When something goes wrong with the oven, most homeowners will call a repairman – whatever the cost. However, it’s always good to get acquainted with your oven parts. Names are easy to learn, and once you know the basics, this can help you to figure out what is wrong and get replacement parts from a certified store.
Here are the key parts of an oven. Always check your oven’s instruction manual for more detailed descriptions.
Broil Element
The broiling element provides heat on the top on most types of ovens. It provides direct heat to the top rack to efficiently broil food.
Oven Rack
An oven has at least one oven rack, but may have more. Most ovens have multiple rack slots to reconfigure racks, depending on how close they need to be to the sources of heat
Bake Element
The main heating source in the oven. Located at the bottom, this element is usually one of the first parts of the stove to check when the oven isn’t cooking properly. Electric heating elements can be found inside the oven cavity.
Light Bulb & Assembly
The light bulb and its associated assembly are there to provide you with a good view of the food when it’s inside the oven. If the oven has a glass window and the lights work, you don’t have to open the oven to check on the progress of the meal.
Convection Fan
The convection fan isn’t standard equipment for all ovens, but modern true convection ovens use this feature. It drives the fan blade to circulate the air inside the oven. If your food is unevenly cooked while the convection setting is on, the fan might not be working properly.
Fan Blade
The fan blade is a part of the larger convection fan suite to promote airflow.
Convection Baffle
The convection baffle is the back cover inside the oven that holds the convection fan.
Hidden Bake Tray
The hidden bake tray protects the oven’s inner workings from spills and encloses the oven cavity from the bottom. In most ovens, the baking tray also conducts the heat from the bake element below to the oven cavity above it.
