How to deal with an inaccurate oven thermostat

How to deal with an inaccurate oven thermostat - Elderly businessman shaking hands with partner

So my oven's thermostat is wildly inaccurate. Case in point: I was roasting some potatoes and squash with the oven set to 350F, but the oven thermometer read 600. It's not usually that bad, but it's also not uncommon for the oven's temperature to be off by 100 degrees. What can I do about this? I'm burning a lot of food, and my neighbors don't appreciate how often the smoke alarm goes off.

I've tried just getting used it it, but the inaccuracies are not predictable. Sometimes setting the oven at 350 gets me 375-400, other times (like today) it's much more.

Does the placement of the thermometer affect the reading? That is, could the thermometer be reading extra-hot because I put it in the wrong spot? I have it up close to the door, and it hangs down closer to the heating elements than the food (but still 3-4" above the elements).

Also, I heard somewhere that the way you arrange trays & dishes in the oven affects the ability of the oven's thermostat to do its job. Can someone clue me in on that.

Thanks.



Best Answer

It sounds like the oven needs desperately to be looked at. Please have someone check it out before a fire starts!!!!

The thermometer placement isn't a huge concern. It should be near the middle for general use (top to bottom) and off to the side. Or if you prefer you can just hang the thing in the middle. As long as you can always safely see it it should be fine. If your coils are on the side and not top and bottom put it in the center (where the window would normally be)

Really though I can't stress it enough. If your setting it to 350 and sometimes it is temperature x and sometimes it is temperature x + 100 then you really need to have it looked at before it gets worse.




Pictures about "How to deal with an inaccurate oven thermostat"

How to deal with an inaccurate oven thermostat - Cheerful senior businessman shaking hands with partner on street
How to deal with an inaccurate oven thermostat - Free stock photo of achievement, adult, business
How to deal with an inaccurate oven thermostat - Man in Black Suit Standing Beside Man in Black Suit



How do you fix an inaccurate oven temperature?

Solved! Why Your Oven Isn't Heating Properly\u2014and How to Fix It
  • If an electric oven is completely dead, check the breaker. ...
  • Check the position of the oven and stove knobs. ...
  • Consider replacing an electric oven's heating element. ...
  • Clean the igniter on a gas stove. ...
  • Check the temperature sensor.


  • Can oven thermostats be adjusted?

    Digital display ovens: Many thermostats for electric models can be adjusted using the keypad \u2013 check your owner's manual for the specifics, but typically you will hold down one or two buttons to access a \u201ccalibration mode\u201d and use the arrows to adjust the temperature as needed.

    Can oven thermometers be wrong?

    An oven's internal thermometer may not be calibrated correctly or gives an inaccurate reading due to placement within the oven.

    How do I make my oven temperature accurate?

    To test if your oven is running cold:
  • To test if your oven is running cold:
  • Preheat oven to 375\xb0. ...
  • Place a small amount of granulated sugar in an oven-proof dish or on a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil.
  • Place in oven for 15 minutes.
  • If your oven is calibrated correctly, the sugar will melt.




  • How cooker oven Thermostats work \u0026 how to replace




    More answers regarding how to deal with an inaccurate oven thermostat

    Answer 2

    Likely you've a bad thermocouple (temperature sensor). On some ovens this is a do it yourself repair. On others it is not.

    oven "defective thermocouple" replace

    Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

    Images: Andrea Piacquadio, Andrea Piacquadio, Kampus Production, Kampus Production