Your oven is the heart of your kitchen, but over time, it can lose its efficiency. This doesn’t just affect your cooking, it can also impact your energy bill. The good news is, with a few simple steps, you can help your oven perform at its best and last for years to come.
Here are some easy tips to optimize your oven’s performance:
1. Keep It Clean
It might seem obvious, but a clean oven is a happy oven. Spills and grease left inside can burn and create smoke, which affects the taste of your food and can even be a fire hazard. A dirty oven also has to work harder to maintain a steady temperature. Regularly wiping down the inside and cleaning the racks will make a big difference.
2. Check the Door Seal
The rubber gasket around your oven door is crucial for keeping heat in. If the seal is cracked, torn, or loose, heat will escape, and your oven will have to use more energy to stay hot. To check it, simply look for any visible damage. If you notice any issues, it’s a good idea to have it replaced.
3. Use the Right Cookware
Using the right type of cookware can help your oven cook more efficiently. Dark pans absorb more heat, while lighter, shiny pans reflect it. For evenly browned food, use darker metal pans. For cakes and lighter baked goods, use shiny aluminum pans. Using a glass pan can also help you use a lower temperature because glass holds and transfers heat very well.
4. No Peeking!
It’s tempting to open the oven door to check on your food, but every time you do, you can lose up to 25 degrees of heat! This not only makes your oven work harder to get back to the right temperature but can also affect how your food cooks. Trust your oven and use the oven light to check on your progress.
5. Get a Professional Check-Up
Even with the best care, ovens can develop issues over time, from heating problems to faulty parts. If your oven is taking too long to preheat, cooking food unevenly, or making strange noises, it might be time for one of our professionals to take a look.
Here at Aggieland Appliance Repair, we’re ready to help you keep your oven in top condition. Our expert technicians can diagnose and fix any issue, ensuring your oven runs efficiently and safely. Contact us today to schedule your service.
