Have you ever followed a recipe to the letter, but when you take the dish out of the oven, you find that it’s clearly overcooked or undercooked? There could be multiple reasons for this – one being that your oven may need to be calibrated. Here’s how to do this on various types of ovens.
Why should I calibrate my oven?
Over time, the temperature you set your oven to using the controls may get out of sync with its actual internal temperature. In other words, if you set it to bake at 350 degrees F, it may be hotter or colder than the temperature inside the oven, affecting the results of the dish.
How to tell if your oven needs to be calibrated
Before making any adjustments, quickly test to see if your oven does need to be calibrated. To do this:
Place an oven safety thermometer in the center of the middle rack of your oven and close the door.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once the oven indicates it has reached 350F, set the timer to 30 minutes (leaving the thermometer in the oven).
If possible, read the thermometer through the oven door. If not, remove it quickly and read it immediately.
Most ovens will not sit exactly on the nose: in fact, anything within 15 degrees of 350F is considered normal. However, if your thermometer shows a temperature of 335F or below in the oven, or 365F or above, it is time to calibrate.
How to Calibrate the Oven
The calibration process will depend on several different factors, including the brand of oven, whether it is gas or electric, and whether the controls are digital or analog.
The easiest way to find out how to calibrate your oven is to check the owner’s manual. If you don’t have it, do a quick online search for the make, brand and model of your oven and you should be able to find an electronic version of that manual. The manual will provide calibration instructions, but for now, here is a general overview:
Gas or electric ovens with digital controls
The process will vary depending on the brand of oven. For example, if you have a Whirlpool or Frigidaire oven, press and hold the “Bake” button until “Cal” appears. Then use the arrows to adjust the temperature up or down in 10 degree increments, depending on whether your oven is hot or cold. So, if the test shows that when you set your oven to 350F, the internal temperature is actually 370F, you will need to press the “down” arrow twice. Finally, click the “Enter” button.
Electric Ovens with Analog Controls
Gently pull the knob or dial you use to adjust the oven temperature at the front of the oven. If you have problems, wrap a string or wire around the back of the knob to help you pry it off.
There should be one or two screws on the back of the dial: turn these screws to adjust the internal temperature of the oven. Simply turn the screw 1/8 turn, clockwise to lower the temperature and counterclockwise to raise it (the controls are very sensitive).
Then replace the dial and run the thermometer test again. If the temperature is still not high, perform the process again.
Gas Ovens with Analog Controls
Because of the gas involved, this is best left to the professionals to make sure everything is done safely.
