how do you use a fan oven ?!?!?!

[Annpan]

I know it seems daft but I thought someone on here could help me out.

Last night I burned my first rhubarb crumble of the season because I forgot that you need to adjust the times for a fan oven. This morning I under cooked some banana muffins - they are brown on top but too gooey inside.

I don't have the instructions for it (it is a built in model in my new house) and I have never used a fan oven before... any suggestions as to how to alter my old recipes to my new oven?

[baldowrie]

you need to turn the temperature down by around 10 degrees and the top of the oven is as hot as the bottom

What make is it? The manual may be on line

[Cassiepod]

Just remember the temperature difference and that the middle of the oven is the 'hottest' as opposed to the topshelf in a normal oven. I've never had much in the way of problems (apart from the door not shutting and the fan not working).

It might be worht investing or borrowing an oven thermometer to check everything else is ok....

[Annpan]

Ahhh! yes oven thermometer might be a good idea then. I thought it just was quicker, I didn't realise that you had to turn the heat down... kinda wierd don't you think.

Cheers guys

[baldowrie]

ah but your sponge cake will be the same golden brown all over...if you don't burn them then they will be burnt all over

[Millymollymandy]

No, no, 20 degrees C is the difference!

If you normally put something on at 200C in a conventional oven, put it on at 180C in a fan oven.

[baldowrie]

actually as I have owned several fan ovens the temperture depends entirely on the model, most are 10 degrees but some are 20!

And if you read my post properly you will see I said AROUND 10 degrees!

[Thomzo]

Make sure you understand all the symbols on the dials as well. Like you, I bought a house with a fan oven already installed. I didn't realise that you could run the grill alongside the fan oven. I couldn't understand how my roast potatoes were done in 20 minutes.

Zoe

[Annpan]

Wow

Roast potatoes in 20 min they used to take over an hour in my old oven.


It has got alot of funny symbols and a top and bottom element. I have somewhere the address for a web-site that gives you all sorts of instruction manuals. I'll try to find it. I managed some casseroles all right but last night it took 1 hour to do a pizza (usually 20-30 min) but it was nice and crispy.

[Millymollymandy]

actually as I have owned several fan ovens the temperture depends entirely on the model, most are 10 degrees but some are 20!

And if you read my post properly you will see I said AROUND 10 degrees!

OK, I won't argue, but I've only ever known ones that are 20C difference, and if you look at cooking instructions on a quiche/pizza etc, they always give a 20C difference in temps for whether you are using fan or conventional oven, so I'd rather think that was the norm!

However it will depend on the individual model of course, and the temp at which you are cooking - if you are cooking at a higher temp the difference could be 30C!

[Thomzo]

Actually, now I come to think about it both my last oven and this one recommend 20 degrees.

The old one was a bit hit and miss. I think the thermostat was a bit out.

[Muddypause]

...I said AROUND 10 degrees!

...I've only ever known ones that are 20C difference

'ere calm down a bit. I don't know nuffink about fan ovens, but I do know that some parts of the world still use Fahrenheit and some parts use Centigrade/Celcius/Kelvin. A difference of 10 C is approximately a difference of 20 degrees F. You may be talking about the same thing after all.

So, it may be a good idea to define your units, and then have an argument about it.

[baldowrie]

no intention of having argument about it Muddy!

Temperature dials on ovens are not always that accurate any way, especially if they are getting on a bit in years.

[ina]

True - I think that my oven is a bit out anyway, as I don't seem to lower the temperature at all... The best thing about it is - next to no preheating time, and you can cook in several layers (provided they are flat enough!), so rolls on the bottom, and biscuits on the top shelf or so.

[colhut]

So, let me get this straight, the bannana muffins were brown on top and gooey inside... I don't see what the problem is, sounds like they were cooked to perfection to me

If you are not sure you could always send me a representative sample (say 2 dozen) and I'll give you my considered opinion.