How much thermostat "range" in oven temperature is too much?
I recently renovated my kitchen and have a new Bosch wall oven. I've noticed many baking recipes that used to be reliable are no longer so. I have a ThermoWorks ChefAlarm and calibrated my oven according to the procedure on their website. The accuracy of the oven is pretty good – usually only 5-8 oF lower than the display says. But the temperature swings are surprising: they're ± 30 oF. So if I set my oven for 350 oF, the temperature ranges back and forth from 320 oF to 380 oF over time.
I've never checked the range on previous ovens so I can't say if this is normal. It seems to me to likely be a problem, especially when a cookie might only be in the oven for 10-12 minutes. Does anyone know? And a follow on: I'm tempted to reach out to Bosch customer service to see if there is a field modification to change this behavior. Does anyone know if that's realistic?
Best Answer
This is fully normal. Ovens are not stable, temperature-wise, and I have frequently seen such large amplitudes in temperature. Of course, it is much nicer if your oven can hold a constant temperature, that's why some people will accept the expense of an Aga. But in principle, baking recipes can handle that. Note that from a historical point of view, people used ovens with solid fuel, which had much larger temperature amplitudes and no temperature display, and their baking goods were still tasty. Ovens are not temperature-accurate, and recipes are robust for that.
As for the recipes which are no longer reliable, the most likely explanation is that your old oven was also inaccurate, but in a different pattern. Another possibility would be a different mix of radiant, convective and conductive heat, which means that the same recipe in the same pan can require a different time. In general, a recipe which specifies time is reliable for a specific combination of pan, oven and amount. If you bake until ready instead of waiting for a time given in the recipe, the problem disappears.
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What happens if the oven temperature is too high?
If your oven is overheating it is most likely to be caused by a faulty part. More often then not it'll be your thermostat, cooling fan or oven element that is causing the problem. Read our guide to figure out which one is causing you a problem and how to get a replacement part.How much should the temperature vary in an oven?
The temperature range can vary by + 30 degrees and \u2013 30 degrees as the oven cycles on and off for a total temperature fluctuation of 60 degrees. This fluctuation is common for our ovens. Some may fluctuate a little more, some a little less.How do I know if my oven is too hot?
To test the oven: Hang an oven thermometer in the center of the middle rack and preheat the oven to 350\u02daF (176.67\u02daC). Allow the oven to preheat for at least 20 minutes and take a temperature reading. This will tell you if the oven is even reaching the desired temperature from the beginning.What will happen if the oven temperature is too high and too low?
If your oven is set too low or does not heat to the correct temperature, it can alter the cooking time, texture and color of your cakes and other baked goods. Although an oven thermometer should prevent a too-cool oven, not all oven thermometers are accurate.Oven Temperature Incorrect — Electric Range Troubleshooting
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Answer 2
We just had a Samsung technician in our house checking the gas oven. He told us temp fluctuations of 60 degrees or even 90 degrees is completely normal. His explanation is that a gas flame is either hot or it's not (that is, off). So when the oven cycles on, it gets very hot very quickly. There's no way to moderate it. Once it hits 400 degrees (for a setting of 350) it shuts off and the oven slowly cools down to about 318 (in our case) and cycles again. He suggested that electric ovens likely don't cycle as deeply because their resistance coils don't go stone cold the way an open flame does. I know my wife was happier when we had an electric oven.
Answer 3
Here's some data: Preset to 350. Oven went to 374 then cooled to 334 Heated to 358, cooled to 334, heated to 358, cooled to 334, heated to 361, cooled to 336, heated to 360, cooled to 334, heated to 360 and stopped cycle study. Fairly tight range control on an older (2007) 4 burner gas whirlpool tested in 2022.
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