What is wrong with this oven?

August 23, 2023 7:31 PM

Something is wrong with our oven.

Food is consistently burnt on the bottom before being done. However, we have checked with an oven temp and the temp seems fairly consistent and not running hot.

We try to put food higher in the oven and cook at a lower temp but something is clearly wrong. If relevant oven was purchased used and is old-ish.

posted by aetg to Food & Drink (11 answers total)

A bad thermostat that allows large temperature excursions could do it.
Leave the oven thermometer in the oven and see if the temperature is relatively steady or if it shows wide variation.
posted by the Real Dan at 7:56 PM on August 23, 2023

A ceramic pizza tile on the lowest rack, or if it is gas, on the floor of the oven , careful not to block any openings. This will help moderate the temp.
posted by hortense at 8:38 PM on August 23, 2023 [2 favorites]

Even an empty metal tray on the lowest shelf can help. It's sometimes radiant heat from the oven bottom that's doing it. That doesn't explain the change of behaviour, but it might mitigate the effect.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 8:45 PM on August 23, 2023 [1 favorite]

If you have heating elements on the top and bottom, chances are the top one is either not working or underperforming. Take a look in when it’s empty and on and see if the two elements are the same color when they heat.

Chances are the bottom one is doing most or all the work to get the oven to temp and this means the top and bottom are at vastly different temps. An element change depending on the model is a fairly easy DIY fix via YouTube.
posted by openhearted at 4:21 AM on August 24, 2023 [5 favorites]

Gas or electric? If electric, the top element might be bad.
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 4:26 AM on August 24, 2023 [2 favorites]

Keep in mind, though, that in many electric ranges the top element is exclusively the broiling element, and will not be on during normal baking use.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:47 AM on August 24, 2023 [3 favorites]

Does it have a convection option? That can help eliminate hot/cold spots.

Also, what kind of pans are you using? I got rid of my darker colored metal pans. Those run hot and tend to burn. Some recipes even mention this problem.
posted by jraz at 7:01 AM on August 24, 2023 [1 favorite]

Try using stacked cookie sheets under anything you are baking or roasting if the bottoms are scorching. Sometimes the issue is that a lot of cookware has become very bad quality and is much lighter weight than it should be. If it is an old oven it may be presuming your cookware is much heavier duty than something bought recently.

If you have a convection oven the problem could be that the fan is not working.
posted by Jane the Brown at 9:39 AM on August 24, 2023

If this is a change, then said change indicates a potential safety issue. I would get a service person to look at it. More so if it is gas than electric, you didn't specify.
posted by hypnogogue at 1:14 PM on August 24, 2023 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: This is an electric range and I concur with many that the pans are likely cheap and crappy. I think the top of the oven only comes on to Broil.

I am going to try a pan or two in the bottom to help regulate as well as do a better job of only putting in food once the stove is up to temp. It seems fairly consistent once it gets there, but maybe the not yet preheated oven is wonky somehow.
posted by aetg at 7:22 PM on August 24, 2023

Are you preheating long enough? Try letting it stabilize at temperature for a while before you put stuff in.
posted by fritley at 8:50 AM on August 25, 2023