Electric oven
An electric oven is a vital part of the modern kitchen, second only to the gas oven in its popularity and longevity.
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[edit] History of Electric Oven
Ancient people first began cooking on open fires. The cooking fires were placed on the ground and later simple masonary construction were used to hold the wood and/or food. Simple ovens were used by the ancient Greeks for making bread and other baked goods. By the middle ages, taller brick & mortar hearths, often with chimneys were being built. The food to be cooked was often placed in metal cauldrons that were hung above the fire. The first written historical record of an oven being built, refers to an oven built in 1490, in Alsace, France. This oven was made entirely of brick and tile, including the flue.
[edit] Wood Burning Ovens
Inventors began making improvements to wood burning stoves primarily to contain the bothersome smoke that was being produced. Fire chambers were invented that contained the wood fire, and holes were built into the top of these chambers that cooking pots with flat bottoms could be placed directly upon replacing the cauldron. One masonary design of note, was the 1735 Castrol stove (aka stew stove) invented by French architect François Cuvilliés. It completely contained the fire, and had several opening covered by iron plates with holes.
[edit] Iron Stoves
Around 1728, cast iron ovens really began to be made in quantity. These first ovens of German design were called Five-plate or Jamb stoves.
Around 1800, Count Rumford (aka Benjamin Thompson) invented a working iron kitchen stove called the Rumford stove that was designed for very large working kitchens. The Rumford had one fire source that could heat several cooking pots, the heating level for each pot could be regulated individually. However, the Rumford stove was too large from the average kitchen and inventors continued to improve their designs.
One successful and compact cast iron design was Stewart's Oberlin iron stove, patented in the 1834. Cast iron stoves continued to evolve, with iron gratings added to the cooking holes, and added chimneys and connecting flue pipes.
[edit] Coal & Kerosene Ovens
Frans Wilhelm Lindqvist designed the first sootless kerosene oven.
Jordan Mott invented the first practical coal oven in 1833. Mott's oven was called the baseburner. The oven had ventilation to burn the coal efficiently. The coal oven was cylindrical and made of heavy cast iron with a hole in the top, which was then enclosed by an iron ring.
[edit] Gas Ovens
British inventor, James Sharp patented a gas oven in 1826, the first semi-successful gas oven to appear on the market. Gas ovens were found in most households by the 1920s with top burners and interior ovens. The evolution of gas stoves was delayed until gas lines that could furnish gas to households became common.
During the 1910s, gas stoves appeared with enamel coatings that made the stoves easier to clean. One important gas design of note was the AGA cooker invented in 1922 by Swedish Nobel prize winner Gustaf Dalén.
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[edit] Gas Oven vs Electric Oven
The differences between a gas oven and an electric oven may be subtle, but can make a significant difference when it comes to cooking certain foods. While many cooks have come to expect a certain level of performance depending on which oven they choose, the choice between ovens ultimately comes down to a personal preference. No matter which choice one makes, cooking styles may vary slightly between a gas oven and an electric oven.
One of the first things to consider is how much baking you will be doing. This could affect the cost of running the appliance. Often the cost difference between a gas oven and an electric oven is not that significant. However, for those who do a lot of baking or broiling, gas ovens could be far more economical in the long run, even though they may cost more initially to acquire.
Gas ovens tend to heat and cool down quicker than electric ovens. This may not be a major concern for most people. Still, for those who like to bake in a hurry, and who have small children around, the convenience and safety of this type of feature may be enough to convince them.
Some say one of the major differences between a gas oven and an electric oven is the way in which heat is distributed. Electric ovens do a far superior job in this type of circumstance, most will agree. However, others would argue that gas ovens better control the exact temperature of the oven. Further, changes in oven technology over the years have enabled gas ovens to heat very evenly.
Another thing to consider is how dry the heat is. Some say electric ovens are far superior because they tend to use dry heat more than natural gas ovens. Therefore, they tend not to rust as easily. However, the additional moisture in gas ovens could help some bread crusts from becoming hard and brittle before the inside of the bread is cooked. The same could apply to cakes and pies as well. Therefore, some may consider the additional moisture to actually be a cooking aid. A gas oven and an electric oven often both work in similar ways. Each has its own thermostat and most are controlled electrically. This means that even in an electrical outage, it may not be possible or practical to cook with the oven even though some cite this as a reason to choose a natural gas oven.
[edit] How to Choose Electric Oven
With such a great variety of electric ovens, from the very simple to the highly featured models that cook at lightening speed, there are so many to choose from that it is difficult to know where to start.
Whether you're replacing an old model, redesigning your kitchen or building a new home, setting some simple guidelines will make this shopping experience easier. First of all, you will need to set a reasonable budget. With oven prices ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, you'll need to narrow the choices to a specific price range. It's recommended that you determine a budget amount for all the appliances you'll be purchasing and divide it among the units you will need. If you plan to do lots of baking and entertaining, the oven may well be the most costly of the appliances you will be purchasing. If cooking is not your thing, you may be better served by budgeting less for the oven and spending more in another area of the kitchen. Either way, setting a budget is a good place to start. You can always reevaluate your budget later, assigning different amounts to the individual appliances based on the priorities you identify during your research.
Electric ovens are usually built into a large oven cabinet that is designed specifically for the purpose of housing an oven. Increasingly, these ovens are being placed under the counter as well. Under-counter installations may be chosen to save space or simply to provide additional oven capacity in a large kitchen that already has one or more ovens elsewhere in the room. Often under-counter electric ovens are installed under a cooktop, but this is by no means necessary. Flexible kitchen layouts encourage designers to try many unconventional built-in installations. Historically, built-in electric ovens used to be installed directly into a wall, but are rarely used that way today.
[edit] How To Shop
Once you have fixed a budget and decided on a type of installation, you can make further decisions based on size and available space. The most common built-in electric oven is 30 inches wide. Other sizes such as 24, 27 and 36 inches are also available. The smaller built-in ovens are usually sold as replacement models. Most 24- and 27-inch models sold are the same size as the older models they are replacing. In most cases they are installed without alteration to the kitchen layout, floor plan or cabinetry. The largest of the built-in electric ovens, the 36-inch models, require an unusually large amount of space to accommodate them. For this reason they are typically used only in new kitchens or in kitchens that are undergoing considerable renovation. Regardless of the space you have available for your new oven, be sure to take some careful measurements before you begin your shopping. That way you can limit your search to only those products that will work in your home.
After determining the width of the oven you will need, you can begin to investigate the different features of built-in electric ovens. The least expensive of the built-in electric ovens is the conventional single oven. These models are available in manual or self-cleaning styles. Today, far more self-cleaning models are sold. For most buyers the added cost of a self-clean cycle is well worth the investment. Convection is another feature that is frequently added to ovens. Convection adds a fan and sometimes even an additional electric element to the oven. The fan works to improve the circulation of hot air in the oven. Improved circulation of the air in the oven promotes more even baking and allows three racks of baked goods to be prepared at one time. Convection also works to promote and speed up the browning of roasted meats and poultry. In some ovens, convection systems are combined with microwave energy. Convection ovens with microwave energy offer increased speed on top of the benefits of convection. Ovens with convection and microwave energy can be expected to cut cooking times by 1/3 to 1/2.
One of the newest and most expensive technologies for ovens is often referred to as speed-cooking. Speed-cooking combines heat, convection, microwave energy and a fast-cooking halogen-quartz light all in one oven. These functions can be used separately or combined for the ultimate in fast meal preparation. With speed-cooking, baking and roasting can be reduced to 25 percent of the conventional preparation time. Manufacturers often have their trademarks for this type of technology. If you're interested in this type of oven, look for trademarks such as Tri-Vection, Ultima and SpeedCook. Although sales of these models continue to grow, you should be forewarned that the speed of the results may at times affect the quality and taste of the finished meal. For this reason, many of the most expensive and prestigious appliance brands do not yet offer this relatively new technology.
When families enjoy entertaining and have the benefit of a large kitchen, double ovens are frequently used. Like single ovens, these ovens can be featured in a number of ways. Most offer self-clean cycles in both ovens. Many offer convection or speed cooking features. Some ovens are microwave capable, while some units consist of a microwave stacked above an oven.
When comparing ovens, you'll probably come across some of the newer features that serve to differentiate one product from another. Variable time self-clean cycles provide shorter cleaning times and work well to clean lightly soiled ovens in record time. Variable broil settings allow the user to broil more efficiently by using only part of the broiling element or by allowing different foods to be broiled at various temperature settings. Oven lighting may be standard or enhanced by the brighter, more effective halogen bulbs. Interior lights may turn on autmatically or require the flipping of a switch. These days, lots of attention is being paid to oven racks. Higher priced models tend to offer stable racks that glide in and out more easily than those in less expensive models. When shopping, pull out the racks in order to test their use. Auto-shutoff is a safety feature that is offered on many low- to mid-priced ovens. Often the user can override the shutoff if it is necessary to operate the oven for long periods of time. Clocks, timers, delay-bake settings and digital/electronic controls are becoming increasingly common. A few manually controlled models are out there, but they are becoming more difficult to find.
Remember, there is no one "best" oven. If there were, the market would not have such a wide selection of products. The oven that is right for you is the one that fits your budget, works with your floor plan, and offers features for they way you and your family live your lives.
[edit] Fix an Insufficiently Heating Electric Oven
Even an electric oven can fail from time to time. One of the first signs of a serious problem is the failure to heat properly. You may notice that food takes longer to cook, or that setting food to a specific heat does not warm it through enough, and you have to wait hours for a simple roast. In order to fix this problem, you will have to open up the belly of the oven, and check the electrics. Getting this job done doesn't need the assistance of a professional if you have some basic home improvement skills. All you have to do is follow a few simple guidelines to get the job done quickly and easily.
Tools and Materials Needed
- Screwdriver
- Pliers
- Welding iron
- Solder
[edit] Step 1 - Turn off the Electricity
This can be done by cutting off the power supply at the mains. If you want the rest of the house to keep going, then you can simply remove the circuit breaker for the kitchen. Cover the hole for this part of the system with some tape, to ensure that the circuit breaker is not accidentally returned to the power box. You can also simply turn off the mains power, which is the most efficient way of ensuring that there is no current running into your electric oven.
[edit] Step 2 - Opening the Oven
Turn the oven onto its face, and open up the back panel. This is where all the wires will be located, and you will easily be able to source it from the location. Using your screwdriver, take off the back panel. Put the screws in a safe location, as you will need them later. Look at the wiring. You should be able to spot loose connections from here, without tugging too much on the cables.
[edit] Step 3 - Fix Loose Connections
Once you have found the loose connections, you will have to fix them using a little bit of solder and a soldering iron. Place some melted solder onto the connection where the wire should go, and then put the wire on top. Put some more solder over the top of this, and then put the soldering iron over all of these. This should fix the wire back onto place.
[edit] Step 4 - Finishing
Before you finish the project you will have to put all of the wires back into the oven, and reseal the panel. Take the screws you removed earlier, and put them back onto the panel, and screw this into the back of the oven. Put the oven into place, and then turn the electricity back on. Check your oven to see whether it is getting hot again.
[edit] Resources
- Choosing an electric oven
- Epinions - Electric Oven reviews
- Discussion about Electric Vs Gas ovens
- How stuff words, buying and electric oven
Categories: Electricity tips, Cooker, microwave and oven tips
