Another item I ordered from Rolling Acres Housewares when I ordered the new dish drainboard was an oven thermometer, which only cost $4.00.
I have always suspected that our oven ran hot and so I would adjust the temperature accordingly. I always checked on dishes before their cooking time was up, because nine times out of ten the items would already be done. But I didn't realize how off the oven was until I bought a real oven thermometer.
This oven was set to 400 degrees in the photo above. According to Cook's Illustrated, ovens cycle off and on to maintain a stable temperature. In their experiment they found that one out of the four thermometers they tested registered temperatures from 10 to 25 degrees off the real oven temperature.
Being able to heat your oven to the temperature called for in the recipe will mean that the results will be more reliable. If a recipe states to cook your dinner for 45 minutes at 425 degrees, but your oven, set to 425, is actually 375, it’s going to take a lot longer to cook.
My oven fluctuated widely on the day I checked it going as high as 500 degrees and cooling off to 375 degrees after I opened the door to check the temperature. Even though I suspected my oven ran hot, which it does, I can now adjust the temperature I set the oven on to reflect that.
Belinda
~ Living within our Means ~
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What a great tool-and not having to replace an oven. Since we just replaced appliances two years ago, I have not noticed any fluctuation, but as appliances are not made like they used to be, I'm guessing at some point I'll experience the same.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sam.
DeleteYes, our oven was bought in 1986 when the house was built, so it's very old. I'm not surprised it fluctuates as much as it does.
Tommy's oven was here when he bought the house in 1980, so no telling how old it is. When I tried to use the oven, I overcooked everything. I bought an oven thermometer and it was running 50 degrees hotter than I set it. I told him this and he was alarmed, thinking it meant a new oven. He was very relieved when I told him I could set it fifty degrees less than called for in a recipe.
ReplyDeleteThat is terrific, setting the thermostat lower to achieve better results. I'm sure he was a happy man!
DeleteWow, that's a huge difference! I think my oven is pretty accurate, but what a great gadget to have so you know exactly how much you need to adjust.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely, Martha. :)
DeleteHi Belinda :) I had to get an oven thermometer too because suddenly my baking SUCKED!!! And I knew it wasn't me (thankfully lol) My oven fluctuates wildly. If I set the temperature for 400, it sometimes goes all the way up to 500, sometimes it sticks to 350...very frustrating. The thermometer helps though. But...after a few weeks, it gets all dark and it's hard to read!
ReplyDeleteI read that can happen to the thermometers, Rain. I guess some people do not leave theirs in the oven all the time. That is what I do though, so mine will probably get dark too.
DeleteWhat a great idea to get an oven thermometer! That will definitely help to keep the temperature right.
ReplyDeleteWe bought this house 20 years ago, it has double wall ovens, and I always thought the bottom one seemed to be hotter and burn things. I need to put a thermometer in it to check, but I usually turn the temp down 25-50 degrees from what a recipe says, and I try not to bake cookies or cakes in it.
That is a good idea, not to bake cookies or cakes in the lower oven. we have a lower oven too, and I don't use it for that very reason. It dos not heat well at all.
DeleteSounds like you should try recalibrating the oven's thermostat: https://stressbaking.com/how-to-calibrate-your-oven/#:~:text=Calibrating%20the%20oven's%20thermostat,need%20to%20call%20a%20technician.&text=Ovens%20with%20dial%20knob%3A%20Pull,set%20screw%20in%20the%20middle.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing this information, Carol. Sounds like what I need todo for sure.
DeleteI noticed that our oven runs hot and always decrease temps by 25 degrees.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good idea, Kim.
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