When it comes to baking and cooking, the oven’s temperature is crucial. Ovens are not always accurate; they can often run too hot or too cold, making or breaking your meal. So how can one ensure that the oven temperature is correct? The oven thermometer, of course.
Oven thermometers are amazing little devices that make cooking and baking much easier. These nifty little thermometers that stay in the oven are made for measuring the oven temperature. Keeping the thermometer in the oven allows you to assess the oven temperature throughout the cooking time.
We will take a comprehensive look at what you need to know about oven thermometers, from what an oven thermometer is and why we use them to how to use them and where to keep them. You will never need to worry about your oven temperatures again.
Why The Oven Thermometer Should Stay In The Oven
Oven thermometers are specially designed for use in an oven, which means it can withstand high temperatures. Unlike other thermometers leaving an oven thermometer in the oven won’t break it. They should be kept in the oven, but why is this?
What Is An Oven Thermometer?
Oven thermometers are special thermometers used to measure the temperature of the oven. They are usually made of stainless steel and will give readings from 200 to 600 degrees Fahrenheit. Oven thermometers are generally smallish and round, and many will have a hook or clip hanging from an oven rack.
It’s best to get one that is big enough to read through the oven door, so you won’t need to open the oven to make temperature readings.
Why Does One Need An Oven Thermometer?
Most oven temperature settings can be a bit off. Meaning that although the dial may tell you the oven is supposed to be at 375 F, the actual temperature may be 25 to 30 degrees cooler or hotter. This can be a problem when cooking as many recipes do call for accuracy, and a 25 to 30-degree difference can be the reason for a burnt pie on the one hand or an undercooked one on the other.
Enter the oven thermometer; this great gadget will help you to understand your oven. If the oven is supposed to be at 375F, but the oven thermometer is reading 350, all you will need to do to get the right temperature is to turn the oven up another 25 degrees to get the correct temperature.
How To Use An Oven Thermometer
Using an oven thermometer is a very easy way to have an exact reading of an oven temperature; here are some top tips for the best results when using an oven thermometer.
As oven thermometers are made to measure oven temperature, it is a good idea to determine your temperature settings first.
Many ovens don’t heat evenly; they may pre-heat too quickly or too slowly, and as we have mentioned, some oven temperature readings can be quite off what the dial shows us. The oven thermometer will help us to know where these problem areas are.
The first thing to do is to run a test with your oven thermometer. This test will help you determine how accurate your oven is and where the problem areas are inside the oven. To determine how accurate your oven temperature is, keep the oven thermometer inside the oven. If you remove it to check the temperature, you won’t get an accurate reading.
When conducting the test, it is also necessary to move the oven thermometer around to different places inside the oven. This will help you to know where the cool or hot spots are in the oven.
For best results, once the oven thermometer has been moved to its new location, leave it there for 10 minutes so that the temperature has time to stabilize again, as opening the oven door to move the thermometer will cause temperature fluctuations.
What is great about doing this test is that you can know exactly if your oven has problem areas, and then you can move your dish or change your cooking time to circumvent these problems.
Where To Keep An Oven Thermometer
The easiest place to keep an oven thermometer is in the oven. Many top cooks and chefs won’t remove their oven thermometers because they are made to be in an oven. They also keep their oven thermometers in the oven because they can consistently check the oven temperature as they cook.
You don’t need to remove your oven thermometer when the oven reaches your desired temperature; in fact, you shouldn’t even try to, as opening the oven will change the oven temperature, and as we know well by now – oven thermometers have been made specifically for sitting in a hot oven.
Oven thermometers are small, so they can be kept in the oven out of the way but still visible when you want to ensure the temperature. It is recommended to keep your oven thermometer close to where you will place your food to cook because this will provide you with the most accurate temperature readings for your food.
How To Clean An Oven Thermometer
While an oven thermometer can be left in the oven, it may become necessary to clean the glass screen from time to time, as we all know how food can spatter when it cooks. This food residue can attach to the oven thermometer face and make it difficult to read and unhygienic.
So, to ensure you can still read the temperature gauge and for cleanliness, it is a good idea to clean your oven thermometer from time to time. Cleaning an oven thermometer is straightforward.
Do not submerge the oven thermometer; use a damp soapy cloth to wipe away any food residues that may have accumulated on the glass surface. Once clean, wipe away excess soap with a damp cloth and dry. Now you can put the oven thermometer back in the oven.
Conclusion
Oven thermometers are useful gadgets that distinguish between perfect and burnt dishes. Oven thermometers should stay in the oven as their purpose is to provide cooks with accurate and precise readings of oven temperatures throughout cooking.
