Misusing Your Oven? Common Oven Problems & Their Solutions


The way you use your oven can greatly affect its efficiency and performance. In this article, you will learn the most common oven issues, along with their solutions to correct them and get your oven cooking perfectly again.

Note: Remember to consult your owner’s manual first for more information on how to properly care and handle your oven.

PROBLEM # 1: Incorrect Positioning of the Oven Rack

The correct position of your oven racks while cooking matters. Food on the lower rack will get a browner bottom, while in the upper rack will have a crispier top. For fair cooking, use the center rack instead, as the heat distribution in the middle of the oven is more evenly, resulting in better browning throughout the dish.

SOLUTION: For the best results, you can use the center rack when baking and cooking, unless your recipe stated otherwise.

PROBLEM # 2: Place the Bottom of the Oven with Foil

One of the issues that arise is when you place foil at the bottom of your oven. First of all, the reflection of the foil can create hot spots, causing food to cook unevenly or cook too quickly. It can also stick to the bottom of the oven, and likely void its warranty. In gas ovens, foil can block air circulation, which hampers your cooking process. When the heat circulation is blocked, there is a chance of carbon monoxide poisoning, too.

SOLUTION: Avoid putting the foil on the oven floor, and use a proper baking dish to catch spills.

PROBLEM # 3: Not Cleaning Quickly the Spills

Not cleaning food or grease accumulated on the bottom of your oven can do significant damage to its heating elements and its liner. It can cause the unit to overheat and even stop working as it should. 

SOLUTION: After using the unit, let it cool first, then clean any spills that have occurred. Also, place a proper baking pan on the bottom rack when cooking.

PROBLEM # 4: Leaving the Racks in the Oven When Self-Cleaning

Keeping the racks in the oven during a self-cleaning cycle can damage the coating on the oven liner. It could cause discoloration to the racks and make them harder to slide in and out of the oven. 

SOLUTION: Make it a habit to always remove the racks when setting it to the self-cleaning process. You could put the racks in your bathtub or a wide container and sprinkle them with baking soda and pour vinegar to clean them. 

However, even with how you well-cared your oven, it will eventually malfunction, especially with continuous usage. And when it does, you need a reliable appliance repair technician to handle the job. If searching for such, especially if it is a Thermador brand, call us here at Thermador Appliance Repair Zone! We are your go-to appliance repair company whenever you need it. Whether you need a Thermador oven repair or others, including Thermador refrigerator repair, Thermador range repair, Thermador cooktop repair, Thermador range top repair, or Thermador stove repair, we can handle it all!