Don’t be burned by finicky temperatures
If your oven is giving you the cold shoulder—or, rather, cold dinner—you might want to calibrate its temperature. Weirdly enough, some ovens are designed to run cooler or warmer than the temperature displayed on the oven thermostat. Some manufacturers believe this improves performance, while some homeowners find it annoying. Thankfully, most range and wall ovens can be easily calibrated.
Temperature calibration only takes a few minutes. But before you start, you need to determine if your oven thermostat is accurate. To do this, you’ll need a working oven thermometer. Check the oven temperature using these steps:
Put your oven thermometer in the middle oven rack.
Close the oven door.
Heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Let the oven run for 30 minutes (about three on/off cycles).
Read the temperature on your oven thermometer through the door or open the oven quickly to get a reading if the door isn’t see-through.
In a well-calibrated oven, your oven thermometer should read within 15 degrees of 350 degrees Fahrenheit. If your reading is less than 335 degrees Fahrenheit or more than 365 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s time to calibrate your oven.
Most modern electric ovens have digital temperature controls, but you’ll need to read the owner’s manual to know exactly which buttons to press. Every model is slightly different. To calibrate an electric oven with digital controls, do the following:
Read the oven calibration instructions in your owner’s manual.
Locate the keypad.
Press and hold two buttons (per the instructions) to get to the calibration mode.
Adjust the temperature depending on your initial temperature reading.
Save your settings by pressing “Start” or following the manual’s instructions.
It’s important to remember that every oven differs. Some models use up and down arrows to adjust the temperature, while others have prompts. This is why the manual should be your guide.
Older electric ovens usually have analog controls. The temperature control, usually one or two screws, can be found on the oven thermostat. To calibrate an older electric oven with analog controls, do the following:
Pull the temperature knob off your oven thermostat.
Locate the screw(s) on the back.
Turn the screw(s) clockwise to decrease the temperature.
Turn the screw(s) counterclockwise to increase the temperature.
Retest your oven temperature with your oven thermometer.
Analog controls are sensitive, so remember to only turn your screws an eighth of a turn at a time. A small change can make a huge difference in your oven temperature. If you’re having trouble turning the screw, use needle-nose pliers to hold the shaft of the knob.
Like modern electric ovens, most modern gas ovens have digital controls. In this case, you can calibrate your gas oven the same way you’d calibrate an electric oven. Just test the temperature beforehand using an oven thermometer, follow the owner’s manual instructions, press the required keys, and voila.
If your gas oven doesn’t have digital controls, you’ll need to contact a local oven repair technician.
The best way to check the temperature accuracy of your oven is to use a tried-and-true tool: an oven thermometer. Place an oven rack in the center of your oven, then hang an oven thermometer from the middle front area of the rack. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and wait for it to beep to let you know that the preheating stage is complete.
Ideally, you’ll be able to see through the oven glass to see if the thermometer reading matches the desired preheated temperature. If not, open the door quickly to get a reading and see if your oven is under or overheating.
If you don’t have an oven thermometer handy, you can try baking a tube of refrigerated biscuits on a cookie sheet. Follow the package instructions to a T, including the oven rack placement. If the biscuits are undercooked or burnt, it might be time to calibrate your oven’s temperature.
Sometimes, the problem lies elsewhere in your oven. If your oven is still off by more than 15 degrees Fahrenheit after calibration, check the oven gasket for tears. Tears let heat escape, so your oven won’t heat properly. If you don’t see tears, it could be a problem with your sensor, thermostat, or fan. A local oven repair pro will be able to diagnose your issue and replace any broken heating elements.
As a general rule, only self-calibrate your oven if the temperature is off by 20 degrees Fahrenheit or less.
If you have a gas oven, err on the side of caution. Homeowners shouldn’t attempt to calibrate a gas oven with analog controls by themselves. It’s a complicated task best left to a certified pro. Gas ovens pose a serious fire risk if they’re malfunctioning, particularly when the gas is left running, but the oven isn’t properly igniting.
Working with gas can be very dangerous and even harmful to your health. Only attempt gas projects yourself if you have the experience and credentials to do so safely. Otherwise, let the professionals handle these jobs.
You should check and calibrate your oven every year. Older ovens tend to be less accurate as they take on more wear and tear. If you need to recalibrate your oven more frequently, then it’s time to call a repair technician.
The temperature on your oven thermostat is actually an average temperature. It’s normal for an oven’s actual temperature to vary by a few degrees at any given time. In other words, when you test the thermostat, your oven thermometer may never hit 350 degrees Fahrenheit exactly (though gas ovens tend to be more on the nose). You may want to take a few readings with an oven thermometer just to get a sense of why your gas oven is not heating correctly.
The average cost of oven repairs is $150 to $350, but it depends on what’s wrong. If your temperature problems are because of a sensor, thermostat, or gasket, it’ll probably cost $100 to $250 to fix.
