Temperature of the Electric Element in a Oven

Heating Element

• Electric ovens work by sending an electric current through an element, or heater, made of a combination of metals. The heating element and the filament in a light bulb act very similarly except that the light filaments primary purpose is to produce light, and the heat from the filament is a side effect. With an oven filament, the heat is the primary purpose with the red glowing light from it a side effect.

Temperature Control

• When you set the oven control to a specific temperature the interior element heats to that temperature and no higher. For example, if the control temperature reads 400 degrees Fahrenheit the element will also be 400 degrees. According to the Saving Electricity website the maximum temperature that most electric ovens reach is 500 degrees. The minimum in some ovens is 100 degrees. Newer ovens with digital controls have constant communication between the controls and the elements, maintaining the interior of the stove at near the desired cooking temperature. The element may cool down somewhat to save on costs. As the air temperature begins to drop the controls nudge the element to regain the desired degree.

Cooking Food

• Food in the oven actually cooks from the air temperature which is heated from the element. Allowing the air temperature to rise to the proper temperature is called pre-heating the oven. It only takes moments for the element to obtain the correct temperature but the air takes longer to heat up. A convection oven has a fan in the back which blows the heated air over the food, cooking it more evenly and faster.

Considerations

• Some people consider electric ovens safer than gas models. The lack of an open flame combined with no possibility of poisonous gas being produced leads to a feeling that there is less danger. According to Consumer Search an electric oven is less expensive than gas, but costs more to operate. Some electric models use both the upper broiler and the lower oven elements to heat the oven, providing a more even heat without the cost of a convection oven.