Oven Lovin’: Four Simple Steps to Make Sure Your Oven’s Running at Its Best

Ovens need love, too. Your oven shows its love for you by baking your cookies and casseroles, but if you want those gifts to continue, you’ll need to give it a little loving care. Just by doing some simple maintenance on a regular basis, you can keep your oven cooking happily for a long time.

Keep It Clean

The most important thing you can do for your oven is keep it clean. Over time, bits of food residue, crumbs and grease splatters build up in your oven’s interior, reducing its efficiency. If you have a self-cleaning oven, this step is a snap; just check your manual for how to activate your oven’s self-clean feature, and let it incinerate any pesky remnants into dust. If you don’t have a self-cleaner, look for a good oven cleaning product and do it the hard way: With a sponge and elbow grease.

Check Its Temperature

As your oven gets older, the temperature you set on the knob may not be matching up to the temperature inside. When you get sick of chronically undercooked or overcooked food, get its temperature checked. A digital oven thermometer will tell you exactly how hot — or not — your oven is getting. If it’s not coinciding with what you’re setting, it’s time to get a professional to take a look; try the experts at B & D Electric Motor Co.

Do a Check-up

Any one of the many components of your oven can contribute to lackluster performance. Make it a point to give your oven a good look, including the inside of it and even behind it. Look for any parts or sections of your oven that are showing signs of warping, melting or distortion; dislodged connections can result in bad performance, too, and can be hazardous. If there are any components showing wear and tear, like any belts or fuses, go ahead and replace them; better to do it now than on, say, Thanksgiving.

Give It Some Power

Take a look at the voltage being fed to your electric oven. If it’s inconsistent or too low, you’re going to have some spotty baking. You don’t want to cause an overload, either, so be aware of what the voltage ranges to your oven should be, and then make adjustments to the power supply as needed to keep that flow consistent. Take care of your oven, and it just might purr. More than likely, though, it’ll just buzz to tell you the cake is ready.