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Oven FAQs
Whether you’re looking to purchase your first oven, or you already own one, you’re bound to have a few questions. In this article we’ll talk about how ovens work, how to clean your oven, and what might be behind some of the most common problems people have with them.
How Do I Clean My Oven?
For a detailed guide on cleaning your oven, read our article How to Clean Your Oven. However, here is a quick and easy-to-follow walkthrough of what you need to do to clean your oven:
- Remove all internal sections e.g. shelves and trays.
- Soak them in warm and soapy water.
- Using a scourer and your cleaning product of choice, scrub the inside of the oven.
- Using a sponge and warm water, wipe down the internal surfaces of the oven.
- Wait for everything to dry.
- Place the internal sections back within your oven.
- Clean the outside of the oven.
Which Oven is The Best for Me?
With so many brands and models available, picking your new oven can be a tricky task. Whether you’re choosing between an electric or gas oven; a double oven or single oven; or any other number of combinations, we’re here to help.
Before beginning your search you should ask yourself:
- How large do you need your new oven to be?
- Do you need a built-in/built-under oven or can your new oven be freestanding?
- What colour would you like your new oven to be?
- What additional features should your oven have?
If you would like to make your selection process as simple as possible then check out our article Kitchen Ovens: A Buying Guide.
Invest in classic performance for your kitchen with our range of Ovens. With models from top, market-leading brands, and free delivery available when you buy online today, save money at Appliance City!
Why Won’t My Oven Heat Up?
There are many reasons why your oven might not be heating up.
- Is the gas connection to your oven faulty or has it been fitted incorrectly?
- If your oven is powered by gas, is the ignitor broken?
- If your oven is electric, is the heating element broken?
- Does your oven need to be recalibrated? (this may well be the case if the oven is heating but isn’t reaching the correct temperature)
If your oven is not getting hot and you have been unable to identify the source of the problem, either through the list above or by your own means, then we recommend consulting a professional.
Why Does My Oven Need To Be Preheated?
You’ve probably noticed that most cooking instructions require you to preheat your oven – but what is preheating and why is it so important?
When you first turn your oven on it is cold, and will take time to reach the required temperature. The hotter the temperature, the longer it will take the oven to reach it. Preheating your oven involves setting the temperature and leaving your oven to achieve this before placing your food inside.
Putting your food in and timing the cooking duration without preheating can result in undercooked or soggy food, so it’s important to preheat your oven every time it is used.
How Does An Oven Work?
There are two main “types” of oven: gas and electric. Each one operates in a slightly different way.
How a Gas Oven Works
A gas oven is connected to a gas fitting in your wall. When you turn the oven on, it releases gas from your main fitting into the pipes on your oven and feeds this into the oven space, while an ignitor generates the spark which creates the flame. This flame will generate the heat that cooks your food.
How an Electric Oven Works
Once you’ve selected the temperature on an electric oven, the bottom heating element will be activated. Your oven contains a copper wire that is connected to both your temperature gauge and your oven box which reads the temperature you have selected, and relays this information back to the main oven unit. The heating element within your unit will then increase in temperature until it reaches the desired level of heat, at which point it will cut out. Your oven will then maintain this level of heat until you choose to turn your appliance off.
This FAQ section isn’t an exhaustive list of all of the questions you may have about ovens, so if you need any additional information regarding any of the models within our range then contact us and one of our team will be happy to help. You can also check out our other detailed guides on all the fantastic ovens in our Cooking section:
