Avoid a holiday cooking disaster

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Don't let oven troubles become a recipe for disaster this Thanksgiving. It takes a lot of organization to prepare a holiday feast. You have to make your guest list, get a turkey and shop for food. But many homeowners don't factor in whether their ovens are ready for all the work that the holiday season brings.

"There is probably nothing more stressful than cooking Thanksgiving dinner only to find something has gone wrong," said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List. "One Angie's List member shared a story where her heating element went out in her oven while she was making her turkey. Luckily, she knew her neighbor was out of town and was able to shift all of her food over to her neighbor's house and resume cooking, but I'm sure that made some extra stress that holiday."

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Angie's List Tips: Avoid an Oven Fiasco

  • Act now. Test your oven periodically before the holidays. If you find there is a problem, you need to give the appliance repair shop plenty of time to order the appropriate parts from the manufacturer. If you find the part costs more than you'd like to invest, you need to give yourself time to go out and shop for a new appliance before the holidays.
  • Check the temperature. A good way to check this is to buy a basic cake mix and follow the directions exactly, cooking for the exact time recommended. If the cake is dry or undercooked, the temperature might be off.  Do this test well before the holidays. If you do find a problem with a heating element, replace it immediately. In most cases, a bake or broil heating element can be replaced quickly without having to pull the oven away from the wall.
  • Keep it clean. The cleaner your oven is, the more efficiently it will work. Whether you own a gas or electric oven, the best way to keep it healthy is to clean it. Periodically installing clean drip pans for burners will help reduce cleaning time. Don't just throw away dirty drip pans. Failing to replace these can damage the wires beneath and cause a short.
  • Don't set yourself up for failure. Avoid running the self-clean cycle within two weeks of a holiday dinner. Many ovens have shown a tendency for their electrical components to fail after a self-cleaning cycle, in which the oven temperature reaches close to 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. If you do run the self-cleaning cycle, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
  • Don't sweat it. If an oven has moisture appearing on the outside of the oven door or appears to ‘sweat,' it probably means you have a faulty door gasket. Gaskets maintain proper cooking temperatures and should be replaced at the first sign of a leak.
  • Shut the door. If your oven door does not close properly, heat can escape. Make sure the door closes tightly and evenly. If not, you may have broken or bent door hinges or door springs that should be replaced.
  • Flip the switch.  Don't open the oven door to take a peek at what's cooking inside. Opening the oven door lowers the temperature inside, by as much as 25 degrees, which increases cooking time and wastes energy. Instead, turn on the oven light to check the cooking status.
  • Consider the alternatives. Small appliances such as microwaves use about 50 percent less energy than conventional ovens and they don't heat up your kitchen. Slow cookers are also great energy savers. They will cook a whole meal for about 17 cents worth of electricity.
  • Bake several dishes at a time. You can save energy by cooking several dishes at once. Just be sure to leave enough room for the heat to circulate.
  • Be safe. Whenever you perform extensive maintenance work on your appliances, take the necessary safety precautions. Shut off electrical and gas lines when working on them. Consult an appliance repair professional for major repairs. Remember, preventative maintenance can help extend the life of your appliances and ensure your safety.