taking care of the aforementioned points would allow you to prepare food without burning it and make sure they are baked evenly in the oven.